Guidance and construction of solar boats for Young Solar Challenge

At Robust-MT Marine Technology BV, we are committed to contributing to the future of the maritime sector by providing technical support to local schools and young talent. For several years, we have served as an active partner and technical mentor for school teams participating in the Young Solar Challenge, a national competition in which students independently build and race a wooden solar boat. In our workshop in Monster, we guide these teams through the intricacies of maritime electrical engineering and the construction of their vessels, where theory and practice come together directly on the shop floor.

Objectives of the teams

Every year, young teams from secondary schools face the challenge of delivering a highly efficient, safe, and fast solar boat within strict regulations. Our support focuses on the following criteria:

Reliable onboard electronics

Designing and realizing a fault-free electrical circuit that optimally transfers solar energy to the drive.

Weight saving and efficiency

Constructive and tight assembly of the components to keep the weight of the wooden hull as low as possible.

Knowledge transfer and safety

Students and interns learn hands-on to work according to applicable maritime safety standards, with attention to detail and neatness in the cabling.

Collaboration through the years

The support in our workshop has since led to the successful construction and completion of three unique solar boats, in which constantly changing teams and our own talents have collaborated intensively:

ISW (2025) – Wiring optimization

For the ISW (Interconfessional Cooperation Association Westland) team, we thoroughly overhauled the complete wiring of the solar boat. Together with our intern Bruce, all electrical connections, fuses, and cabling from the solar panels to the motor were structured and optimized to prevent power loss.

Segbroek College (2025) – Complete technical setup

With the solar boat from Segbroek College in The Hague, we went a step further. Under the guidance of our specialists, students Ties and Kosmo realized the complete technical construction of the boat in the workshop. This included the installation of the drivetrain and steering system, and the careful measurement of the electronics within the wooden hull.

Segbroek College (2026) – Collaboration with the new women's team

Last season, we successfully continued our collaboration with Segbroek College. Three motivated ladies from the new 2026 team took their places at the workbench in Monster. Under our watchful eye, they fully technically assembled the latest generation of the Segbroek solar boat and prepared it for the competition entry list.

Result

The technical guidance of these school teams has resulted in reliable, safe, and competitive solar boats that have passed the rigorous inspections of the Young Solar Challenge without any problems. For Robust-MT, this project is one of the most rewarding initiatives on the agenda. It is wonderful to see how students transform into young technicians in just a few days, proudly launching their own self-built solar boats into the water. They immediately take the knowledge gained in our workshop with them to the competition on the water.