Red Funnel announce new fast ferry

[Rappey]

Im not sure the older foils mentioned here are anything like whats being used today. Just look at the wash the old ones left with not much more than an angled piece of metal and using long shafts adding to the drag.
How heavy were the engines and fuel to power them compared to batteries?
A friend wanted to kiteboard with a foil. I took him out so he could be towed while learning how to control the board. He can already surf. What was amazing was that at 4 knts he lifted fully out of the water, then he accelerated forwards and i had to accelerate to about 12 knts to keep the towline taught. It was effortless to pull him once on the foil.
The 6500kg 55knts americas cup yachts sit on two foils when underway, not a huge surface area but they lift the boat are adjustable and resist heeling motion.
A new ferry utilizing modern foil technology and materials could be incredibly efficient especially with electric motors in the foils, again using the latest motor technology. This tech just wasnt known, available or possible until fairly recent.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Im not sure the older foils mentioned here are anything like whats being used today. Just look at the wash the old ones left with not much more than an angled piece of metal and using long shafts adding to the drag.
How heavy were the engines and fuel to power them compared to batteries?
A friend wanted to kiteboard with a foil. I took him out so he could be towed while learning how to control the board. He can already surf. What was amazing was that at 4 knts he lifted fully out of the water, then he accelerated forwards and i had to accelerate to about 12 knts to keep the towline taught. It was effortless to pull him once on the foil.
The 6500kg 55knts americas cup yachts sit on two foils when underway, not a huge surface area but they lift the boat are adjustable and resist heeling motion.
A new ferry utilizing modern foil technology and materials could be incredibly efficient especially with electric motors in the foils, again using the latest motor technology. This tech just wasnt known, available or possible until fairly recent.

I think the boats are pretty hi tech materials wise to keep the weight down. And as you say, the design of foils has improved hugely. I doubt the ferry will fly at 4kn, but it should do before approaching hull speed.

 

[Elessar]

The issue will be the max wind and wave height in which it can operate.

The new hovercrafts are lighter and are out of service more often as a result.

Charging wise it’s simple maths. It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t fully recharge after each trip. As long as there is enough in there to get you through to the overnight charge. I imagine they will be topping up when stationary both ends. Probably with a contactless connection. Like charging your toothbrush.

Craning batteries on and off is a non starter.

As for plenty of water to put a fire out. Water doesn’t extinguisher a lithium battery fire. But they catch fire far less often than fossil fuel powered devices so don’t lose sleep over it. (Cheap Chinese scooters excepted)

 

[Chiara’s slave]

They’ll be plugging in when berthed with a 4” thick cable, I’d imagine. Give it some flippin’ amps for 20 mins. It could go from 20 to 80% in that time.

 

[ashtead]

I wonder what changes the new owners of red funnel will bring though.