spirit of solar yacht

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SPIRIT OF SOLAR

SPIRIT OF SOLAR is a 26.37 m Motor Yacht, built in the United States of America by Knight & Carver and delivered in 1982.

Her top speed is 18.0 kn and her cruising speed is 15.0 kn and her power comes from two Caterpillar diesel engines. She can accommodate up to 8 guests, with 4 crew members waiting on their every need. She has a gross tonnage of 160.0 GT and a 6.89 m beam.

She was designed by Larry Drake , who also completed the naval architecture. Larry Drake has designed 2 yachts and created the naval architecture for 2 yachts for yachts above 24 metres.

SPIRIT OF SOLAR is one of 5877 motor yachts in the 24-30m size range, and, compared to similarly sized motor yachts, her volume is 47.55 GT above the average.

SPIRIT OF SOLAR is registered under the United States of America flag, the most popular flag state for superyachts with a total of 1972 yachts registered

Specifications

• Name: SPIRIT OF SOLAR
• Previous Names: YELAD,ISLAND
• Yacht Type: Motor Yacht
• Builder: Knight & Carver
• Naval Architect: Larry Drake
• Exterior Designer: Larry Drake

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• Data Updated on 11/9/2017

SPIRIT OF SOLAR Vessel Information

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LIMITLESS ADVENTURES

This solar-electric yacht is not just a vessel; it's the epitome of self-sufficient living. The Sovereign Spirit 40 is a solar-powered yacht with electric motors, a kite sail, and interior gardens. Perfect for single or coupled explorers looking to experience the wonders of self-sufficient yachting.

RESERVE A SPOT IN OUR PRODUCTION LINE

Be one of the first to experience the Sovereign Spirit 40 by reserving a spot in our production line. With a $1000 deposit, you’re one step closer to your next great adventure.

Looking for more details? Download Sovereign Spirit Brochure

SOLAR-POWERED ELEGANCE

The Sovereign Spirit 40 harnesses the power of the wind and the sun to provide clean and efficient propulsion. Glide across the water cleanly and quietly, leaving nothing behind.

smart furniture

The Sovereign Spirit 40 maximizes comfort and functionality with a multipurpose room offering at least five different configurations: - Queen berth cabin - Living area - Dining area - Hammock room (with room for 8) - Open space (for workouts and other activities)

SELF-SUFFICIENCY AT SEA

Experience self-sufficiency like never before with raised interior gardens. Enjoy fresh, healthy, homegrown produce while living independently in remote destinations.

EFFORTLESS NAVIGATION

You'll easily navigate whether you're an experienced sailor or new to yachting. Thanks to its advanced technology and user-friendly design, operating the Sovereign Spirit 40 is a breeze.

OCEAN-READY CONFIDENCE

Your safety is paramount. The Sovereign Spirit 40 is built to CE-A (ocean-going) certification standards, ensuring you can confidently live sustainably and explore a wide range of sea conditions.

QUESTIONS OR READY FOR THE NEXT STEP?

Our team is here to assist you. Contact us today to learn more about this exceptional solar yacht and how it can become your home base for unforgettable ocean living.

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REALISING THE DREAM

Short-handed cruising. Single-handed adventures. The Spirit 44 was designed to meet rising demand from owners looking for an elegant yacht, which is simple to sail and offers the option for comfortable overnight stays. Her looks showcase classical beauty, her heart is wedded to sustainable sailing.

Electric drive complemented by solar panels subtly integrated into the flush decks deliver enough power for responsibly-managed cruising. Due to her size, light displacement and easy handling, the Spirit 44 has house loads that can run solely on electric power generated by hydro propulsion and solar energy (or shore power). A generator can be added to extend range if preferred.

As a Spirit Cruise design, the Spirit 44 has added beam and headroom compared to the sleeker Spirit racing yachts. This extra volume creates a wider cockpit and a more spacious interior for cruising, entertaining, and live-aboard comfort. As an electric drive yacht, the Spirit 44 can still have all the expected guest comforts such as air-conditioning, heating, induction hob oven, electric winches, and a variety of optional extras.

The first Spirit 44 is regularly cruised for weeks at a time in British Colombia. She is solely electric drive, with solar panels in her deck and mainsail. She has zero hydrocarbons onboard. Speaking of his Canadian adventures the owner commented, “I have run out of food before I have run out of battery capacity.”

The second Spirit 44 also has no back-up generator. Based in Mexico, she is primarily used as a day sailer and for short cruising trips with friends and family.

SPIRIT C44 AT A GLANCE

Specification & features.

• L.O.A 44ft / 13.40m
• L.W.L 30ft 2" / 9.20m
• Beam 10ft 10" / 3.3m
• Draft 7ft 7 / 2.3m
• Displacement 7.5 tonnes
• Propulsion Electric or Diesel Shaft Drive
• Upwind Sail Area 90.6 m2
• Rig Fractional Bermudian Sloop
• Keel Iron Blade 830kg – Lead Bulb 2455kg
• RCD Category A (F8 winds 4m waves)
• RCD Max Persons 6

TIMELESS ELEGANCE

Spirit Yachts’ contemporary, elegant design style is world renowned. Subtle variations on 1930s classic yacht design with long overhangs, low profiles and smooth lines, married to contemporary underwater profiles, are synonymous with Spirit’s modern classic performance yachts.

Spirit Yachts are designed to be as beautiful in 100 years as they are today.

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Why solar power?

Solar power is the perfect energy source for a yacht. It brings us closer to the beauty and power of nature. Even better than sailing – as it combines the advantages of sailing and motorboating in an unprecedented way.

Capturing maximum amounts of solar energy requires a large area of photovoltaic cells to be directioned at the sun in the most effective way. The top surface area of a yacht can be perfectly suited to this need, at least when that yacht is a multi-hull designed specifically for that purpose. Just like a Silent.

Until the advent of solar sailing, large motor yachts capable of traveling across oceans in comfort had harmful effects on their environment by burning incredibly large amounts of fossil fuels. While their goal is to create an intimate connection with their owners and the seas, they unfortunately heavily pollute the very same waters they travel. Furthermore, not only do diesel engines require a lot of time-consuming maintenance, they create a lot of fumes, vibrations and noise during operation. All these characteristics disconnect the experience on board from the natural surroundings.

Solar yachting is a completely different experience. Using latest technologies in intelligent ways, it is possible to create luxury yachts with infinite range that require virtually no refueling or drive-train maintenance at all. And when cruising in complete silence, at one with the sea and its ecosystem, you do so in total comfort, experiencing the sea and sea life in all new, harmonious ways.

Our founders Michael & Heike pioneered the research for powering yachts with solar energy already during the 1990´s. By personally dedicating years into sea trials, engineering and development, they have fully optimized the solar electric drivetrain for a self-sufficient lifestyle on board. Almost three decades later, Silent leads the way for a more sensible and sustainable approach to luxury yachting through solar power.

By using latest technologies it is possible to create luxury yachts with infinite range that require virtually no refueling or drivetrain maintenance at all.

The Solar Electric Drivetrain

Solar panels

We use the most efficient, most advanced and highest quality modules currently available. Their arrangement, the positioning and the regulation of charge are some of the key secrets and reasons why our yachts are able to harvest incredible amounts of energy from the sun.

