PLUS ELECTRIC POWERED BOATS FOR SALE SUMMER 2016 Electric Boata quiet revolution BOAT SHOWS Electric Crick CRUISE GUIDE Peterborough potter PLUS Solar Boats Electric Narrowboats Sea Bubbles Hydrofoils Thorpe Meadows to Peterborough P19 Electric Boat Contact Editor Don Wright Features Editor Barbara Penniall International Editor Kevin Desmond email: [email protected] Subscribe Summer past Membership Secretary Tony Dunning email: [email protected] At the end of another year and boating Ampere the electric narrowboat that Advertise season we can only look in envy at created so much interest at last year’s email: [email protected] the sustainable solar boats that are Crick Boat Show has been travelling wintering in sunny climes (page 16). the UK’s inland waterways and can For the Electric Boat Association now report on the performance of it has been a year of reassessment electric cruising (pages 12-13). Submit of what can be achieved with the This year Olinda another privately Contributions from members and readers are personnel and resources available and owned electric liveaboard narrrow boat welcome although we cannot be held responsible this second edition of the magazine was on show at Crick and attracted for any damage or loss which may occur to material provided. Items of interest include as an e-publication is part of this equally high levels of interest (page 9) letters, reports of rallies, events, cruises, articles process. Also following the success of All this is a long way from Gustave and advice on building and running electric boats the EBA’s first atendance at the Crick Trouvé’s electrically propelled boats and on items of equipment. We also welcome manufacturers’ reports on new equipment and Boat Show last year, Crick was the on the Seine in 1881. Fittingly a plaque boats. only show this year where the EBA has now been put on the wall of had an exhibition stand (pages 8-11). Trouvé’s house in Paris in honour of While electric propulsion for boats a pioneer who would probably have Copy Deadlines may not be happening as rapidly as been forgotten by history but for that for vehicles in the automotive the interest of his biographer Kevin Material to be considered for inclusion industry it is catching up very quickly. Desmond (page 7) in Electric Boat should be sent to the However it may be some time before While we are approaching the Winter editor (preferably by email) by the we see an autonomous narrow boat Solstice it is mid summer in Australia. following dates: moving along the cut. The EBA has If you live there on a solar powered Spring 31 January already booked a place at next year’s houseboat your thoughts may be Summer 31 May Crick show and hopefully will have turning to going on a little trip. Tim Winter 30 September a very special electric narrowboat on Knox took his family 150km down the finger pontoon opposite the EBA the Hawkesbury River and spent No material from the magazine may be reproduced stand (watch this space). Christmas Day moored in Americas or reprinted without permission. While we take While we look forward to the EBA’s Bay (page 17). every care to ensure the accuracy of the contents continuing involvement in all things Beats a barbie on Bondi Beach. the EBA cannot be held responsible for any errors which may occur or any actions that might be taken electric and boating it is sad to report as a result of this material. Views expressed in the the death of Michael Mayer who co- magazine are not necessarily those of the EBA founded the Association with Lord St Don Wright Davids all those years ago. Kevin remembers and pays tribute to Cover: Olinda at the Crick Boat Show Michael on page 24. Electric Boat Published by the Electric Boat Association Volume 29 Website: www.electric-boats.org.uk Number 2 Summer 2016 ISSN 2059-4313 We are grateful to the Broads Authority for their support for the Electric Boat Association Electric Boat Summer 2016 3 For a complete range of marine diesel generators in GRP or stainless steel soundproof capsules and matching electric drive systems. • AC Generators from 3.8 kW to 200 kW • DC Generators from 4.0 kW to 150 kW • DC and AC Propulsion Systems Fischer Panda UK Ltd 4 Electric Boat Summer 2016 CONTENTS Summer 2016 NEWS 6 CRUISE GUIDE 19 Solar Boats and Ampere Boating Boat Shows 12 15 8 Electric Boat Eco Tour Boat W S Sargeant International master boatbuilder 24 16 27 Aussi Challenge Olinda Canal charging points 17 29 6 Electric Boat Summer 2016 5 NEWS NEWS In Brief Charging Points The Canal & River Trust and Islington Council have won funding from DEFRA for electric charging points on the Regent’s Canal in Islington. Boaters will be able to use these charging points to top up their electricity and they