<<

One of the potential problems with the cargo ferry is that, on some routes it may occasionally and inadvertently bounce across coral reefs and have to land on rocky beaches.  One of the solutions we are looking at is a solid glass hull bottom, and accepting that repairs will be required.    Another option is adding a 1mm thick stainless steel cover to the bottom of the hulls.  Adds about 500 kgs to the weight but would make it pretty much scratch proof.  

>>

For the cargo ferry have you thought about a copper bottom instead of steel?  I think some of the triloboats (http://www.triloboats.com/)  have used that up Alaska way to good effect.  Bottom protection, possibly lighter (not sure on this) than steel, and probably the best antifouling bottom 'p aint' one could as an all-in-one kind of solution.   I would think it might be more expensive though.