Whenever the sun is not shining or more power is needed than the solar panels produce at that time, they provide energy for the propulsion system and all household appliances. Our water cooled lithium batteries provide top notch reliability, safety and performance.

Electric motors

All our yachts are equipped with industry leading dual electric motors. With large amounts of instantly available torque, they enable a powerful and smooth drive which is completely free of unpleasant noise, fumes and vibrations produced by regular combustion engines.

Range extender

During longer periods of unfavorable weather conditions or whenever higher speeds are required for more than a couple of hours, an efficient diesel generator recharges the batteries. This makes sure you never run out of power, even when the sun in not shining.

Sailing yacht

• Zero emission & environmentally friendly
• Free power by the wind
• Noiseless & fumeless cruising without vibrations

Disadvantages

– Wind is less reliable than the sun – Speed & direction is determined by the wind – Power for on board appliances only provided by diesel engine – No energy back-up as wind energy is not stored – Less luxury, space & comfort – High maintenance & operating efforts for sailing rigg – Only noiseless when the wind is coming from the right direction in the desired force – otherwise a sailing boat becomes a motorboat

Solar yacht

Combines the benefits with no drawbacks.

• Eco-friendly with zero emission
• Free propulsion & recharging by the sun
• Energy back-up stored in batteries for several days without sun
• Range extender for longer periods without sun
• You determine speed and direction
• Unlimited range
• High top speed
• Abundance of luxury, space & comfort
• Low maintenance, low operating cost, low operating effort

Motor yacht

• Luxury, space and comfort in abundance
• Consistent high speeds while you also determine the direction

– Severe pollution & environmental impact – Almost permanent fumes, noise and vibrations – High fuel consumption & running costs – High maintenance efforts & costs – Limited range & frequent refueling required – If diesel engines fail, boat stops as there is no back-up

Noiseless With no diesel powered engines required for propulsion, solar electric boats are simply silent.

Fumeless A lack of burned fossil fuels means no more exhaust gases, which pollute the experience and the environment.

Vibrationless In contrast to the smooth drive of electric motors, internal combustion engines create uncomfortable vibrations.

No Forced Docking Conventional motor yachts are forced to regularly undergo inconvenient and expensive docking at crowded fuel stations.

No Costly Fuel Bills Heavy fuel consumption and increasing gasoil prices result in expensive running costs. The sun on the other hand is free.

No Valuable Time Lost The flexibility to recharge the batteries of your yacht wherever you like means you spend more quality time on board.

Unlimited Range Our Silent electric yachts can travel infinite distances by cleverly balancing the energy production and consumption.

Minimal Maintenance Electric motors and their drivetrains have very few moving parts with barely any maintenance required.

Much Lower Running Cost A minimal amount of maintenance means significantly lower running costs needed for the yacht to remain in shape.

Silent Group

Our charters offer you the opportunity to book a memorable vacation on board of our electric yachts. Including our helpful crew, consisting of a captain and a chef, you will experience the comfort of solar powered yachting.

As the pioneers of solar yachting, we have almost three decades of experience regarding the research, design and build of electric yachts. Our team, shipyard and the hiring of new talent are the backbone of our operations.

By transferring our solar yachting technology, Silent Resorts develops sustainable beachfront resorts in beautiful locations worldwide. Memberships offer full or part ownership of an eco-property and a Silent yacht.

Create your infinite playground on the water. A selection of premium electric water toys, which can be recharged by simply connecting them to your Silent yacht, as well as other accessories for the ultimate experience on board.

• sunwatermarine
• Sep 1, 2020

SHE’S ELECTRIC: THE SPIRIT 44E

from: https://oceanvolt.com/oceanvolt-blog/shes-electric-spirit-44e/ Originally published by Spirit Yachts Nigel Stuart, 13.03.19

Fully electric with solar panels and no hydrocarbons onboard, the Spirit 44E is at the forefront of sustainable sailing. Due to launch in early 2020, her ringframes have recently gone into build in the Spirit Yachts yard in Suffolk.

From afar, the 13.4m Spirit 44E will look like any other Spirit sailing yacht. Low freeboards, long overhangs, flush decks and the timeless beauty of quality wooden craftsmanship. Up close, she will display signs of the sailing yachts of the future.

Two solar panels will be integrated into the aft deck and will colour match the teak, so they blend with the deck both in aesthetics and alignment. The panels will charge Oceanvolt 48VDC 30.4kWh batteries (made up of 16 pcs of 1.9kWh batteries), which will power her Oceanvolt ServoProp 15 electric saildrive. The lightweight electric drive system (weighing 65kg) uses hydro generation via the variable pitch propeller to regenerate the batteries whilst sailing.

Spirit Yachts managing director Nigel Stuart commented, “Regeneration will depend on sailing speeds but it is realistic to see 1kW whilst sailing at 7-8 knots. The equivalent energy generated would be boiling a kettle, which is one of the highest power consuming appliances you would find on a yacht, or in your home for that matter.

“With the 44E, we are taking the learnings from the Spirit 111 and applying the same principles to a smaller yacht. The lack of hydrocarbons and the addition of solar sails will allow us to take a step closer towards creating a completely sustainable yacht.”

Spirit Yachts is working with OneSails GBR (East) to develop a solar solution for the yacht’s sail wardrobe.

John Parker from OneSails GBR (East) explained, “We are exploring the use of the very latest ‘thin cell’ PV panels with the intention of utilising the yacht’s 4T Forte sails and covers as sources of electrical generation. The work is cutting edge, therefore at this stage a number of the details remain confidential.” The 4T Forte sails are currently the only sails made from a cloth that can be recycled when they eventually wear out.

Manual Lewmar winches will give a nod to more hands-on sailing, whilst a carbon mast and boom from Hall Spars will ensure her rig remains lightweight. A large lazarette under the aft deck will house a tender with an electric motor, and a 40” Mahogany and stainless-steel steering wheel will be fitted for easy handling.

Down below, the Spirit 44E’s eco credentials continue throughout. A reversible heating/air-conditioning Webasto pump will heat and cool the yacht using minimal power. All lighting will be LED and a Webasto 4.2 gallon 115v/750W heater will provide hot water. At the owner’s request, there will be no hydrocarbons onboard and any cooking will be done on a spirit stove.

The interior layout will accommodate four guests across two cabins. A forward twin with ensuite will serve as the owner’s cabin and a starboard aft cabin will sleep two guests in twin berths. A fold-down chart table will be built into the forward bulkhead of the guest cabin to maximise space.

A central saloon will have a port-side, u-shaped sofa around a wooden dining table, complemented by a second sofa to starboard. Aft of the saloon, to port, will be the open-plan galley. White bulkheads, mahogany ringframes and exposed yellow cedar planking will give the interior a warm, natural feel.

The 44E was conceived and commissioned by a new Spirit customer, Vincent Argiro, a retired technology entrepreneur living, sailing, racing, and exploring in British Columbia.

