Hobie to reveal world's first tribrid boat
by Media Services on 23 Feb 2010
Hobie tribrid boat MIAA
Hobie, the name synonymous with catamarans, plans to launch the world’s first tribrid in March. This is a watercraft powered by a combination of three energy sources.
Those three are: rudder or well-mounted motor that can be used by itself or be combined with Hobie’s MirageDrive pedal system, and a sail can be added for the third element.
The motor is based on the Torqueedo Ultra light 402 and the battery case has a built-in GPS to show the real speed and the throttle display also shows charge status, distance remaining, and power consumption in watts.
It weighs 8kg with everything included – throttle, cables and lithium manganese battery. The range is quoted at roughly eight hours at 2mph, though less if used at full throttle. The eVOLVE kit is quoted at US$1899.
The MirageDrive is pedalled like a bicycle and the slot-in drive produces motion in two penguin-fin-like flippers underneath - an idea Hobie borrowed after university studies showed the oscillating fins make use of vortices that are naturally shed from anything going through the water.
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