The Loon (2005), the world’s first commercially available solar-powered recreational boat, developed Monte Gisborne, is finally going mainstream. With two new partners, the Tamarack Lake Electric Boat Co. is building a redesigned Loon and a larger houseboat in a new manufacturing facility near Kirkfield Ontario. The first 6.7 metre (22 ft.) Loon should be ready by summer. The company is also looking at tourism and ferry boat markets in several countries.In 2005, the Gisbornes took a solar-powered family boating vacation on the Trent Severn Waterway “without burning a single drop of oil.” Travelling 40 kilometres each day, they used 50 cents worth of electricity, easily supplied by the sun. (A similar trip by cruiser could cost hundreds of dollars.) In 2006, the Loon made a similar cruise on the Rideau Waterway. The Loon’s six solar panels produce 720 watts of power, 800 watts with a supercharger and carries eight, six-volt batteries. The batteries are charged from the sun or by “plug-ins”.Gisborne’s first electric car, the ElectriFly, has competed at the American Tour de Sol five times, winning once. (theStar.com | Tamarack Lake Electric Boat Co.) [ boatinginCanada.com | boating in Canada News & Archives ]

Killian advances to volleyball regional finals
Miami Herald - GIRLS’ SOCCER Edison 7, Northwestern 0: Lourdine Delphonse led the Raiders (1-1-0) with two goals. Hialeah-Miami Lakes 2, Miami Beach 1: NatashaLee Scott led the Trojans (3-0-0) with a goal. Varela 4, South Dade 0: Giannelli Vignati led the […]

Another World Cup rowing gold for Canada
The Canadian men’s heavyweight eight (M8) won gold at a World Cup III rowing event in Lucerne, Switzerland, with a decisive victory over the world champion German team. Team members Brian Price, Andrew Byrnes, Kyle Hamilton, Adam Kreek, Dominic Seiterle, Malcolm Howard, Jake Wetzel, Ben Rutledge and Kevin Light had also won gold at Henley Royal Regatta in England. The lightweight women’s double team, Tracy Cameron (Shubenacadie, NS), and Lindsay Jennerich (Victoria BC), claimed silver, with other top-level placings. [thestar.com Jul15/07]At the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Canadians have excelled on the water. At the rowing regatta, Nathalie Maurer, Zoe Hoskins, Peggy Hyslop and Cristin McCarty of Canada won the gold medal in women’s Quadruple Sculls rowing. Hoskins and Maurer also won silver in women s pairs. The lightweight men’s four, Andrew Borden, John Haver, Adam Reynolds, and Paul Amesbury, also took gold. In canoe/kayak competitions, Canadians won 7 medals. Kayaker Jill D’Alessio won gold in the women’s K-1 500-metres. Kia Byers and Marie-Christine Schmidt won gold in the women’s K-2 500. Angus Mortimer won gold in K-1 1,000. Silver for men’s K-4 in 1,000 metres. Bronze for Benjamin Russell in men’s C-1 1,000 metres and women’s K-4 crew in the 500 metres. [canada.com Jul19/07 | 570news.com] [ boatinginCanada.com | boating in Canada News & Archives ]

Cruise America/Cruise Canada Announces Buddy Pass Program on All
Earthtimes - Designed to encourage new motorhome owners to take their first trips with friends or loved ones, the certificate makes it easy and affordable to plan a relaxing getaway for a large group of travelers. “When our buyers bring their new rv home SSC wins Beach-Bayou TipoffBiloxi Sun Herald - A spokesman […]

Fisheries takes over e-Charts
After March 30, 2007, CHS will be responsible for all Canadian digital charts and data. The Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) announced that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) will buy back its rights for the distribution of Canadian electronic charts from Nautical Data International (NDI). (charts.gc.ca | digitalocean.ca | digitalocean.ca Q/A) [ boatinginCanada.com | boating in Canada News & Archives ]

Canadian to enter Atlantic Rowing Race
On Dec. 2, Paul Attalla, 36, from Fernie, B.C., will be the first Canadian to enter the Atlantic Rowing Race. He will attempt to row 5,500 kilometres (3400 mi) from the Canary Islands across the Atlantic Ocean to Antigua on a custom 24-foot boat “The Spirit of Fernie” - alone, with no motor or sails. He is one of only five solo entries (20 entrants are pairs and fours). The race, expected to take about 100 days, is known as one of the toughest endurance tests in the world. [www.solotheatlantic.com] [ boatinginCanada.com | boating in Canada News & Archives ]

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 21st, 2007 at 3:59 am and is filed under Boating News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.