Search for a Location
  Clear Recents
Metro
South West
Central West
North West
  Surf Cameras
  Safety Bay Camera
Metro
North
Mid North
Illawarra
South Coast
Metro
West Coast
East Coast
Brisbane
Far North
Central Coast
Sunshine Coast
Gold Coast
Hobart
West Coast
North Coast
East Coast
Recent
Western Australia
New South Wales
Victoria
South Australia
Queensland
Northern Territory
Tasmania
  My Favourites
  Reverse Arrows
General
Gps & Speed Sailing
Wave Sailing
Foiling
Gear Reviews
Lost & Found
Windsurfing WA
Windsurfing NSW
Windsurfing QLD
Windsurfing Victoria
Windsurfing SA
Windsurfing Tasmania
General
Gear Reviews
Foiling
Newbies / Tips & Tricks
Lost & Found
Western Australia
New South Wales
Queensland
Victoria
South Australia
Tasmania
General
Foiling
Board Talk & Reviews
Wing Foiling
All
Windsurfing
Kitesurfing
Surfing
Longboarding
Stand Up Paddle
Wing Foiling
Sailing
  Active Topics
  Subscribed Topics
  Rules & Guidelines
Login
Lost My Details!
Join! (Its Free)
  Search for a Location
  Clear Recents
Metro
South West
Central West
North West
Surf Cameras
Safety Bay Camera
Metro
North
Mid North
Illawarra
South Coast
Metro
West Coast
East Coast
Brisbane
Far North
Central Coast
Sunshine Coast
Gold Coast
Hobart
West Coast
North Coast
East Coast
Recent
Western Australia
New South Wales
Victoria
South Australia
Queensland
Northern Territory
Tasmania
  My Favourites
  Reverse Arrows
All
Windsurfing
Kitesurfing
Surfing
Longboarding
Stand Up Paddle
Wing Foiling
Sailing
Active Topics
Subscribed Topics
Forum Rules
Login
Lost My Details!
Join! (Its Free)

Forums > Stand Up Paddle General

Thought this was pretty cool

Reply
Created by teatrea > 9 months ago, 8 Jul 2010
teatrea
QLD, 4177 posts
8 Jul 2010 5:33PM
Thumbs Up




















The material
David de Rothschild, the leader of the expedition, designed the Plastiki as a way of showcasing how waste plastic could be used as a resource. The 60 foot (18 meter) catamaran’s cabin and supporting structure are built mainly from srPET (self-reinforcing polyethylene terephthalate), a completely recyclable material made from woven plastic fibers. Its components are bonded together using an organic glue made from cashews and sugar cane. The sail is made from recycled polyethylene cloth, and the mast is a reclaimed aluminum irrigation pipe.



The bottles
The twin hulls are packed tight with the bottles, which provide 68 percent of the Plastiki’s flotation. Surprisingly, the bottles are completely open to the ocean, with no protective or streamlining skin covering them. Instead, the water actually passes between the bottles. When the boat was being constructed, each bottle had some dry ice placed inside, before having its cap sealed on. As that dry ice turned from solid to gas, its volume expanded, ensuring that the bottle would stay taught, streamlined, and not crumple from the pressure of the water.



Support systems
Power for the boat’s electrical systems comes from a combination of solar panels, two exercise bike generators, and wind and underwater turbines. A human-powered desalinator provides drinking water, collected rain water is used for showers, and the crew’s bodily wastes go into a composting toilet. Because the Plastiki has no refrigerator, fresh greens are being hydroponically grown onboard, using a urine-to-water recovery system.



The philosophy
By undertaking this voyage, de Rothschild and crew are trying not only to get people to see waste as a resource, but also to see the entire concept of waste as flawed and unnatural. When it comes to our thinking on plastics and other materials, it is hoped that the Plastiki will inspire a cyclical “cradle-to-cradle” mindset, replacing the current linear “cradle-to-grave” model.

It truly is a message in 12,500 bottles.

Gallery Images
View all
Tags
» Adventure» Boat» Catamaran» Environment» Expedition» Ocean» Plastic waste» Recyclable» Recycled» Sailing
Health Reform News - www.YourHealth.gov.au
Learn More About Health Reform and How It Might Affect You!

Ads by GooglePost a Comment
Login with your gizmag account:

Email


Password


Register here Forgotten your password? Or Login with Facebook:



Related Articles
World's first stainless steel baby bottles – safe, strong and sustainable 360 Paper water bottle offers renewable alternative to plastic Biodegradable water container made from corn HP advances recycling techniques for ink cartridge manufacture Clever cap transforms adult drink bottles into spill-proof kid's cups Vapur - the reusable, flexible water bottle Email this article to a friend
Just enter your friends and your email address into the form below ...

Your Email
Friends Email


Privacy is safe with us because we have a strict privacy policy.

Looking for something? Search our 12,195 articles

PTWoody
VIC, 3982 posts
8 Jul 2010 5:54PM
Thumbs Up

Would love to see Dean LSD make a SUP from Coke bottles. Surely that would make for a great down winder.



Subscribe
Reply

Forums > Stand Up Paddle General


"Thought this was pretty cool" started by teatrea