ECONA
ECONA — project overview
Status: concept / research.
Status as of 27 October 2026.
Overview · Development · Checks · Further work · Publication · Contents
ECONA is an independent research and design project for an ocean-going kite–solar–electric catamaran. The concept is being developed through analysis of current trends and advances in technology.
Research focus
The project explores the combined use of kite traction, solar energy and electric propulsion in an ocean-going catamaran. This describes a research direction, not demonstrated operating performance.
Work remains at the conceptual research stage. This public overview is not a completed design for construction and does not establish operational readiness or certification.
Current findings
- The software-based engineering test environment has been restored on Windows.
- Hydrostatic calculations have been cross-checked using an independent method; the results agree within numerical precision.
- Agreement between calculations does not establish the vessel's fitness for service. Significant engineering questions remain open.
See Checks for the findings and their limits, and Development for the current state of work.
Reading this documentation
The public set contains the general concept, dated progress summaries, aggregate check results and their limitations. Technical details not intended for publication are excluded. Publication explains the disclosure boundary.
Project addresses
Restored materials
Images, diagrams, specifications and calculations. Original dates and limitations are retained.
All images and diagrams
49 illustrations and diagrams. Select an image to open the original.
Historical research material, not construction documentation. The 0.52 m draft in early charts is a historical assumption; the current design draft limit is 0.53 m. Mass, centre of gravity and stability need verification.
Geometry and catamaran views
Arrangement and system calculations
Structure and loads
Skin and materials
Historical draft and propulsion scenarios
Motors: manufacturer reference material
Onboard data and diagrams
Early calculation illustrations
Golden Motor and other manufacturer material is reference data, not ECONA hardware test results. Source records and attribution are retained in Materials.