PV-powered boats: Evaluation of design parameters

For about 150 PV boats which have been built during the last 30 years, we evaluated PV, mechanical and performance characteristics. From this evaluation followed that PV boats under 10 meters are most feasible to be equipped with preferably low weight PV modules of approximately 2kWp for electric propulsion. Most boats are equipped with PV with a surface area between 5m
²
and 10m
²
(78%). For boat length, 54% is between 4m and 8m. Most boats weigh up to 1000kg (56%). However, a large share of PV boats weighs much more: up to 85.000kg. Best performing PV boats - when considering speed and electrical efficiency-weigh around 250kg. The latter have a weight [t]/PV [kWp] ratio of around 1:2. In general, we notice under dimensioned PV systems installed on PV powered boats. In order to evaluate PV boat design parameters, we collected and evaluated the properties of 150 boats for commercial, recreational and private purposes. We evaluated PV boat design problems which lead to recommendations for improved designs of PV integrated boats. Among others, the hull choice may vary for different situations in which a boat is used; therefore a right hull needs to be selected carefully fitting sailing circumstances.