The construction of the boat required more than 1000 hours of combined design engineering and fabrication. The selection of the material and components was carefully reviewed with professional boat builders. For safety purpose, the boat has several back-up systems. Two sets of solar panels charge independently two batteries which alternatively run the electric outboard motor. The high efficient light weight photovoltaic solar modules were manufactured in Italy but distributed in the States by HighFlex Solar in California. The solar panels are articulated for best sun incidence, thus increasing the efficiency of the battery charge. A special sundial designed by Ray Christe, the lead canoer, provides with the best angle to position the solar panels.
The core of the main hull was fused by Melges Performance Sailboat in Zenda, WI. The batteries and outboard electric motor are manufactured by Torqeedo in Germany. Their North American headquarters are in Crystal Lake, IL. The design of the electric motor and propeller shaft allows the boat to move forward, backward and make turns on a sharp angle. A solar-powered convection fan maintains continuous air flow in the batteries compartment. There are dual bilge pumps for redundancy. Instrumentation includes Depth Finder, GPS, Netbook, Energy Monitoring and Cellular Phones.
During their voyage, the mariners will camp overnight on the river islands or banks with an occasion night in a motel. The boat is equipped with a cooler to store beverages and food purchased along the way from cities and towns. The duration of the voyage is expected to last two months, which allows time to go sight-seeing, meet with local townspeople, routine boat maintenance, and so forth.
CAD drawing of the CalypSol - General View
Computerized Main Hull Design 3-D Projection
OUR SPONSORS
State Farm Insurance
Crystal Lake, IL
Raka, Inc.
Ft. Pierce, FL
Kozak's Sports Research
Chicago, IL
Eisenmann Corp. Environmental Engineering
Crystal Lake, IL
Hobie Cat Company
Oceanside, CA
SUPPORT & ASSISTANCE
Adel Lodhi, Crystal Lake, IL
Sailing World, Inc.
Lakemoor, IL
Harry Melges
Melges Performance Sailboat
Zenda, WI
Bob Switzer
Switzercraft, Crystal Lake, IL
Become also a Sponsor !
Elite Supporters of the CalypSol
[Left to right]
Guitar Núñez Lilach, Consul of Switzerland
Mondada Giambattista, Consul General of Switzerland in Chicago