Yet another press release type announcement, but I think the gist is probably right. With the steadily growing demand for energy storage (in vehicles and stationary applications) I think the increased mass production will drive costs down. I sure hope so (in time for my build).

Battery manufacturer Ener1 just announced that they're foreseeing an 50% drop in the price of lithium ion batteries as production increases. Where exactly this price drop will be coming from, we're not sure. ...

Sad to see a boat and all that craftsmanship being ripped up. Check the article for more details and pictures. read more »

The Suntory Mermaid II, a catamaran powered by the waves, succeeded in crossing the Pacific in a wave powered boat. Then was arrested (but it was made good by the mayor and he's a free man).

Japanese sailor and environmentalist Kenichi Horie has completed a 110-day solo voyage across the Pacific Ocean in a boat propelled by wave power to claim another world first.

One big, big boat... recently went through a refit. Lots of pictures.

Sailing Scuttlebutt is another online web "magazine/blog" that looks pretty interesting. I ran across it by being referred to some interesting pictures they were hosting this week... the first couple are certainly an interesting looking boat (or plane, or something). read more »

This Daily Mail article details (with pictures) an incredible, multi-year, multi-million dollar effort to build an exact 1:48 scale model of the Titanic. Complete with fiber-optic interior lighting, scale furnishing (including each exterior cabin), this is an 18 foot long "model".

The plans have never been made available for such use before...

Having started my "boat interest" building models, this is just fascinating to me.

A full scale tidal turbine has come online off the coast of Ireland... interesting. Wonder when we'll see these floating around other cruising locations? Has some advantages over wind power, apparently (less impact to surounding area and the tides are predictable).

Check out the link for a picture (I don't want to infringe on a publication's private property)... it's an iceberg with various color stripes. The stripes are various algae, sediment and the like that get trapped in the ice as it forms. Very pretty. Maybe I should add some interesting stripes to the boat when I paint it...

Think there's nothing new under (or over) the sea? Well, maybe it's not new, but we're certainly still learning about the sea (and probably will be for a LONG time to come). Even more special to me since Georgia Tech is my alma mater.  read more »