Dr. Argiro recalled, “I found Spirit Yachts through a web search that yielded a photo of the Spirit 46 at sail. My jaw dropped, like so many before me. Surveying the Spirit portfolio, I enquired whether a design that incorporated much of the performance of the 46 with more of the liveability of the 47CR could be produced. Sean McMillan graciously responded with interest, and a wonderful month-long design interaction ensued. I am beyond thrilled at the result.”

Speaking of the sustainability mission of the new yacht, Vincent remarked, “The stretch goal for the 44E is near total energy self-sufficiency. I envision plugging into shore power to be a rare event. And happily, an energy-efficient design is also a fast design. This light and sleek girl is going to fly!”

Spirit 44E Specifications:

LOA: 13.4m / 44ft LWL: 9.4m / 30ft 8in Beam: 3.3m / 10ft 1in Draft: 2.3m / 7ft 7in Displacement: 5.5tonnes

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How hybrid sailing yachts finally became a feasible option

• May 17, 2019

They’ve been a long time coming, but marine hybrid propulsion systems are finally a working reality, as Sam Fortescue reports

The Bootswerft Heinrich-built 13m Yamila uses an Oceanvolt electric motor rather than a diesel engine. Photo: Peter Minder

Every sailor is familiar with the wet cough of the diesel engine, and the acrid smell of its exhaust. For some it’s the sign that an adventure is starting, for others it is the reassurance that all is well on board the boat. The traditional engine is perhaps your boat’s most important safety feature, but its days may be numbered.

The electric sailing revolution is coming – and though adoption in the marine sector is proving much slower than in the automotive world ashore, progress is being made.

The market is still relatively small. Clear market leader Torqeedo had sales of €25m last year, most of which was in ferries and compact outboards. It also offers a range of saildrive and pod drive motors for yachts displacing from 2 to 50 tonnes, or roughly 20-60ft LOA.

But sailors have been slow on the uptake, and for one good reason: if you’re planning to cross an ocean or take on tough conditions offshore, you rely on your engine to help you outrun danger or motor through the doldrums – sometimes for days at a time.

Oceanvolt AXC series is a modular shaft drive system (10kW to 40kW) that will fit in place of a tradition diesel engine

Even with the current crop of advanced lithium-ion boat batteries , the range of an electric system is measured in tens of miles, not hundreds. So a 35ft monohull with 10kWh of lithium battery (four units weighing 96kg in total) would have a range of just 24 nautical miles at 3.8 knots, or less than 16 nautical miles at full throttle.

Taking into account the incredible wastage of combustion engines, which dissipate more energy as heat and noise than they provide in propulsion, diesel is still ten times more energy dense than batteries.

Full-carbon luxury daysailer Yamila uses an Oceanvolt SD8 8kW electric saildrive system. Photo: Tobias Stoerkle

“When you look at bluewater cruisers, of course you will have a diesel,” says Torqeedo’s founder and CEO, Dr Christoph Ballin. “And it’s right that not many coastal sailors opt for pure electric.”

But that doesn’t mean that electric has no interest for cruising sailors – far from it. The more common route for ‘normal’ sailors will be to combine diesel and electric in a hybrid sailing system.

Under this model, the engine is replaced by an electric motor, hooked up to a bank of lithium batteries. This can be charged via hydrogeneration – when the speed under sail turns the propeller and puts charge back into the batteries – and solar or wind. But when extended periods under power are required a standalone DC generator, which can be installed anywhere on board, supplies the electricity.

This is the set-up recommended by Finland’s Oceanvolt, which has focused on the cruising sailing market with a range of shaft and sail drive motors from 3.7kW to 15kW (roughly 10hp to 45hp in diesel engine terms).

“In the case of the round-the-world cruiser, we recommend a hybrid system with a backup genset to support continuous drive when/if needed,” says Oceanvolt CEO Markus Mustelin. “A regenerating prop, which spins while sailing and recharges the batteries (sacrificing 0.2-0.4 of a knot, depending on the boat and conditions) makes it possible to be almost independent of the genset and use it only for backup.”

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This system has the advantage that the generator is only needed on longer passages, so the boat still manoeuvres silently in and out of ports and anchorages.

And a well-designed, correctly sized generator is much more efficient at turning diesel into electricity than an engine not originally designed for the job. Some sailors opt for an in-line hybrid system, like those offered by Hybrid-Marine, which bolts onto the existing diesel.

These are easier to retrofit, with many of the same characteristics as the full hybrid system, but there’s the disadvantage of still having an engine boxed away somewhere near the middle of the boat.

Electro magnetism

Until now, most business has been done through retrofitting existing yachts. But an increasing number of yacht builders are looking to include electric propulsion as original equipment. The world’s third largest boatbuilder, Hanse Yachts , is perhaps the most advanced – offering its entry-level Hanse 315 with an electric rudder-drive option.

The system takes up less space than the standard diesel, is much quieter and vibration- and emissions-free. But Hanse admits take up has been disappointing.

The technology has found more interest among lake sailors. Innovative young German brand Bente has been fitting Torqeedo motors to its successful 24ft model, originally designed for Germany’s ‘Green Lakes’.

Closer to home, dinghy specialist RS Sailing has decided to fit a retractable electric drive to its new RS21 keelboat. Already christened the ‘invisible gennaker’, the system is based on Torqeedo’s Travel 1003 outboard motor.

Bigger race boats have also been attracted by the lure of low-weight propulsion. Just look at Malizia , an IMOCA 60 being prepared for the 2020 Vendée Globe with a lightweight Torqeedo system.

“Emissions-free round the world under race conditions, while simultaneously producing your own energy, is a thoroughly inspirational concept,” said Malizia skipper Boris Herrmann.

Electric has also been successful at the luxury end of the market, where lithium-ion batteries account for a smaller share of the boat’s overall cost. A 50ft Privilege 5 catamaran and a carbon fibre Gunboat 60 have both been retrofitted with Torqeedo kit, while Oceanvolt appears on a Swan 57 and an all-carbon Agile 42.

Overview of the Torqeedo Deep Blue propulsion system installed in the Gunboat Moonwave

The Gunboat Moonwave has two 25kW Deep Blue saildrives both capable of regenerating under sail. There is still a generator on board to extend battery range offshore, but “they no longer use the generator – it’s just for emergency,” says Torqeedo’s Ballin.

Spirit Yachts is also designing electric propulsion into its Spirit 111  flagship, due for launch this summer. With four big 40kW lithium batteries aboard and a 100kW motor, the yacht will be able to operate silently for hours, although it also has 100kW of diesel generator capacity.

“The real focus is not the propulsion,” explains Spirit director Nigel Stuart, “but that everything works in harmony, from galley equipment and hot water to heating, air conditioning, hydraulics etc.” The British yard is also building a 65-footer using Oceanvolt hybrid technology and a new 44-footer that is pure electric.

With racing on one hand and high-end cruisers on the other, there is something of a gap in the middle. By Torqeedo’s own admission, the cruising sailor hasn’t been a big focus of the electric revolution, but all that is about to change. “We started a bit late with sailing,” Ballin admits, “but in the next five to eight years it will be addressed big time.”

Fully integrated electric drive system will power the new 111ft Spirit Yachts flagship

What does that really mean? Well, in the first instance, it means system integration. If that doesn’t sound revolutionary, then imagine a set-up on board where solar panels, hydrogenerators, batteries, generators and motors all worked seamlessly together to keep the yacht supplied with ample power around the clock. “That’s what people are willing to pay for: plenty of energy with heating or air-con through the night,” says Ballin.

