Plastiki eco - catamaran

ChuckA · #1 (**permalink**) 02-28-2010

Feb 26 2010 - San Francisco, CA USA: Adventurer, environmental advocate, and National Geographic Emerging Explorer David de Rothschild unveiled Plastiki, a sailboat constructed of more than 12,000 recycled plastic bottles, with inspiration from Kon Tiki. He plans to sail from California to Sydney, Australia, to show what can be done with ingenuity, determination, and reclaimed materials.

More info at: De Rothschild's Message in a Bottle: Plastiki - NatGeo News Watch

Plastiki web page (still under construction) The Plastiki Expedition

Allanbc · #2 (**permalink**) 02-28-2010

He shouldn't have a problem picking up repair materials out in the ocean.

PCP · #3 (**permalink**) 02-28-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allanbc

He shouldn't have a problem picking up repair materials out in the ocean.

tager · #4 (**permalink**) 02-28-2010

Booo.

Is this really environmentally sensitive? New sails, new mast, new cabin, new panels, new lines, new superstructure.

If I glued a bunch of plastic bottles to the outside of my hull, does that make me environmentally sensitive?

Seems like another instance of "green marketing" to me.

TheBishop · #5 (**permalink**) 02-28-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by tager

Is this really environmentally sensitive? New sails, new mast, new cabin, new panels, new lines, new superstructure.

Seems like another instance of "green marketing" to me.

It's my understanding that the majority of the boat is constructed from recycled materials, including the sails and superstructure. The masts & boom are ex-streetlight poles. (I looked online, but the NYTimes articles don't seem to be the same as the one that was in print last week).

scottyt · #6 (**permalink**) 02-28-2010

i bet i could swim faster with all the surface area of that hull(s). does not seem very hydrodynamic.

Architeuthis · #7 (**permalink**) 02-28-2010

This is false recycling.

Better to look at energy. How much energy went into construction?

This is easy to guess at if one knows how much it cost. Time, energy, and cost are all related.

I suspect this boat is much more expensive and energy intensive than many modern boats he could have selected for the same voyage.

Plastik is a good name, enviromental is not a good moniker.