THIS MONTH's 10

1 HARDY HYBRID

Cockwells has launched the first of its new generation Hardys after buying the brand last year. And it’s a diesel electric hybrid. The boat is a Hardy 42, a timeless well-proven model, around 30 of which have been built over the past 18 years. Previous owner Windboats started the build by laminating the hull and superstructure but the remaining 70% of the work has been completed by Cockwells at its Mylor Creek facility in Cornwall.

The hybrid installation is based around a single 440hp Yanmar diesel engine, rather than the usual twin set-up, with a 20kW electric motor linked to a 22kW generator and a 48V 400AH lithium-ion battery bank providing an additional source of clean, quiet power for the single shaft and propeller. The generator either runs the electric motor directly or charges the batteries, but a 48V alternator also allows charging directly from the main engine.

Under diesel power it has a top speed of 15-16 knots, depending on load condition, but at an economical cruise speed of around eight knots it should deliver a range of around 600nm from its 2,000 litres of diesel spread across two tanks. In electric mode the maximum speed will be just six knots, but the batteries won’t last long at this pace. At a more sedate 4.8 knot cruise, a draw of around 200A allows up to two hours’ silent running.

Cockwells developed its own power-management control system for the hybrid installation. EmpirBus-based, the system will handle everything