The future of hybrid sailing

In the near future, Torqeedo is planning a new range-extending DC generator specifically for hybrid sailing boats. Its existing unit is built by WhisperPower and provides 25kW, which is too much power for boats using the pod drive system.

The genset will be designed to operate at optimum revolutions, while clever DC to DC conversion decouples the battery voltage from the charging voltage, for much greater efficiency.

With boats, just as with cars, the breakthrough that will make all the difference is around battery capacity. Until range under electric power can match that of diesel, there will be many sceptics. And that isn’t likely to happen for a decade or more, according to Ballin.

“Theoretically, they’ve tested batteries in labs that are ten times more efficient than lithium,” he explains. “And if that comes through, then gasoline is done. But we are trying to combine long-term vision with short-term mindset.”

In the meantime, the prevalent technology is based on lithium-manganese-cobalt, and a process of steady development is making this 5-8% better each year. For example, BMW has just announced its next generation i3 battery, used by Torqeedo’s Deep Blue system, will be able to hold 40kWh of power – an increase of 33% for the same size, weight and nearly the same cost.

Torqeedo Cruise 2.0 FP Pod Drive is suitable for small yachts up to 4 tonnes – a folding prop can also be fitted

The other area of development is around the propeller. Most cruising systems use a folding or feathering prop designed for diesel engines. But Torqeedo’s own research shows that the consistently high torque of an electric motor is best utilised by props with variable pitch.

And yet it is Oceanvolt that has addressed this issue specifically for electric motors with its Servo Prop system, which it claims to be 30% more efficient ahead, 100% better astern and 300% more efficient in regeneration mode.

Oceanvolt says that this prop can pump around 500W into the batteries at just 5 knots – the average pace of a 30ft monohull. At 6 knots that rises to around 800W, and at a very manageable 7 knots for a larger ocean cruiser you get 1.2kW.

“A new technology can rarely compete in price with an established one in its initial growth phase,” says Mustelin. “However, we have passed this and today electric systems are offered at a quite competitive price. When you add to that the fact the electric system is almost service free, the total cost of ownership is turning in favour of electric.”

So, you may not hear them approach, but expect to see more and more electric-powered boats on the water as the revolution continues.

A question of torque

A key part of the viability of electric propulsion rests on the notion that a smaller motor can achieve the same work as a bigger diesel. There are two elements to this. First, a diesel engine is not an efficient converter of chemical energy into thrust, creating a lot of heat and noise in the process. Second, the torque characteristics of electric are much better than diesel.

Mustelin says that Oceanvolt’s 10kW motor “easily outperforms” a 30hp diesel. “Typically, maximum boat speed will be somewhat lower (0.5kt-1.0kt) than with a comparable diesel engine, but at the same time the boat will maintain the speed better in heavy seas and headwind due to higher torque. Manoeuvrability is much better in confined marina spaces.”

That’s because combustion engines only reach peak power (and maximum torque) over a small range of speeds. Torque is a measure of turning power – at the propeller in the case of a boat.

A diesel engine develops optimum torque between 1,800-2,000rpm, while electric motors deliver it from 0 to around 2,000rpm. This allows electric motors to use higher efficiency propellers that are slimmer and more steeply pitched.

Engine-driven: The ‘alternator on steroids’

It has taken years of development and over $10m of funding, but renowned boat systems expert Nigel Calder has helped design an alternator so powerful that it eliminates the need for a generator on board.

Mounted on the engine, on the second alternator position, the Integrel can produce five to ten times more power. Sitting behind the system is at least 10kWh of lead acid batteries (lithium is also an option), and Victron chargers and inverters.

“If you crank the engine it’ll charge the batteries; if you’re running with the engine in neutral, it’ll know it’s in standalone generator mode and switch to that algorithm,” explains Calder. “It will likely be cheaper than a generator installation, and eliminates the issue of the through-hulls, the cooling circuits, the long running hours, the maintenance.”

The system allows you to run all sorts of creature comforts on board that would normally require a generator: from hot water on-demand to coffee makers and freezers. “We honestly believe that this system is going to supplant generators on almost all boats that currently have, or would like to have, a generator,” adds Calder.

With the engine in gear and at low revs, tests show how the Integrel can produce some 2kW of power without increasing fuel consumption or reducing speed – simply utilising the engine’s wasted capacity. This means it will work with the yacht’s existing engine – no need to overspec – and it has already been successfully installed on a new Southerly 480, a Malo 46 and a similar-sized Hallberg-Rassy.

Case study: Dufour 382 Alcyone

Built by Dufour in 2016, Alcyone was immediately retrofitted professionally with Oceanvolt’s SD15 saildrive motor, supplied by a 14kWh lithium battery bank. Owners Michael Melling and Diana Kolpak also specced an 8kWh DC generator for range extension. The fit out cost €30,600 for the motor and battery system, plus an additional €13,744 for the generator, and installation costs were around €8,000.

They charter the boat out near Vancouver, for exploring Desolation Sound and the surrounding area where silent, clean propulsion is a selling point. “Nothing spoils the joy of sailing – or a secluded anchorage – more than the noise and smell of diesel engines,” they explained. “Installing an Oceanvolt system in our new boat has freed us from that. It’s the way of the future.”

Charter manager Merion Martin said the conversion has also been popular with charter customers, adding: “The main advantage of the system is that it consistently uses around 40% less fuel than a standard diesel engine over the course of a week’s charter. But understanding the power management system takes a bit of getting used to, and the many components involved in the system can make troubleshooting a challenge.”

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SPIRIT OF VENICE Yacht for Sale

Not for sale or charter to U.S. residents while in U.S. waters.

Launched in 2018 at VMG Shipyard, the 89’ (27.32m) SPIRIT OF VENICE is a classic masterpiece and is the perfect example of close collaboration between owner and designer. She boasts a rich Dutch pedigree with an aluminum hull built by Dijkstra Metaalbewerking, a superstructure built by VMG and designs by Olivier van Meer.

The yacht was built with all the features to be sailed single-handedly around the world with the utmost comfort and updated technology. Her 2018 build has combined modern elements with an authentic, classic style. SPIRIT OF VENICE can enter small harbors and shallow sailing areas, and her stern platform allows the owner to easily maneuver the tender into the water. 

SPIRIT OF VENICE welcomes up to six guests in the comfort of three well-appointed cabins. The master cabin features a double bed, stylish sofa, plenty of storage space and a clever book corner. The adjoining bathroom is traditional, with a classic bathtub and gold hardware. The two additional cabins also offer storage and a spacious bathroom. 

The sailing yacht’s traditional interior styling showcases a historical influence with a collection of classical artwork. Wood elements combined with bronze and brass adorn SPIRIT OF VENICE’s interior and complement the rich leather furnishings. The yacht respects the tradition and history of yachting with only the highest-quality materials chosen. Her two stylish salons offer guests the ultimate comfort while aboard. On the raised deck is a beautiful living area with the pilothouse, and on the lower deck, guests will find a large dining area and a well-equipped galley. A classic heater can be found on the lower deck salon, contributing to the yacht’s historical aesthetic. SPIRIT OF VENICE’s beautiful, clean exterior offers excellent deck space to enjoy navigation.

