The Green Boat Effect: Teak, India And The Rise Of Boating

Teak is one of the strongest and most durable hardwoods in the world. Known as the “King of Woods”, Teak is one of the most desirable and endangered woods. Considered by mariners to be the most valuable and versatile hardwood, its rare beauty, its rich golden brown luster, its decorative grain and its unique properties of strength, stability, and resistance to wear have made it the most demanded wood for marine use.






Teak is found naturally in only four countries in the entire world. Burma, Thailand, Laos and India each have varying amounts of natural teak forests. Because of its strong demand and limited supply, Teak is in desperate need of reforestation projects worldwide.

Investment possibilities with Teak plantations

Many companies are anxious to invest in Teak plantations and reforestation projects because potential returns are enormous. As the worldwide supply of Teak dwindles, the prices of this exotic wood will continue to rise. As the prices rise, the investment opportunities in Teak plantations will continue to be available. The time for these opportunities is now; because of the time involved to establish new Teak plantations, it is important start now.

Consider this example of a reforestation project. During the lifespan of a tree in a Teak plantation, the first harvest occurs at 12 years, and is cut in rotating cycles as the tree, once cut, re-grows up to 3 times. If the trees are planted in a 3 meter X 3 meter quadrant, thinned, and maintained properly, a hectare of Teak trees in a reforestation project at the current market prices will yield gross income of over $475,000 in 20 years. It is projected that plantation set-up and maintenance costs would be approximately $17,000 per hectare the same 20-year plantation, with the figure adjusted for inflation.

The Green Boat Effect:

Imagine this. The yachting trend in India is picking up. So is the Boat-building industry. If mergers with advanced technologies of the international world are projected, India can become the future world boating destination. Right from Material to Manpower and Manufacture to Maintenance.
With an opportunity like teak reforestation, some carbon credits would definitely speed things up! What do you say?

Share Your Thoughts Please.

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“Independence of the Seas” - World’s Largest Cruise Ship Delivered

The third in the series of the world´s largest cruise vessels for Royal Caribbean was delivered in Aker Yards, Turku. The “Independence of the Seas” has all of the signature elements of her sister ships “Freedom of the Seas” and “Liberty of the Seas”, making the Freedom-class ships the most innovative and forward-looking class of ships in the cruise industry for the time being..


The vessel is like a small city with lots of service: many restaurants, theatres, cafés, shopping mall, hospital, hair dressers´ and bakers´..Already the mindset behind the vessel’s name is in giving the the passengers the independence to create their own unique adventure by choosing multiple onboard options - from rock climbing, surfing or ice skating to spa treatments, fine dining or world-class entertainment.


In addition to the innovative comfort amenities there is lots of technical improvement onboard the Independence, e.g. advanced water purification: The state-of-the-art AWP-plant purifies all of the ship’s grey and black waters into a degree of being virtually pure drinking water. The separated sludge will be consequently dried and incinerated with other combustible waste. All other waste material generated on board will be landed in ports and nothing - except for that fully purified drain water - will be released into the sea.


The vessel is 339 m long, 38.6 m wide, and takes 4,375 passengers and 1,365 crew. It has diesel-electric propulsion. In order to ensure a best possible fuel economy and subsequently environmentally friendly operation a series of different hydrodynamic improvements including a new ducktail design were carefully studied and taken into use.


The signed contracts of Aker Yard´s business area Cruise & Ferries are today worth approximately 5.9 billion EUR including 7 cruise vessels for three out of the four leading multibrand cruise companies: three for Royal Caribbean, three for MSC and two for NCL.. Read more...

LobsterBoat Tours: Exploring Maine !

Maine is famous for its Lobster Boat Cruise! It would be so great to have something on similar lines along the coasts of India!

The 3 hour educational and scenic boat trip is everyone's favorite. It gets you out on the water to see a large part of the archipelago including the following landmarks: Stonington Harbor; Crotch Island, an active granite quarry (one of the few left in Maine); Mark Island Light House; and the seals on Twin Ledges.

During the boat tour you stop on an island and go for a swim in a freshwater granite swim quarry. After that, on the way back in you haul several lobster traps (you can purchase the catch right on the boat)!. The Captain has lobstered for many years and can answer all your questions about lobstering!

All along the boat tour you are watching for sea life that is often times quite abundant. Also during the trip educational subjects are talked about including natural history subjects like: Native North Americans; the European settlement of the area; history of the local economy including farming, fishing, boat building, granite, and tourism.

Also history regarding lighthouses, transportation, island living, and the waterways are given. Geology, marine biology, the local flora and fauna, and ecology are touched upon as well.
For most of the trip the kids can steer the boat. They really love this and it is a great photo op for parents!

Talking about India, there are similar boat trips organised by the government at destinations like Jaigadh for example, 3-4 hours away from Mumbai. Stay tuned as we bring you the scene in India where boat tours are concerned.

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To Build Boat: Click Button !

Believe it or not, you can design and build your own boat with a click of a button on your keyboard! The internet does not only provide you with information regarding boat designs but will also connect you with the kind of database you would require to turn your boating dreams into a reality. Many boat manufacturers today offer personalized services on their website to redefine value they are offering to their audience.



Boat Building and design websites cover everything from forums, galleries, directories and even help connect innovative functional ideas!

Discuss various topics like boat design, boat building, powerboats, sailboats, design software, education, services and employment through online forums. A gallery of professional and student design work, projects in process, power and sail is available too. Post your boat design & boat building images for everyone to see. A marine design directory and search engine helps bring together boat plans, designers, boatbuilders, materials, powerboats, catamarans, propulsion, sailboats, multihulls, shipyards, software, books, & resources.


A site connecting boat builders and designers, showcasing innovations in design and construction and providing access to articles, resources, software, and inspirational sites is the best part about one such website known as BoatDesign.net

The earliest means of boat building were done by the use of body parts such as the hands and forearms for measuring certain lengths of a boat model. Other people used tiny pieces of sticks for the same purpose. Until relatively recently, boat designers made models of boats by having the lengthwise basic part of the boat called a keel, stems and its back part called sternposts be connected together in blocks, forming the middle section of the boat. Its rear section is also either being lifted to produce boats of various sizes. Its remaining parts are then later assembled including the floors and other parts of the hull.


In boat building during the Medieval period, boats were modeled either through drawings or outlines of its hull called half models. Boat builders made rough drawings of the planned boat mostly during the 15th century. Another method which was used in the 17th century was called whole molding. It is a drawing done by the use of a compass to produce the contours of a boat. It mostly concentrates on the middle section of the boat giving way for the setting up of its frames. However, only a partial portion of the boat was also being drawn. Another technique called lofting is done in the same way except that the boat was completely drawn in its entire part. During the earlier years of the 18th century, boat models were done by carving boat replicas into a certain planned shape, depending on the creativity of the designer.

The Internet is a whole new chapter waiting to be explored in the arena of boat building. Stay tuned as we find out if the idea really works! Do share your thoughts on it.


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