Solar Panels Sets Green New Trends

An Austrian company is a producer of the first and only oceangoing solar-electric production catamarans in the world. Theirs Silent 55 model is available in several power configurations to suit a variety of cruising applications. All of them stick to the company philosophy of relying mainly on solar power for propulsion and onboard power needs. With 30 high-efficiency solar panels rated for approximately 10 kilowatt-peak, the Silent 55 uses maximum power point tracking solar charge regulators and lithium batteries, which provide capacity for all-night cruising.

On the Silent 55, the interior layout is centered on a shared onboard space, a huge 40 m2 combination of saloon, helm and galley, with enough space for the crew to gather. Three of the layouts feature a forward owner stateroom that capitalizes on the 8.46-meter beam of the yacht for a spacious layout with a walkaround double berth. Other accommodation plans optimize the space with additional staterooms as Silent-Yachts uses a modular construction and efficient design methods that allow additional layouts at reasonable prices.Because of her revolutionary design, catamaran travels just with the sound of the wind, and the water streaming past the hull, with no smoke, noise, or vibration of engines.

Photos by Silent-Yachts