• Dutch design, engineering, and construction
• Built in 2018 and privately registered
• Aluminum hull with reinforced bow structure
• Ketch with Bermuda rig which can be fully operated electrically from the cockpit by one person
• Authentic classic style with latest technology
• Uprunning centerboard with minimum draft 2.1 meters and maximum 4.4 meters
• High quality materials and finishes
• VAT paid in Malta
• Stabilizers

Specifications

Accommodations

Dimensions & Capacity

Construction

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Full Details

Hull aluminium construction.

Frame spacing 400 mm

Frames 75x 50 x 6 mm with longitudinal girders

Keel sole 15 mm

Keel sides 10 mm

Bottom plating 8 mm

Under wl plating 7 mm

Above wl plating 5 mm

Bow reinforcement total 12 mm

10 portholes in hull

Middle And Fore Deck & Superstructure

Composite corecell/epoxy with glass and corecell deck beams

Paint Schedule

Hull Oyster White

Mast Anodized

Antifouling Black (last 2020)

Interior Ceiling RAL 9010

Engine: Volvo Penta D7A TA

Engine number: 5311961123

Horsepower: 153 kW (202 hp)

Cylinders: 6

Cooling system: Closed cooling system with heat exchanger on seawater inlet

Exhaust: Wet, including high riser (above waterline)

Electrical system engine : 24 Volt

Alternator 1: 24 V/150A, 3 step ACR, Whisperpower WP-DC Beltpower alternator

Alternator 2: (shaft alternator) 24 V/150A, 3 step ACR, Whisperpower WP-DC Beltpower alternator

Reduction gear :ZF2801-A

Reduction 2: 1

Shaft system: Duplex 50 mm, type 1 C shaft with AxiSeal innerseal

Thrust bearing Centa AM140 elastic (with pully for shaft alternator)

Water lubricated EasyStern GRP shaft tube

Propeller: Fixed 3-bladed bronze. As backup and for cruiser-racing Maxprop 5- bladed, 28”, RH E=126 Easy

Bow thruster: Sidepower SEP210, 24V, double prop, thrust 250 kg, power 10 kW (13 hp), proportional, tunnel 250 mm

Steering System

Jefa, mecanical system with transmission autopilot drive unit 300 Nm, 24V, 8 rev./min

Auto pilot unit at steering pedestial + at chart table + remote

Electrical System

Electrical System: oard system 24V

Batteries service :2 x 1000 Ah (12 x 2V cel) gell (Bow thruster takes from 1 battery bank)

Battery starter main engine: 24V/90A AGM-Power Absorbed Glass Matt

Charging 1 (on main engine): 24 V/150A, 3 step ACR, Whisperpower WP-DC Beltpower alternator

Charging 2 (on shaft): 24 V/150A, 3 step ACR, Whisperpower WP-DC Beltpower alternator

Charging 3 Generator: Whisperpower MGVR+ Genverter, 12 kW (Kubota Engine)

Charging 4 Portable genset & charger: Emergency portable Honda EUi petrol, 230 V, 2000W feeds a portable 230V-12V/24V charger

Charging 5 Solar panels :7 x Whisper Solar Flex 100, total max 700W/24V

Charging 6 Shore power :2 x Whisperpower DC cube chargers, taking from 90V to 265V AC and from 45Hz to 65Hz.

If shore power can not supply enough it will be taken from the service batteries by the ac powercube(s) or the genset will start automatically.

AC system: 1 x ac Powercube 24V 7000 W + 1 x ac Powercube 24V 14000 W

Technical System

Water pressure pump: Ecojet

Watermaker: Sea Recovery Aqua Matic 900-1 Compact, 230V, 142 liter/hour

UV sterilizer: SH-1000

Hot water: Calorifier Rheinstrom 140 liter by electric power (except when water maker is running) + cooling water genset & main engine

Toilets: Jabsco 17 electric for guests, Tecma Evolution electric for owner

Airconditioning: Webasto Blue Cool C system, for sleep cabins + engine room

Heating: by same Webasto Blue Cool C system + stand alone Refo diesel stove

Bilge system (all self-priming): 3 x Whale Orca 3000, 24V, 1,5”: engine room + 2 x accommodation

1 x Gusher 30 manual for engine room

1 x manual for fore peak

1 x portable emergency 1,5”, 230V PowerPlus, 750W, with hose

Navigation & Communication Equipment

Based on Raymarine

1 ES127MFD 12.1” chart plotter at steering pedestal

1 ES127MFD 12.1” chart plotter at chart table

Serial no.: E70284 370276 and E70285 560170

1 A65MFD 5.7” screen in owners cabin

1 x GPS RS130 sensor, Serial no.: E32153660416

2 x I70 display at steering pedestal: permanent wind info +

depth/temp./speed

Radar Quantum Q24C 18”, serial no. E70210370882

SSB/HF, Icom IC-M802 with AT141 autotuner

Tranceiver Serial no.: 1201169, Tuner serial no.: 44001287

VHF with horn inside + handheld at steering pedestial

Icom IC-M506 DSC, Serial no.: 14001103, 12V, 25Watt max.

Icom HM-195B Command Mic, Serial no.: 01006951

AIS antenna on one davit + iridium on other davit

AIS650 Class B, Serial no. E32158 170534

Active antenna splitter 100, Serial no. A80190 170534

ICS Navtex at chart table

Satcom: Irridium Extreme 9575 Handheld Satphone

IMEI 300215010318190 Phone number: +881631570374

Beam docking station for above, Serial no.: PD703452/MMN00565

EPIRB (battery expire date July 2031)

R&R multi-purpose antenna in mizzenmast top

Wifi antenna on sb & ps mizzen lower spreader with 5 outputs: deck

saloon, 3 cabins + lower saloon berth.

Wind transducer in top main mast

Masts & Booms: Aluminium, Sparcraft, anodized

Main mast keel stepperd, mizzen mast deck stepped

Main mast 3 spreaders, mizzen mast 2 spreaders

Main boom with hydraulic boomvang, operating panel near steering pedestal

Standing rigging: Stainless steel 316, Compact strand

Running rigging: Permanent halyards Dynaone, others Dynema

Headsails: Jib Profurl electric NDEC 530, Staysail Profurl electric NDEC 520

Code -0- Profurl electric

Main and mizzen: Reckman electric inmast furls, Main S3800, Mizzen S1410

Deckgear: Ronstan

Winches: Lewmar, electric, bronze

Sails: Polyant Dacron ‘All Purpose’ (Off Shore sailing) by UBS Sails

Jib (Genua): 101 m2

Staysail: 47 m2

Main sail: 103 m2

Mizzen: 34 m2

Standard close hauled :285 m2

Code -0- 327 m2

Reaching 511 m2 (mizzen, main, staysail, code -0-)

Anchoring: Quick Heroes, 24 V, 2300W, 2 x gypsy + 2 x capstan

2 x chainstopper

PS: Jambo 49 kg galvanized with 80 m 13 mm short-link galvanized chain

SB: Jambo 90 kg galvanized with 120 m 13 mm short-link galv. chain

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Spirit Yachts lifts the lid on its clean energy drive and solar sails

Thursday, February 9th, 2023

Written by: Zella Compton

Last year, Sean McMillan, founder of Spirit Yachts, announced that more than half the boats on order with the company were repeat orders for existing owners, but each repeat order owner was moving from diesel to electric . This obviously delighted him. It’s no industry secret that Spirit has been pushing hard on the sustainability agenda since it won British Marine’s inaugural environmental award at SIBS 2019. And, in a recent BBC documentary ( Making Waves: Building Boats ), McMillan lost no time in disparaging the state of the UK’s boat production.

