Solar Skiffs

Lifeline of the Alliance

Solar skiffs are solar-powered, waterborne vessels developed and produced by The Northern and Southern Alliance factions. Designed primarily for river travel, the skiffs arose out of the necessity to connect Alliance settlements for trade and personnel exchange. They are long, narrow vessels that can be made from a variety of recycled materials, with lightweight imported metals and naturally felled wood being the most common components. The structure of the hull is composed of a shallow cargo compartment lying over the keel, that runs beneath three-quarters the length the deck and which can be accessed via removeable panels. The motor and battery compartments lie beneath the stern of the deck. The main deck itself is almost entirely covered by the solar panel canopy, providing shade from the elements and the power for the skiff's propulsion systems. Fast-moving and agile, solar skiffs are prized transportation in the rivers of the north, where they are used for a variety of purposes, from moving cargo to conducting scientific expeditions.

Power Generation

As their name suggests, the solar skiffs utilise energy from the sun's rays via solar panels installed in a v-shaped canopy over the boat's deck. The photovoltaic cells sandwiched between layers of silicon create an electric field (called the photoelectric effect), which is then passed through super-conducting wires that link up to two high-capacity batteries. These batteries power the skiff's motor and propulsion system. Power conservation is an issue, and so it is important for anyone operating the skiff to not let the motor idle for too long if the vessel is not moving; whilst the batteries are resistant to leaking energy during periods of inactivity (i.e. when the skiff is not powered), the batteries continue to provide power to the motor when it is on even if the skiff is not being propelled through the water.

Propulsion

The solar skiffs are propelled through the water by a small but powerful motor that is mounted at the boat's stern, with dual propellers providing much of the driving force. Turning the motor on or off is as simple as a button press on the main console situated at the stern near the tiller. A rudder directs the movement of the skiff via the tiller, which is operated manually by a crewman. The speed of the vessel is controlled by the throttle, a lever on the main console that can change through various gears (from high to low gear), including a reverse gear when needed for maneuvering.

Communication Tools & Systems

Like most vehicles whose purpose is to undertake long journeys across Arcadia, communications with nearby settlements are handled with long-range radios. Solar skiffs are typically fitted with a long-range radio system for this purpose, and a short-range radio system for comms between nearby vessels. Alliance skiffs are marked with their base frequencies on the side of the hull for quick identification and ease of communications. Without the aid of the satellite radios, and HPRCS (High Particle Rendering Communications System) being reserved for inter-faction communications, Arcadians are forced to implement this basic technology into their vehicular comms, taking the knowledge they have gained from more advanced comms networks to improve the primitive one.

Sensors

Some solar skiffs, typically the scientific vessels, are fitted with sensor arrays for scanning the bottom of riverbeds or deep waters. These specialised craft are not usually used for passenger and cargo transportation, being in service with various scientific research divisions (almost always to do with marine science) and fitted according to a particular expedition team's needs.

Rarity

Very rare outside of Alliance (both Northern and Southern) settlements.

Beam

2.8 metres (9 ft.)

Length

18 metres (56 ft.)

Weight

Varies depending on build and equipment complement; typically around 6-8 tonnes unloaded

Speed

Up to 39 knots (approximately 45 mph)

Complement / Crew

1 coxswain (operating the tiller) and 1 deckhand (if required)

Cargo & Passenger Capacity

Up to 40 passengers and 2 tonnes of cargo; 4.5 tonnes of cargo if only the crew are aboard