The First Environmentally Friendly Tour Boat in Thailand
Mermaid Cruises & Hua Hin Shipping Co. Ltd of Paknampran near Hua Hin have designed and built a traditional looking Thai long tail boat with a difference, a cheap to run eco and environmentally friendly working prototype.
The 8 meter long traditional Thai style looking long tail boat with a difference was the brain child of Mr Barry Stone director of mermaid Cruises, the environmentally friendly boat came about after months of thought, head scratching and design work.
The idea grew from wanting to take tourists up the Paknampran River near to Hua Hin without the noise of the engine powered noise monsters traditionally used by the local boat men which inevitably make the local wild life run for cover.
This is where the "Kingfisher" is vastly different, the boat is a 6 meter long fiber glass hulled craft designed in the style of a typical Thai long-tail river boat and is driven not a by petrol or diesel motor but by a 4.5 HP silent electric motor, powered by six 6Volt deep cycle batteries which cost in the region of 30 baht to charge overnight, cutting out on fuel that is becoming more costly by the month and maintenance on costly and dated engines.The kingfisher has a 1.65 meter beam 30 cm draught fully loaded, seating capacity 10-12 plus 2 crew with interactive upholstered seating with tables, drink holders and canopy to shade passengers from the heat of the sun and is capable of a top speed: 10 knots fully loaded and a range of 6-7 hours at 6-7 knots.
Driven by the 4.5 HP direct drive motor with a long tail shaft and 9 inch propeller is 100% pollution free and silent which makes it ideal for the tours up river, the kingfisher not only amazes the locals but allows the boat to glide up on unsuspecting wild life that would normally have run for cover making the tours up the river undoubtedly an experience to remember and excellent opportunity for photographers where there is an abundance of wildlife to view on the riverbanks and mangroves.
Mr Stone commented "it took a little longer than we expected but it has been worth all the effort and time taken to complete the project, the looks we get of the people on the river are reward enough".
The Kingfisher is available for charter for tours on the river now, for details contact Mermaid cruises
Dr Dave soul monsta
