Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Wave Powered Boat to Sail From Hawaii to Japan

Posted by samzenpus on from the clean-sailing-ahead dept.

CaroKann writes "In the middle of May 2008, Kenichi Horie, an adventurer known for such feats as paddling a pedal powered boat 4,660 miles from Hawaii to Okinawa in 1993, will be sailing a wave powered boat from Honolulu's Hawaii Yacht Club to the Kii Channel in Japan. The boat, a 3-ton catamaran named the Suntory Mermaid II, works by virtue of the fins located at the front of the boat. These fins "generate thrust force by moving up and down like the tails of dolphins and whales and absorbing the energy of the waves." The system can propel the boat no matter which direction the waves come from. Because the wave propulsion system absorbs the energy from the waves, a passenger on the boat will experience a smooth ride. With a top speed of about 5 knots, the journey is expected to take about 2 to 3 months."

7 of 152 comments (clear)

  1. Future journey times. by owlnation · · Score: 5, Funny

    the journey is expected to take about 2 to 3 months
    Probably still faster than getting through airport check-in and security.
  2. Interesting way of transportation by Daimanta · · Score: 5, Funny

    I am intrigued by transport using the power of nature. I myself am working on moving a ship by "catching" the wind with a large upright "surface" altough I don't exactly know how I am going to contruct this "surface". I was personally thinking about using a soft fabric and bind it to a pole. I am also testing if multiple surfaces work better than one.

    I'll keep you informed if I continue to the next fases of my daring contruction plan.

    --
    Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power lost.
  3. Re:Wave powered boat by Silver+Sloth · · Score: 5, Insightful
    You're missing
    • Sails aren't that good if the wind is against you, you have to tack whereas wave power works in all directions
    • This is a prototype, sails have had millennia to develop. Presumably efficency will increase
    • Whilst 'flat calm' does exist, waves are more prevalent than wind, less idle time
    --
    init 11 - for when you need that edge.
  4. Re:Gold Medal by piemcfly · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Market possibilities? This is the same guy that sailed across the pacific ocean on a boat made from recycled beer kegs.
    Isn't it an enormous feat already that somebody comes up with this idea and makes it work?
    It might be marketeable in the future... just like almost every innovative technology. Right now it's a feat to marvel at though.

  5. Re:Says it'll also have solar power by The_Wilschon · · Score: 5, Funny
    A blog of the voayge! That does sound really exciting! I can almost see it now...

    Captain's log, seadate 52145.7: There are lots of waves out here. There is also lots of water. The boat keeps going forward.

    Captain's log, seadate 52271.2: More waves. Also more water. Still on the boat.

    Captain's log, seadate 52361.9: Saw a fish this morning. Most exciting thing all week. It had fins. Also a tail.
    --
    SIGSEGV caught, terminating

    wait... not that kind of sig.
  6. Re:Wave powered boat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nah. I have hands. In fact, I have two hands. There's redundancy for you.

  7. Re:Wave powered boat by srussia · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's not sailing; it's just drifting with style!

    --
    Set your phasers on "funky"!