Check this new development out:
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/...ire/163448.htmThey are in partnership with a fuel cell manufacturer NEAH in order provide green power for hulls like the Pro Angler. A methanol fuel cell will provide electric power much longer than a battery.
"NEAH's fuel cells use renewable methanol, a cost efficient, sustainable and "green" mode of energy. Dr. Chris D'Couto, NEAH's President and Chief Executive Officer, noted that NEAH fuel cells operate in both aerobic and anaerobic manner, which applies directly to Hobie's water environment. "Our micro fuel cells may eventually replace batteries for most uses," D'Couto said, "meaning that cost-efficient and "green" technology is at hand to not only preserve the environment, but to provide nearly perpetual power to the military, manufacturers of almost any product that require an energy source, and to the millions of consumers who require energy on the go.
Doug Skidmore, President of Hobie Cat, said that when NEAH's fuel cells become operational in his products, it opens up new doors for his company's business, which includes its eponymous surfboards, sailboats, kayaks, its new Mirage Drive(tm) ProAngler fishing boats, introduced February 19, 2009, and peripheral products. Hobie boats and peripheral products are sold around the world, with dealers in Australia, Europe, Brazil, Africa, the Middle East & West Asia."
BTW, Our troops in the middle east have been using methanol fuel cell powered lap tops to great advantage for a while now. They are able to ship a much smaller quantity of methanol cannisters into a battle theatre to provide an equivalent amount of power available from a much larger weight and volume of lithium laptop batteries.
See these Samsung fuel cells:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/09/s...that-soldiers/