Using a Wingsail and Electric power together.
(Better than wind alone, better than electric alone!)
"Twice
Lucky" has also been tested as a wingsail/electric boat. Using both windpower and electric power makes a very useful package which has more
versatility then either pure electric or pure windpower. This is
especially useful on the Norfolk Broads with its mix of rivers with wooded
banks, rivers in open country, and series of lakes "The Broads". |
Electric power additions - Battery box and trolling motor.
The wingsail
makes transition from electric to wind very simple. The only thing you need to do is switch of the motor and move the wing control lever to a position towards where the wind is coming from. That is all there is to it. There is no sail to hoist, no ropes to pull, and you don't have to get out of your seat!. If there is any wind at all it will give you some assistance. If the wind fails, you need only switch on the motor again. To punch directly into the wind using electric, the wing control is centralised to move the wing and tail assembly to the neutral position, where it is perfectly streamlined for minimum windage. On any kind of windy day, most of the time you will be using the wind, and you will massively extend your range from what it would be on your batteries alone.
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"Rhino" 28lb 12v Trolling Motor
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Battery box |
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How do wingsails work? What are they good for? Click here to find out!