The next steps

1. Design modifications: The floats need to be enlarged in proportion to the main hull. Under present conditions it is not possible to extend them, as the floats would otherwise touch when turning around their vertical axes. Widening them would result in the disadvantage of increa­sed flow resistance. A deeper draught would reduce the effectiveness of the wave power plant, since wave activity decreases rapidly the farther below the waterline. One solution would be to position the "legs"
diagonally outward. This results in three advantages:
   1) the floats can be still further exten­ded
   2) reduced risk of capsizing in storms; and
   3) improvement in the appearance.

2. Examination of the manoeuvrability and behaviour on rough seas using mathematical models or physical models in a wave tank (at a shipbuilding testing institute or technical university). Testing of the following hypotheses:
    a) Tests with only a model of the Eco- Trimaran: Movable floats result in less drag in waves than fixed floats.
    b) Slamming affects only the floats and is hardly noticeable on the main hull.
   c) Limits to the capacity of the design to withstand static and dynamic stress during extreme environmental conditions (large waves or hurricanes).

3. Comparison of a model of the Eco-Trimaran and a model of a conventional single-hull vessel having the same water displacement:
   a) The Eco-Trimaran exhibits slightly more drag in calm waters.
   b)The Eco-Trimaran exhibits less drag in rough waters.
   c)The Eco-Trimaran pitches slightly more when travelling transverse to wave fronts.
   d)The Eco-Trimaran is less susceptible to rolling when holding a course at a sharp angle to wave fronts.
   e)The Eco-Trimaran exhibits less linear upward and downward motion on rough seas.
    f)The Eco-Trimaran exhibits less linear acceleration (especially negative acceleration) in the di­rection of travel on rough seas.
   g) The Eco-Trimaran exhibits less drag when making a turn (on calm seas)

4. Possibility of building an experi­mental vessel to a smaller scale, perhaps without a wave
 power plant but with solar cells and a wind turbine. Load capacity: one person and 		measurement equipment. By test runs with the experimental vessel,  the following issues could be investigated in addition to the hypotheses listed above (item 2 and 3):
   a) Steering using the front float.
   b) Drag when using floats that are able to move freely around the horizontal transverse axis compared to using fixed floats.
   c) Course of the vessel against the wind or close to the wind: What is the maximum vessel speed up to which the wind turbine still produces a positive energy balance?
  d) Wind turbine: Calculation of wind pressure and resulting heeling in cross­winds. This could result in a larger dia­me­ter and consequently in greater energy production.

5. Full-size construction of the ship: Approx. 20 – 25 m (66 – 82 ft) long and wide; wind turbine diameter of approx. 14 m (46 ft).

7. Testing and improving the ship.
8. Theoretical work: Determination of the optimum float length for generating energy based on a statistical distribution of wave lengths and amplitudes in various ocean areas; extrapolation of the design to larger vessels, perhaps requiring more than three floats that are smaller, in relation to the main hull, than the present ones.
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