“Look at this,” he said, gazing over a marina, the likes of which can be seen around the UK. “I find this really depressing. Acres and acres of white fibreglass.

“The problem with marinas like this is that 99 per cent of the boats in them are made from fibreglass. It’s leaving behind a really appalling legacy. Some of them might last 20/30 years but by that stage they’ll be very tired. It is indefensible and it cannot go on.”

Without having to contend with the environmental issues of GRP – all Spirit Yachts are made with sustainably sourced wood (primarily Douglas Fir and Sapele from Canada) – the company is focusing its attention on re-genning clean energy used for the hotel load (interior lights etc), and electric propulsion.

Electric drive and solar sail boats

In April 2021, Karen Underwood was appointed Spirit’s MD and handed the baton for delivering even more effective, efficient propulsion systems on the high-end yachts beloved of James Bond film directors. She has a clear direction for the future. “Fundamentally we’d hope that any sailing yacht coming out of here would be having an electric drive system onboard ,” says Underwood. 

“As an industry we need to be hitting global environmental targets and promote and facilitate the use of electric drive yachts. We need to be efficient in regeneration and power management, lowering the carbon footprint and having less of an impact on the environment. That’s where we all really need to be. And that’s what’s reflected in our yard. It’s something I can say, but it’s also something we can back up.”

Read more industry interviews in Marine Industry News magazine Issue 6 .

That back up comes with an impressive legacy borne out of a desire to innovate, and clients’ interest in sustainable yachts. Underwood details Avvento ; the owner lives totally off-grid in Canada in his electric 44CR (cruiser-racer design), built in the Ipswich yard in 2020 . As well as an Oceanvolt sail drive system to generate power (through the propeller) while sailing, deck solar panels and a small wind turbine to make the boat as self-sufficient as possible, Avvento features flexible solar panels attached to the mainsail for maximising solar energy. 

“The panels are all either sewed in or glued onto the sail,” Underwood says. At the time Spirit was suggesting (and embracing) this technology, solar sails were almost unheard of. “Solar technology has definitely advanced and so we can shape the solar panels to capture sunlight to convert into energy at particular times of the day.”

Underwood continues: “The owner of Avvento , is now working with OneSails’ John Parker and saying ‘actually at this time of day I could have captured the sun when it was lower to the water – could we look at having a different shape, or size of panel?’ He’s working with OneSails directly, and with us, to have best use of the solar panels.” 

As James Weller, Spirit’s head electrician, notes there is currently a significant cost in choosing electric over diesel. “The more it’s adopted, the more the price will come down,” he says pragmatically. He is a keen advocate of re-gen technology.

“Solar is currently the best way of continually charging the system,” Weller says. “Modern panels are getting more and more efficient even on a cloudier day. But when you’re sailing, if you get prime conditions, you can really put a decent amount of power back into the yacht by using the re-gen through the propeller.”

While Weller is keen to stress that standalone data can be misleading as factors like the weather conditions and handling will affect that re-gen capacity, he says that, in great conditions sailing for an hour, he witnessed an average of 900 watts continuously being put back into the system.

Re-gen technology

Spirit is currently working with a few suppliers of re-gen technology and electric propulsion, testing new systems before fully committing. Currently in the mix is Torqeedo , Oceanvolt and lately ePropulsion (destined for the second Spirit 30).

“We can’t afford to be totally wedded to one supplier because of what’s going on in the world at the moment,” says Underwood. “Some owners like to keep all systems the same, other times they don’t. Some of our owners get incredibly involved with the supply element and deal directly with the manufacturers, which is great because we can all liaise together and there’s no mismanagement in the communication. It also means we’re pushing the supplier. We’re pushing boundaries all the time.”

Weller agrees: “We’re trying to make it so that their products are better, which purely makes our products better. We’re always trying to get suppliers to make their product as good as possible as they’re attached to our product. For example, we’ve done design tweaks with Oceanvolt regarding its installations and its battery management system, even down to the lighting on its throttles and how that’s programmed. It’s lots of little modifications that all add up.”

Custom electric boats

According to Underwood, Weller does a lot of R&D (mathematical problem solving) with suppliers and clients and has – over the past 21 years – become the ‘go to’ centre of knowledge on the East Coast for re-gen and drive tech advice.

Now Spirit is moving towards using MG Batteries. Underwood cites their performance on the P70 powerboat as being instrumental for making the decision, as well as the fact that “they work really nicely with the rest of the system.”

But while Spirit is openly advocating re-gen and electric drives, both Underwood and Weller note that not all owners are so open to moving away from fossil fuels. “I think it’s about changing perceptions, exploring avenues and spending time with people such as James who knows what he is talking about, who can direct and move people into the space of saying ‘actually I am going to go eco and it’s not going to cost the world and it’s very easy to manage’,” says Underwood.

“We have clients that come to us who might have something in their mind. Such as a client who wanted a 52ft sailing yacht with a diesel engine. He spent 45 minutes with James aboard one of our hybrid yachts, and one of our fully electric yachts, and came away thinking ‘no, I’ll have an Oceanvolt with possibly a back-up generator’.”

Like all traditional boatbuilders, this flexibility of adapting to changing decisions is key to Spirit’s processes. As a custom yacht builder and designer, Spirit can be really flexible in build. Without the restrictions of moulds the company an absolutely tailor all the systems onboard any of its yachts. 

“We can produce what people want as we don’t have the moulds. The problem for some of the GRP manufacturers is obviously their production is restricted with their mould tools. They try and create a standard one size fits all package as ultimately they have to,” says Underwood. “If you are dealing with something that is coming out of a mould, ultimately there’s not much you can change to it in terms of economy of scale. If like us you’re innovating throughout, it’s fine, you can have an electric 30 or an electric 111. We have the engineering capacity and electrical knowledge and knowhow to manipulate the hull to do what we’d like it to do, rather than the other way around.”

Weller says Spirit doesn’t just innovate at client request; he’s always looking at ways of powering yachts in the future . Currently he’s investigating hydrogen fuel cells to see if there is potential in using synthetic fuels. “We’re constantly looking at ways we can improve the yacht scene further. It’s not as if we’ve gone to an electric drive system and gone ‘that’s it now’. We’re always looking to make better. Electric drives are great but still have drawbacks in terms of range and having to have lots of batteries onboard. We’re always looking at new options.”

All images courtesy of Spirit Yachts/Richard Langdon.

