power

A man that has made a life of studying various natural developments noticed years ago that certain whales have odd "bumps" on the leading edge of their fins. He thought that was really odd.

A long story of chopped up whale fins and other oddities led him to discover that these bumps radically change the air/water flow over fins/blades. There is a company using this knowledge to create a fan that moves the same air with a lot less power.

Makes me wonder if there wouldn't be a good application to boat propellers.

PassageMaker Magazine's most recent issue has a couple of responses to reader letters by the head of Independence Green Yachts. Don't know for sure if they will produce, but it looks like they are on the right track to making a fuel cell/solar type yacht.  read more »

In another of our revisits of an old friend, Devlin Designing Boat Builders has totally revamped their web page. Lot's more detail, current news and comments, and much easier to navigate. Make sure and check it out.  read more »

Only available for commercial applications right now, but these would be just perfect for the roof of my boat. No pains mounting them, just stick them on. There is a video here of an installation being performed. The company also does have some residential solutions... I have to believe this stuff will continue to grow.  read more »

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For a little of the opposite extreme of our usual build type articles, here's another in our series of abandoned and derelict craft. Somehow these can often be hauntingly beautiful.

Check out this Shipwrecks & Sea Disasters collection.

Another designer that I have followed extensively and drooled over. Mr. MacNaughton has a large collection of sail and power designs available as plans. He also does custom design work.

Of special note to those budding designers, MacNaughton operates a well respected (and affordable) correspondence yacht design school. I may still do that someday...  read more »

George Buehler Yacht Design was probably the starting point for my boat-building research. The Backyard Boatbuilding mailing list has a large following of extremely knowledgeable and helpful builders. It was started around a book by George Buehler named Backyard Boatbuilding. Mr. Buehler is a proponent of what I term "rough and ready" boatbuilding.  read more »

Well, Warren and Robin of the Pepi didn't sell the boat after all, but are moving on with their cruise and waiting for their new boat.

If you are looking for a great, proven Great Loop boat, given them a ring.

Our friends with Pepi (originally Brad Indicott's Leah Gent) seem to have sold their boat at last. Now they spend some time waiting on their hull #1 Island Pilot DSe Hybrid.

Congrats and we look forward to hearing more!