An Eco-friendly boat designed by Webb Alumni as part of their senior thesis project is finally becoming a reality!
In 2011, the Carmans River Maritime Center solicited schools of naval architecture in hopes that students could assist them in designing a wooden, solar-electric launch. Due to the positive response from faculty at Webb Institute, three members of the junior class at the time, Hampton Dixon ‘11, Andrew Lachtman ‘11, and Lidia Mouravieff Needham ‘11, rose to the challenge.
Hampton, Lachtman, and Mouravieff, under the advisement of Dean Werner, worked closely with the CRMC Trustees as their ‘clients’ to design and engineer a boat that would meet the CRMC’s specific needs. The CRMC’s goal was to use the wooden, solar-electric launch for “Eco-tours” on the Carmans River.
The students design package included a lines plan, system schematics, construction drawings, and bill of materials for the 24-ft, six-passenger launch powered by a 4.0-kW electric outboard motor with a design speed of 5 knots.
Although construction of the Eco-Tour 24 Solar-Electric Launch began in 2012, there is still much to be done. To finish the vessel, the CRMC is providing a boat building course that will allow people to assist in completing the project. Coursework will involve turning the hull over to construct the interior, installation of systems, finishing and launching, and sea trials.