Join the solar planet

The world’s largest solar powered boat was launched in February this year and is already set for a round-the-world trip next year. The boat is a huge catamaran measuring 35 by 23 metres, called the Planet Solar and its massive deck houses 500 square metres of solar panels. The Planet Solar can hold up to fifty people and will be sailing from Europe across the Atlantic Ocean, on through the Panama Canal, then across the Pacific to the Indian Ocean. Next, it will sail into the Mediterranean Ocean via the Suez Canal and on the way stop in New York, San Francisco, Darwin, Hong Kong, Singapore and Marseille.

It’s such an inspirational story, and I’ve definitely got my dreaming head on… although I may not have a 35 by 23 metre state of the art ocean-going catamaran, solar panels work wonders with more ‘everyday’ boats and caravans. Solar panels power everything from your lights to your water pump plus appliances like your TV, laptop, digital camera, MP3 player and so on. Combine it with a power inverter and you can use solar energy to power 240v ac appliances.

For me, one of the key things about solar power on a boat or caravan is it liberates both caravans and boats to do what they’re expressly designed to do. Namely allow you to explore the great outdoors.

Otherwise, it can be one constant round of planning the next connection time for your electricity on board. You are liberated from constantly having to think where the next mooring or campsite is to in order connect your electricity. Instead you can do whatever you want wherever you want. You can send the photo you just took of lunch by email to ten dozen of your closest friends right after you took it and then fill them in on how beautiful the lake looks today. Well worth the investment and seriously reduces your carbon footprint throughout your holiday. Its a win-win situation helping to protect the very environment you’ve expressly travelled to take part in!