30 Apr Tweed News Daily – New marine craft cuts travel time
CHINDERAH resident Trevor Payne has patented a new high-performance craft that he believes will revolutionise the boating industry.
Twice the speed of your average speed boat, the radical new marine craft design promises to get you from the Gold Coast to Sydney in under nine hours.
His new vessel achieves its performance by running on special skis that lift the hull clear of water contact when travelling at cruising speeds – cruising speeds of 100kmh that is.
“The beauty of the Sea Ski technology is in its simplicity and lack of moving parts or high-tech electronics,” Mr Payne said.
“Most power boats need to slow down substantially in seas above one metre, and the higher the seas the more they need to slow, which can be expensive for charter operators and potentially life-threatening in the case of search and rescue operations.
“Due to the special features of the design, the Sea Ski vessel can achieve and maintain high speeds in seas that slow other boats substantially.”
He envisages the technology will be picked up for recreational purposes such as diving charters and personal use, as well as the possibility of use for ferry transportation and by search-and-rescue operations and the military.
“The big market we’ll be looking at is the recreational market,” Mr Payne said.
“If you have a situation where you’re fishing 100km offshore and a storm warning comes through you can be back to shore in an hour. It actually likes the chop because it helps the skis engage and gets air under the hull.
“For search-and-rescue operations you can get to the site of the accident very quickly, you can effect the rescue and then you can get them home quickly.
Mr Payne said in the future the technology could even become a viable alternative to road travel.
Mr Payne’s company Sea Ski Australasia intends to concentrate on management, marketing and quality control and outsource the manufacturing to competent boat builders.
The prototype is 6.5 metres long and weighs 1.5 tonne.
| Tweed Daily News