GLEN JUSTICE
Sea Ray has waded into new territory with a Sundancer 240 Hybrid that is designed to run on a single diesel engine, on batteries charged via solar energy or a combination of the two.
While the vessel "” Sea Ray calls it a "green boat" "” is not yet in production, it is making a tour of the country, stopping here in Dallas before heading to Miami for the big show. If Sea Ray builds it, it will be the first of its type, expanding the small but growing list of hybrids on the market.
The Hybrid 240 is the product of Sea Ray research, a concept boat that will not likely see showrooms until 2010, said Brian Mayfield, a senior sales consultant for Marine Max, Sea Ray's largest dealership nationwide.
"They are trying to get out and show they are not standing still," he said. "They are moving forward and they are putting a lot of money into R and D."
The boat is one of several hybrids both in develpment and on the market right now, including the Island Pilot Hybrid DSe, a 40-foot catamaran; the Scout Boats 145 Hybrid, a 14-foot fishing boat; and several projects in design.
The companies building hybrids tout them as cruiser-friendly alternatives that can act as a hedge against volatile fuel prices and are easy on the environment. Â
The Sundancer 240 Hybrid has a pair of large solar panels installed on the roof of the boat, which can be used for propulsion or to charge batteries. It also has a 250-horsepower Mercury diesel, linked to a single outdrive.Â
Mayfield said that the boat may go as fast as 8 knots under solar power and that it can cruise for several hours. A Power & Motoryacht review of the boat reported speeds closer to 5 mph and that cruising time was shorter when powered by the batteries.But the boat is clearly still in development, and much is apt to change.
Mayfield said that the price of the new boat could be as high as $100,000, though he expected that to drop when the boat is in production.Â
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