will provide an alternative to running boat engines to generate energy. Islington is a popular spot for boats and the electric bollards could reduce the impact of engine noise and smoke that can affect both waterside residents and other boaters. Deep Blue at both ends There will now be a period of A new, emission-free electric tour Torqeedos installed, at bow and stern, discussions and consultations boat now plies the Rideau Canal, but only one is used at a time. The involving the Trust, the Council, powered by two 80 horsepower canal is quite narrow for the long boaters, canal users and other Torqeedo electric motors. The 75-foot, vessel; so instead of turning around, it stakeholders to think about where 100-passenger vessel Queen Elizabeth engages the second motor. the electric points should be located Dr. is the first of two planned vessels Meredith Brown, Ottawa’s and how they should be managed. to offer guided tours and host events Riverkeeper, said, “Our organization is Sorwar Ahmed, London boater liaison on the canal. always happy to see new opportunities manager at Canal & River Trust, said: The second, Colonel By, is expected for people to connect with the river in “I’m delighted that we’ve got the to enter service in the spring of a sustainable way, and there is nothing funding to trial these electric points, 2017. ‘Torqeedo’s high-power like a quiet electric motor to help which will give boaters another option Deep Blue system was the obvious everyone enjoy the natural sounds of for topping up their batteries in town. choice to propel Canada’s largest the river.” Now we need to work with boaters electric passenger vessel because of Ottawa is familiar with the benefits of and the wider community to see how its comprehensive safety systems,’ electric boating, a Torqeedo-powered they could work in practise.”Cllr said Robert Taillefer, owner of The water taxi has served the downtown Claudia Webbe, executive member of Queen Elizabeth Dr. and operator of area for several years. When Parks environment and transport at Islington Ottawa Boat Cruises. “These systems Canada opened an opportunity for a Council, said: “We have been working were fully vetted by the Canadian new tourism operation within the site, on this pioneering initiative for some government in order to have the vessel it specified that only electric boats time – it will remove the reliance many certified.” would be considered. boaters have on using diesel engines to The 1.5 hour tour travels from The Deep Blue motors provides the provide energy.” Chateau Laurier to Dow’s Lake, horsepower, torque and performance passing more than 30 of Ottawa’s of a diesel or gasoline-powered Hidden Secrets landmarks, and runs four times a engine, without the noise, fumes and In November the Canal & River Trust, day. The Queen Elizabeth Dr. has the pollutants. launched its national programme of free, public open days offering behind Kevin Desmond pays tribute to the EBA’s Co-founder, the scenes peeks at some of our most Michael Mayer who died suddenly at the age of 82 in extraordinary waterway locations in the early morning of Tuesday November 1. England and Wales. A seminar on electric boats that Mayer gave for the The 12 open days, part of a six-month, Lead Development Association 1981 turned into our £43 million restoration and repair Association the following year. For the next seven years programme to canals and rivers across the boat association had its headquarters in the LDA the country, are a great way to see the offices in central London. Michael was passionate about sailing for most of charity’s ‘hidden history’, admire the his life. Michael is best known as the original inspiration for the creation of expert workmanship that went into the European Lead Battery Conference (ELBC) in 1988. What was reckoned making the canals over 200 years ago as a slightly improbable venture for the Lead Development Association (now and meet the engineers keeping them the International Lead Association) turned out to become perhaps the most working today successful lead battery conference in the world. 6 Electric Boat Summer 2016 NEWS NEWS In Brief Broads ML Aitken Clark The newest Broads Authority launch has been named after the Authority’s first Chief Executive Aitken Clark, who died in April 2010, to celebrate his contribution to the work of the Authority in looking after the Broads. Under his leadership the quality of water improved, habitats were restored and rare wildlife returned. His work Electric water skiing was acknowledged with an OBE in The Canadian Electric Boat Specifications: 1998, and the Delta D’Oro award Company’s latest model is the Bruce Cruising speed 32 km/h (20 mph) for European conservation in 1999.