Back in 2019, Canadian startup Ride Solar launched a Kickstarter aimed at converting a 52-year-old water taxi into a solar-powered cruise ship for sightseeing tours of Prince Edward Island. Although the campaign was unsuccessful, the idea lived on and now the renovated and renamed Islola Solaretto is ready for service.
Canadian Heritage Vessel first entered service at the 1967 Montreal Expo as one of the few Vaporettos to carry passengers at a Category 1 World’s Fair. Expo Her Service No. 5 has since been discontinued and spent the early 1970s in Charlottetown Harbor and West Her River before moving to Nova Scotia and New Sher Brunswick in the 80s.
Ride Solar’s Peter Ixkes and Steve Arnold “found it dilapidated on the shores of Shediac” and purchased it for renovation in 2015. The original she was demolished to a 40-foot (11.66 m) fiberglass hull, the diesel engine was removed, and a new hand-laid fiberglass cabin was added.
The electric motor was then moved along with the battery bank and lightweight solar panels. This was followed by a dining table, full kitchen, bar, bathroom facilities, entertainment system and onboard Wi-Fi. The renovation work was completed in November last year.
ride solar
A 6 kW solar panel array on the roof is connected to a large battery bank that powers the vessel’s 20 kW motor. Arnold said, “On a clear day, without high winds, you can drop your speed to 1/4 of the throttle and putt indefinitely on solar power alone.” However, he admits that such days are fairly rare, so land-based charging facilities are in place to replenish the batteries during the tour and at night if needed.
While this isn’t the first or only solar powered watercraft we’ve covered, the Islola Solaretto is claimed to be “North America’s largest solar powered boat,” with a 1.5 to 2 hour sight line of 34 ready to accommodate 1,000 passengers. – Sightseeing and eating cruises in Charlottetown Harbor from mid-May. This joins Ride Solar’s Island Solar Transit System, which consists of party bike tours currently in Charlottetown and Halifax. The system allows up to 18 guests to power the ride by pedaling while eating and drinking.
Source: Ride Solar
