Sails on a power boat?

[NiceAft]

We have been cruising Southeast Asia for over two weeks, and I saw this today. A mizzen mast on a fishing trawler. This is new to me.


In the background was this. Mt. Fuji.

[dlandersson]

Very nice. Thanks

We have been cruising Southeast Asia for over two weeks, and I saw this today. A mizzen mast on a fishing trawler. This is new to me.


In the background was this. Mt. Fuji.

[OverEasy]

Heck! With gas prices climbing higher and faster than homesick angels this year it won’t be long before our MacGregors are gonna be hot worldwide commodities!

Those trawlers are smart guys! Especially with the way things have been going.
Smart guys!

There already are folks mounting sails on bulk, cargo and tanker ships now!
Some are even using wind kites like those surfer types are playing with! Apparently the kite thingys are a prefabricated bolt on with some fancy computer system to auto deploy/retract from an existing ship’s bow deck area!
Here is but one example:


Apparently these systems are already getting real serious attention from Asian and European shipping concerns since the latest fiasco started. Serious money is getting involved…. And why not? If a ship can be retrofitted simply and can take advantage of prevailing winds on even a half or quarter of its route the system could pay for itself in fuel savings in its first voyage or two. Pretty much gravy after that for the operator… and less dependence on commodity pricing.

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[NiceAft]

That video is absolutely fascinating.