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Rideau Canal Solar Cruise Proves Viability
Sun-Powered Boat Travels Between Kingston and Ottawa
With Ease
It was a sign of the times and it read clearly: $1.55
per liter. But rather than wince and reach for his
wallet, Monte Gisborne actually cracked a smile as he
waved to the gas attendant expecting him to make the
customary fill-up. “No thanks” he said “Today I’m
filling up with a blend of sunshine and relaxation!”
The Loon, Mr. Gisborne’s solar-powered boating creation,
headed out from Kingston on August 12th and buzzed
quietly into downtown Ottawa 6 days later, without a
roar or a ripple to be seen or heard. Not a drop of oil
was burned in the process and the Gisborne family,
including wife Denise and daughter, Deanna, nine, seemed
rested and comfortable as they greeted media and
government at Dow’s Lake Marina near Hartwell’s Lock.
The family stayed aboard the boat during the entire
trip, cooking meals and sleeping under the large
overhead solar array. “I think that the main difference
between our Rideau cruise and those made by others is
public perception” stated Gisborne. “People expect to
give up so much by ridding themselves of oil, but that
really wasn’t the case here at all. We enjoyed ourselves
equally or perhaps more than those who miss so much over
the roar of a motor or barely see anything due to the
blur of the landscape and wildlife going by. Most
creatures are skittish and tend to scatter when a faster
and louder boat goes by.”
The Loon is a solar-assisted boat, meaning that it can
take advantage of shore electrical power to help keep
the batteries topped up. The Gisbornes would do exactly
as gas boats do and plug into a power outlet readily
supplied by the marinas and lock stations they docked at
overnight. Each day would start with a fully-charged
pack of batteries and end with about half of a charge
still left. “At no time ever did we feel uncomfortable
that we would get stuck without a charge” Gisborne
stated “ that notion simply goes away with experience”.
All onboard devices such as a fridge, kettle and
microwave also got their energy from the same batteries.
This was the first time that a solar-powered boat has
traveled the Rideau in its 174-year history. It was
opened in 1832 to transport British troops from Montreal
to Lake Ontario to protect its subjects from foreign
invasion (which didn’t materialize) and didn’t evolve
into a tourist attraction until the end of that century.
Plans are presently underway to classify it as a World
Heritage Site in 2007 by UNESCO.
Gisborne comments: “The sustainable future of the Rideau
and other waterways depends on a new boating regime and
electric boating offers just that. We need sensible
options if we want to leave something for future
generations to enjoy… and I believe that water, fun,
safety and electricity do mix!”
For more information, please contact:
Monte Gisborne, B.Tech
The Tamarack Lake Electric Boat Company
monte@tamarackelectricboats.com
www.tamarackelectricboats.com
(416) 432-7067 (cell phone) |
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