• Sustainability in the marine industry ,
• Spirit Yachts' news ,
• solar power ,
• Electric propulsion news

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Solar Powered Yachts

Solar panels are a fundamental element of today’s quest for responsible energy generation. Used in households, commercial facilities, and power stations across the globe, they are also a vital source of energy for solar powered yachts. With significant progress made over the last years, photovoltaic technology has emerged as the natural energy source with the most exciting growth potential.

Thanks to photovoltaic cells, solar panels absorb sun radiation to generate direct current (DC). When sunlight reaches a solar cell, it causes silicon electrons to move. This motion will start the flow of electricity that is captured by wires and directed to an inverter. Inverter technology is then used to convert it to alternating current (AC) ready to power household appliances.

The solar power systems on solar powered yachts usually consist of solar panels, batteries, charge controllers and inverters. While batteries store the energy obtained from the solar panels, charge controllers prevent batteries from overcharging. Solar catamarans with house appliances on board will usually need to convert the DC energy into AC with the help of an inverter.

Sunreef Yachts produces solar panels in-house and uses a new (patent-pending) technology to integrate them within structural components. The panels are made of the industry’s most efficient cells with a peak performance of 24%.

Thanks to the solar cells’ outstanding flexibility, Sunreef Yachts’ solar panels can be mounted on any surface of the solar powered yacht. As a result, they are integrated with various areas on board, such as hull sides, mast, superstructure, bimini roof or bow terrace to maximize energy generation.

With a thickness below 1mm and weighing around 1,8 kg per square meter (average solar panels will weigh between 8 and 15 kg per square meter), they are one of the lightest solar power systems in the world. In addition, tests have proven that thanks to their advanced integration technique, Sunreef Yachts solar panels have a very high resistance to shock and abrasion. This allows them to be used on any surface, including hull sides.

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Spirit 44, the all-electric sailboat of the future?

Spirit Yachts, the Anglo-Saxon specialist in the magnificent classic sailing yacht, will launch a 44-foot fully electric model in 2020. This "sailboat of the future" will operate without hydrocarbons and thanks to solar energy.

Spirit Yachts is a British shipyard founded in 1993 that designs and builds splendid classic sailboats and motorboats for performance and long-distance travel . He is responsible for the 54-foot yacht Spirit, skippered by Daniel Craig in the James Bond Casino Royal.

But if the shipyard is making news again, it is for its new project, the Spirit 44, a 13.4 m long overall project, entirely electric and without hydrocarbons on board. This "sustainable sailing yacht" project was created thanks to the impetus of a new client, a former technology entrepreneur who lives and operates in British Columbia ( Canada ).

This new model - which will also be the smallest in the sail range - should incorporate some of the performance of the Spirit 46 (classic range), but with the habitability of the 47 CR (cruising range).

"The overall objective is almost total energy autonomy. I plan to use the shore power in an exceptional way "explains the future owner. It also pushes the concept to its limits since the cooking of food will be carried out via an alcohol stove.

Currently under construction in the Spirit Yachts yard in Suffolk, this "sailboat of the future" should be launched at the beginning of 2020.

James Bond's sailboat in Casino Royale ©Bateau-vintage

A classic exterior look, but electric propulsion

Externally, the Spirit 44 E will look like the models in the range, namely its low freeboards, a long waterline, a flush deck and a quality wooden look. Two teak-coloured solar panels will be harmoniously integrated at the rear of the deck. They will recharge OceanVolt 48 DC batteries (total capacity of 30.4 kWh, composed of 16 x 1.9 kWh batteries) that will power a 15 kW Sail Drive electric motor . This light and electric system (only 46.5 kg) operates as a hydro-generator to produce electricity under sail and regenerate batteries.

"With the 44E, we are applying the teachings of Spirit 111, which will be as ecofriendly as possible and adapting these same principles to a smaller yacht. The absence of hydrocarbons and the addition of solar sails will allow us to take another step towards the creation of a fully sustainable yacht" explains Nigel Stuart, general manager of the Spirit Yachts shipyard .

Solar sails

Spirit Yachts is working with the OneSails GBR sailmaker to develop a solar solution for the sailmaker's sailing game. John Parker explains "We are currently exploring the use of the latest thin solar cell photovoltaic panels, which can be integrated into OneSails 4T FORTE sails as sources of power generation. The work is at the cutting edge of progress, so at this stage, a number of details remain confidential."

These sails use a continuous fibre composite technology, which does not use resin or glue, thus eliminating delamination issues.

The site will call on Lewmar for the manual winches and Hall Spars for the carbon mast and boom, guaranteeing lightness. A mahogany and stainless steel centre wheel steering wheel is installed aft of the cockpit and a tender garage under the transom can house an electric tender.

A warm interior

Under the bridge, there is a Webasto heater/air conditioner that will also produce hot water. For lighting, LEDs will be installed on board.

A total of four people can sleep on board, divided into two cabins. A twin cabin at the front with its own toilet will serve as the owner's cabin. A starboard aft cabin will accommodate two additional guests in two berths.

A folding chart table will be integrated into the front bulkhead of the guest cabin to maximize space. In the centre of the boat , a U-shaped saloon will be installed on the port side with a wooden central table and an additional bench on the starboard side. At the back of the living room will be the open kitchen.

White partitions, mahogany structures and visible yellow cedar planks will give the interior a warm and natural atmosphere.

Yachting Monthly

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Best Solar panels for off-grid power and keeping batteries charged

• Phil Sampson
• November 28, 2022

We take a look at 6 of the best solar panels for boats, from folding units to cutting-edge flexible panels

Free power forever? If only it was that simple! Photo: Graham Snook

For many in the boating community, solar panels represent something of a holy grail. They are, after all, the gift that keeps on giving, aren’t they? Free power forever, (or many years anyway), coupled with zero running costs – what could possibly be better than that?

All you have to do to make this dream come true is banish the memory of the purchase price from your mind – something boaters are notoriously adept at doing – and wait for the sun to shine. If only it were that simple…

The fact of the matter is that there are costs associated with solar panels beyond the price of the panels themselves. While some types of panels can be simply laid on the deck, in many cases some form of mount will be required.

Then there’s the wiring to hook them up to your battery, plus any fitment and/or cosmetic work needed to hide the cabling from view. If your panels are to be left connected permanently, you’ll require a regulator too.

This will prevent both overcharging and a reverse flow of power out of the battery after dark. If you do not fit a regulator, a blocking diode can be used to halt the reverse flow instead.

But once all of the above have been overcome – and providing you’ve done your homework to ensure your panels will generate sufficient power to cover your needs – then, yes, it’s a power free for all!

There are many other benefits to boat solar panels too: First and foremost, they work all on their own – solar panels are automatic, so you can just let them get on with the job.

Apart from the occasional wipe over and a wiring check, they’re largely maintenance-free too. Unlike wind generators, (especially like the one with wonky bearings on that boat moored next to you), they don’t make any noise.

And finally, your batteries will be pleased, because keeping them from going flat can extend their life.

Here’s our choice of the best boat solar panels.

6 of the best boat solar panels available right now

Giosolar 1,000W flexible solar panel

Best flexible boat solar panel

Delivering a mighty kilowatt of power, (not far off the amount used by a one bedroom house), this Giostar package comprises ten separate 100W panels, each of which is 1,050 x 540 x 2.5mm in size.

