M Ship Co
M SHIP CO.’S WAR FIGHTING HULL PROVIDES ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY DESIGN FOR DUFFY BOATS
Date: June 14, 2007
By Jon Schmid (619) 200-7257
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA ? M Ship Co.’s patented M-hull is providing the platform and design for a new model boat being introduced by the Duffy Electric Boat Company in the fall of 2007. The M240 is 24 feet in length, the largest in the Duffy fleet, and it is powered by twin electric motors.
The debut of the M240 marks another milestone in M Ship’s strategic plan for the introduction of additional M-hull vessels in the commercial and recreational markets, in addition to the military market. Last year, M Ship delivered the M80 Stiletto to the Dept. of Defense.
The M240 is part of an entirely new line of boats M Ship is designing for Duffy. These new craft will have refined styling and crisp design elements akin to European progressive automotive detailing, making the boats not only perform well, but look good, too.
For Duffy Electric Boat Co., the inherent stability and efficiency of the M-hull was the key factor in choosing this unique hull design, said President Marshall Duffield. “The M240 is designed first and foremost for its high-stability, both dynamically and statically,” he said.
The M-hull has superior tracking and low drag, and performance is further enhanced by dual motors and power rudders for maximum power and control. Three points of entry for passengers provide optimal access.
“The M-hull is perfect for this kind of vessel,” said Bill Burns, co-founder and executive director of M Ship Co. “It is more stable than a conventional design and the low drag means longer battery life. Together, these mean more on-the-water fun for the boat owner.”
In keeping with the Duffy tradition of pollution-free boats, the M-hull of the M240 makes the new boat even more environmentally friendly. The M-hull requires less energy for propulsion and the negligible wake reduces the impact of the bow wave on other vessels, structures and environmentally sensitive shoreline.
Conceptual drawings of the M240 are available.
M Ship’s proprietary M-hull evolved from a challenge to help solve the serious problem of wave erosion to the ancient buildings of one of the most cherished cities in the world – Venice, Italy. Although the M-hull® was originally designed for low-wake applications, several other important benefits were discovered during its development, including high speed potential, fuel efficiency and superior ride quality.
What makes the M-hull design unique are its rigid “skirts,” which capture the bow wave and redirect that energy under the hull into “tunnels” (captured air plenums) that extend to the vessel’s transom. This enhances lift, reduces drag and improves stability.
To date, M Ship has built operational prototypes in each of its key markets, including the M80 Stiletto for the Pentagon’s Office of Force Transformation, as well as the Vaporetto passenger ferry and water taxis for municipal use in Venice, Italy, and a sportfishing boat for the recreational market. These vessels are proof of concept for M Ship’s Rapid Empirical Innovation (REI)TM process and Virtual Shipyard construction management system. And the Stiletto, which showcases the company’s proprietary M-hull Technology, is garnering accolades from both military leaders and war fighting operators as the most significant leap forward in ship design for the unique and rapidly growing needs of naval operations in the littoral areas around the world.