by Laura Hinds

Created on: June 15, 2009

Our daily lives are changing at a fast and furious pace due to concerns about the environment and also because of the financial cost of fuel supplies. Society is moving towards hybrid automobiles, solar panels for home heating, and many other new technological advances that will help save energy and save our home planet.

What about boats? Typically, people who own yachts have enough money to buy high end boats and equipment. Fuel prices haven't been too much of a factor for years, because, frankly, if you can afford a yacht, you can usually afford the fuel. As we become more aware of planetary concerns and the environment, the real question is, "Can Earth afford the use of conventional fuels for yachts?"

It should come as no surprise that the answer is no, but enterprising and forward thinking individuals have some come up with a variety of Eco Friendly Yachts which may indeed be the wave of the future of boating.

From as simple a design as the cardboard boat, powered by human strength with cardboard oars, to the sleek yachts with solar panels which charge electric motors, the real life choices for Eco Friendly Boats are vast and varied.

Since we are concentrating on Eco Friendly Yachts in this article, lets explore some of the specific options:

Almost all of the Yachts will employ Solar Panels. The top of the line models usually include Solar Panels on the roof of the vehicle which can be lowered when they are not in use. Once your electric engine is charged, and you lower the panels, then you have more room for other things. Many of these boats are now made from recycled plastics as well as from bamboo or other natural fibers. These are certainly exciting changes!

Other hot new developments include helium powered kites which work as sails to propel your boat, and solar powered sails. The use of Hydrogen power is also incorporated into some of the newer yachts. Touch screen computers on board allow the Captain to control the power sources, sails and engines precisely and easily. LED lights conserve energy too. How cool do those sound? Prototypes are out there now, and more ideas are springing up all over the world.

The use of hybrid diesel-electric systems are also available, often with a generator that can capture unused energy to use later when returning to port. This creates a more silent return and lower wake, which is better for the environment. Even the shape and design of hulls are changing, to be more environmentally safe and have less of an impact on marine life.

With the amount of cash being infused into finding safer, more efficient, sleeker, and more technologically advanced and flashier looking yachts, we should expect to see more new designs and yacht times than we can imagine over the next decade or two.

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