Capable of charging either 12 or 24V batteries, a kit of this magnitude is one for the most serious of solar enthusiasts – Eco Experts reckons 660-990W is sufficient for a liveaboard.

Giostar panels are abrasion resistant, anti-rust and dust proof and their junction boxes are sealed and waterproof. The panels are also light, thin and flexible, and can withstand being bent up to 30 degrees.

Reasons to buy: Incredible amount of power, panels are abrasion resistant as well as anti rust + dust proof

Reasons to avoid: Premium price

Price: £1,464.45

Buy it now on Amazon (UK)

Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Ecoflow 160w portable solar panel.

Mobisolar 100W foldable solar panel

Best foldable boat solar panel

Mobisolar’s foldable panels are light (4.5kg) and measure 121 x 56.5 x 3 cm when unfolded, with the longest dimension reducing to 60 cm when folded, making them easy to transport.

The panels use advanced technology to provide superior performance, with each panel subjected to a thorough testing routine before and after assembly.

So confident is Mobisolar in its products that the company stands behind its panels with a two-year defect warranty and a five years’ electrical performance warranty.

For maximum flexibility in operation, three USB power outputs are fitted per panel, one delivering 100W, the second 60W and the third 10W.

Reasons to buy: Foldable, lightweight and long warranty

Reasons to avoid: Not resistant to the elements, doesn’t feature mounting holes

Price: £145.00

Buy it now on eBay

Eco-worthy 100W solar panel kit

With 100W panels being ideal for keeping batteries topped up, our second offering in this power class is from Eco-worthy, a major player in the solar panel field.

Competitively priced, our link below is for a kit which includes an LCD control unit and four ‘Z’ brackets in addition to the panel itself.

The Eco-worthy 100W panel is of the monocrystalline type, which means their cells are made from an ingot grown from a single silicon crystal of high purity. It’s also a rigid panel, so this particular product would need to be mounted on a frame or flat surface.

Reasons to buy: Competitively priced, Features LCD panel, brackets

Reasons to avoid: Only a year warranty, not resistant to elements

Price: £113.99

PV Logic 20W Flexi solar panel

Offered by Force 4 Chandlery, this lightweight semi-flexible solar panel comes complete with a dual battery solar charge controller.

The panel is completely waterproof thanks to its six-layer, heavy-duty laminate finish, and should a wayward crew member plod over it in their size 9s the panel’s dimpled top surface is ‘self healing’.

The controller can handle both 12 and 24V systems and the panel’s PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) charging system is efficient and battery-lifetime friendly.

Supplied with LED battery-status indicators and 4 metres of cable, PV Logic Flexi panels can be bonded to flat or curved surfaces.

Reasons to buy: Lightweight, waterproof, dual controller

Reasons to avoid: Lacks mounting options

Price: £149.95

Buy it now on Force 4 Chandlery

Powoxi 10W solar panel

At the budget end of the market comes this Powoxi 10W solar panel charger kit. While you won’t go far on just 10W of power, this kit claims to be capable of charging and maintaining various 12V batteries.

The kit features a fully automatic charging and maintenance controller, which provides intelligent three-level charging and protection against short- and open-circuits, under voltage and overloading.

A reverse flow system is included and the interface is described as ‘plug and play’. While the panel is rainproof, it will not withstand immersion in water, so this is a product to perhaps leave behind on the dock when you take to the water.

Reasons to buy: Great budget option, plug and play

Reasons to avoid: Not waterproof, won’t go far on 10V

Price: £27.59

Eco-worthy 10W/5W solar panel

The least pricey option we could find anywhere, this baby 5W solar panel is simply a trickle charger. But if that’s all you need then look no further, for this is another Eco-worthy product.

The technology in the panel is polycrystalline, so it’s not the most efficient on the market, but for this power that’s hardly a great concern.

The panel is supplied with two charging options; a pair of crocodile clips which attach directly to the battery, and a cigarette lighter plug.

According to the product’s eBay listing, this seller alone has sold approaching 3,000 of these units – and at this price, we can understand why!

Reasons to buy: Incredible price, can be charged via car lighter plug

Reasons to avoid: Small, not very efficient

Price: £9.99

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Spirit of MK

• Amenities & Toys
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SPIRIT OF MK YACHT CHARTER

34.01m  /  111'7   crn   1980 / 2022.

• Previous Yacht

Special Features:

• Impressive 3,200nm range
• Recent refit in 2022
• Sleeps 12 guests
• Lomac Tender

Spirit of MK offers guests ample areas to unwind and kick back, as well as 4 generous suites, perfect for relaxing yacht charters

The 32.25m/105'10" 'Spirit of MK' motor yacht built by the Italian shipyard CRN is available for charter for up to 12 guests in 5 cabins.

Built in 1980, Spirit of MK's bespoke fittings and design ensure guests can explore the ocean's wonders in style and comfort.

Guest Accommodation

Spirit of MK offers guest accommodation for up to 12 guests in 5 suites. She is also capable of carrying up to 5 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht charter experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

Whatever your activities on your charter, you'll find some impressive features are seamlessly integrated to help you, notably the underwater lights, adding spectacle and style after dark. Take advantage of the on board Wi-Fi and stay connected at all times and you can stay comfortable on board whatever the weather, with air conditioning during your charter.

Performance & Range

Built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, she offers greater on-board space and is more stable when at anchor thanks to her full-displacement hull. Spirit of MK comfortably cruises at 13 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 15 knots with a range of up to 3,200 nautical miles from her 38,000 litre fuel tanks at 12 knots.

Onboard Spirit of MK has a range of toys and accessories to keep you and your guests entertained on the water throughout your stay. Take to the sea on the Jet Skis offering you power and control on the water. In addition there are towable toys offering fun and adventure. Another excellent feature are wakeboards so guests can show off at speed. If that isn't enough Spirit of MK also features inflatable water toys, paddleboards and snorkelling equipment. Spirit of MK has a Lomac Tender to transfer you from ship to shore.

Spirit of MK offers you and your guests the perfect platform from which to enjoy your next luxury yacht charter. Please enquire for details of her summer and forthcoming winter cruising grounds and availability.

Motor yacht Spirit of MK boasts an impressive array of outstanding amenities for truly out-of-this-world charter vacations that you’ll never forget.

TESTIMONIALS

There are currently no testimonials for Spirit of MK, please provide .

Spirit of MK Photos

Amenities & Entertainment

For your relaxation and entertainment Spirit of MK has the following facilities, for more details please speak to your yacht charter broker.

Spirit of MK is reported to be available to Charter with the following recreation facilities:

• Lomac 500 Tender

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

• + shortlist

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

'Spirit of MK' Charter Rates & Destinations

Summer Season

May - September

€54,000 p/week + expenses Approx $60,000

High Season

€62,000 p/week + expenses Approx $69,000

Cruising Regions

HOT SPOTS:   Ibiza, The Balearics

Winter Season

October - April

€51,000 p/week + expenses Approx $56,500

Charter Spirit of MK

To charter this luxury yacht contact your charter broker , or we can help you.

To charter this luxury yacht contact your charter broker or

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NOTE to U.S. Customs & Border Protection

Specification

SEASONAL CHARTER RATES

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