Initiated by Dominique Renouf, "Boats for the planet aims to reinvent river tourism in the Lot-Garonne valley, while making it environmentally friendly. The company has made a name for itself by designing Phoebus, eco-friendly, autonomous boats powered by electro-solar energy. An innovative initiative that aims to promote greener river navigation.
Redefining river navigation with innovative coches
boats for the Planet was born of Dominique Renouf's desire to ' to revive river tourism on the downstream Lot while decarbonizing it'' To achieve this goal, the company has surrounded itself with 15 shareholders and recognized technical partners, such as the Meta shipyard, renowned for its strongall (thick aluminum) construction of catamaran hulls, E'Lectrique, responsible for photovoltaic assembly since 2018, and Navy Clic, which provides technical consulting services. The idea is to create and then operate a fleet of 100% solar-powered boats on a seasonal rental basis. To date, four solar-powered Phoebus have already been produced, including two models that will be available for rental in 2023 on the Garonne Canal, departing from the Moissac base. The company plans to create a fleet of ten boats in 2024, which can then be marketed. To support its development, the company has launched a ?150,000 fund-raising operation to increase the company's value, with an average ticket of ?40,000 and a 25% tax reduction. AYOMI, the company responsible for the fund-raising, is our partner in this operation.
The Phoebus solar coche is an electro-solar-powered river catamaran concept that can accommodate 6 sleeping passengers and up to 12 sailing passengers. Equipped with 24 m2 of solar panels, it generates its own energy, which recharges a pack of 4 lithium batteries. ' its propulsion power is proportional to the wetted surface: we sail with 2 6-kilowatt electric motors, powered directly by the batteries. We only use 30% of the power, which gives us a reserve margin'' says its designer. ''Generally '' she continues, when it's overcast, we often think that there's no load, when in fact the opposite is true! On a clear day, we consume practically what we produce, which means we can sail without any problems even in the middle of January Thanks to electric propulsion, the boat's operating costs are 48 times lower than those of a diesel boat.
Each boat is Made in France, built in a workshop in Castelsarrasin.
The accommodation section is powered by a 220V 5 kW inverter, saving 10 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. To ensure maximum comfort on board, Dominique has designed a freshwater supply consisting of a 600-liter tank, which requires intelligent water management. Hot water is produced by an electric water heater. Waste water, meanwhile, is stored in a tank, making it easy to empty into the port sewage system.
A boat for every type of customer
As far as the clientele is concerned, as Dominique has noted, the Phoebus is appreciated by all, especially sailing enthusiasts who are getting on in years and want to discover inland navigation aboard a non-thermal boat. The boats are also accessible to people with reduced mobility, in accordance with regulations in force since 2005: a single level eliminates any problems of walking or unevenness. In 2019, a family made their mother's dream come true by treating her to a cruise aboard the Soleil d'Aquitaine, to celebrate her 80th birthday. Looking for a boat accessible to her wheelchair, they were won over by the Phoebus' easy access, flat floor and lack of stairs to the cabins. As one family member points out, the handling of the boat and the specific tasks of securing, guiding and roping created cohesion on board and brought the whole family together, much to the delight of our mother, who really enjoyed her time on the water".
An ecological approach
When asked why she chose to specialize in solar boat rentals, Dominique explains that the idea is not new. In 2006, she initiated the construction of France's first electro-solar hotel barge. A major project. Powered by 4 electric motors, this 50-ton boat, accessible to all, was exclusively dedicated to ecological river tourism on the Canal du Midi. "The difficulties associated with driving this large boat soon became apparent" she reports. i thought that if it was possible for such a large boat, why not a smaller one? Families, friends... could enjoy the river experience in complete autonomy. Then, in 2019, a first prototype was born'' . Unlike internal combustion engines, which are cooled by river water and therefore pollute it, it emits no hydrocarbon waste. For this advocate of eco-navigation, it is essential to encourage the greening of river navigation, as today's ecological solutions herald a more harmonious future between man and the environment: if all river tourism boats were equipped in this way, it would avoid the emission of over 100,000 tonnes of CO2 per year from France's waterways".
The choice of peaceful cruising
Sailing aboard Dominique's Phoebus is disconcertingly simple. Indeed, far from being a challenge, what she describes as a "river paradise offers a remarkably quiet driving experience.
The steering equipment allows effortless piloting, with two remote-controlled joysticks; one for the engine and the other for the rudder, giving the pilot the possibility of being with the other passengers, either inside or outside. After each reservation and contact with yachtsmen, Dominique takes the time to provide detailed explanations on navigation, docking at pontoons and battery management on board. After discovering the Phoebus in Casseneuil, families can then cast off in complete autonomy. The feedback is unanimous. For one of the families who tried it out : the solar-powered Phoebus proves so easy to handle that all the crew members, including the children, take it in turns to pilot it during the two-day trip on the Lot.
In order to enjoy the wealth of flora and fauna lining the banks during the daily 4-5 hour excursions, the canal is subject to an 8 km/h speed restriction. Clear signage and numerous facilities make navigation easy. Opting for the Phoebus means choosing economical, silent navigation, thanks to an electric motor powered by an on-board photovoltaic generator.
Free river exploration
Aboard a Phoebus, stopovers allow you to appreciate the picturesque destinations of the Lot-Garonne valley region. Drawing on her in-depth knowledge of navigation and tourism, Dominique recommends a number of itineraries guaranteeing an enriching experience in terms of biodiversity and culture. ''On the Lot, customers enjoy strolling, swimming and cycling, favouring slow tourism and peaceful roaming'' . As she points out, it's also an ideal opportunity to enjoy environmentally-friendly river fishing, with the satisfaction of tasting your own catch of the day, since the river has been preserved from pollution.
From Fumel to Aiguillon, the river Lot offers everything a boater could wish for. "This stretch represents the wilderness portion of the River Lot, with a width sometimes reaching 200 metres and a 30-metre strip of bank to the right and left, prohibited to protect the banks from eddies." Overall, the Lot river channel is 5 to 6 meters deep, with only one low point reaching 6 meters air draught along the entire route. In all, some forty pontoons are accessible along the river, with five slipways at Caseneuil, St Sylvestre, Fongrave, Castelmoron and Clerac.
Dominique also recommends a short trip on the Tarn from the Moissac double lock, the ideal place for ''open water swimmers are in for a treat! A visit to the Cacor canal bridge, upstream from Moissac, or a trip to Agen via France's largest canal bridge are also not to be missed. Last but not least, the port of Toulouse, accessible after three days' navigation, offers a rewarding stopover, according to Dominique's wise advice: ' an opportunity to discover the 'ville rose'!
Des vacances vertes sur le Soleil d'Aquitaine, une péniche écologique from Mutinalia on Vimeo.
