I remember that elusive goal of energy independence was a big part of the Dashew's new boat vision.

"Efficient but simple systems that let us operate far from outside assistance, with the comfort and ambiance that keeps all members of the crew content, without being generator-dependent."

Then when I finally saw their newest(then) motorboat in Pulpit Harbor on a sunny day, it was running it's generator.

That wasn't surprising seeing the size of the boat. Despite state of the art charging and battery storage - and that it is a motorboat capable of producing huge amounts of energy while burning fuel for propulsion - it's size and and size related electrical loads have outpaced the onboard charging.

I'm a power hog at home so I don't argue anyone living on a big boat should be generator-dependent, or shore power cord dependent. I just wish there was a real movement in coastal cruising boats to be fossil fuel generator-dependent.

In fact you do see it all the time in the old schooner vacation trade on the coast of Maine. They're mostly adamant about maintaining that heritage with wood burning cookstove, kerosene lamps and ice for food storage. Like their style or not, with a load of paying guests, they prove it can be done that way.

'Net Zero' boats(to use a building design term) - if there are any out there(mine isn't), are small and or simple.

I don't think we need Net Zero boats, I think we need NetZero-generator - in Pulpit Harbor - ,...boats.