Green Boats Get Assist from Marine Lanterns

With many lakes banning the combustion engine, many are now looking at the electric boat as an alternative. The electric boat is not what it used to be, and with the advances in materials technology and marine electronics, green boating is expected to become more competitive with gasoline driven boats.

The electric boat is nothing new. It has been around for over 100 years. It lost market share with the arrival of the combustion engine. But now, it has reemerged as a contender for market share. And this is because of increasing gas prices, the strict enforcement of environmental regulations and a greater public interest in keeping our lakes crystal clear.

There are also a number of non-green reasons why boaters are turning to electric boats. These include the low cost of operation, their ocean range cruising distance, and ultra low maintenance requirements. And there are also the changing demographics. Those that are retired find their noiseless environment relaxing, which some say also gives them the heads up on successful day fishing.

Electric boats today, come in all sizes, shapes, styles and price ranges. Typically, they range in length from 10 to 25 feet in length. Shapes and styles include the futuristic, the modern day and the traditional. And you won’t have to spend a lot of money to get the complements about your good taste. Most electric boats cost between $3,000 and $50,000. However, small electric pontoons can cost very little, as little as $ 900.00.

Why many are also turning to electric boats is that the cost of operation for electric boats is far lower than gasoline powered boats. You can generally expect to spend under 4 cents per mile for electric fuel. Typically it will only cost $1.00 to $2.00 to charge an electric boat for a 50 mile trip.

You don’t have to buy an electric boat, many are converting their row boats and gas powered boats to electric. And it’s not difficult. What you’ basically need is an electric trolley motor and, if you really want to go green, get some solar panels or a marine solar power conversion kit complete with marine solar panels, converter and instructions.

Solar electric boats, although relatively new, can also be purchased. They have seating capacities from one person all the way up to 150 persons. Typical speed ranges from 5 to 12 kilometers per hour. These boats are priced from $20,000 and up.

Some are however taking the alternative green boat further than that. These professional designers build their electric boats to get the most natural energy with the latest solar technology, ultra light weight sails, wind turbines and anaerobic digesters. These boats and ships are a sight to behold. Streamlined like space ships to take advantage of the fluid and aerodynamics of the ocean environment, they provide the highest speeds, greatest range, and highest levels of comfort and safety.

What makes them go is the latest marine electronic technology. A typical sea-worthy solar ship will be equipped with battery, solar, wind, and electric powered marine electronics devices. These professionals take great care in selecting their marine electronic devices. Factors they most often consider are weight, charge life, reliability, and their overall sea worthiness.

If you have an electric boat or a solar electric boat, you will also want to complement it with a complete range of solar marine electronic devices. And one place is to start is the ever popular and colorful solar marine lantern.

These lanterns are used for all sorts of different applications, from lighting up your boat deck for festive parties to lighted buoys to light up the dock or to mark navigational hazards.

Solar lanterns come in a wide variety of colors, red, amber, green, blue, white and more and have GPS capability and a range of selectable flash patterns. They weigh as little as 2.5 pounds. Some also come with accessories such as infrared remote programmers,

Things to look for in marine lanterns include their mechanical, electrical and environmental specifications. These specifications are important because they relate to the lantern’s reliability. So prepare yourself to learn about vibration, corrosion, immersion, and shock specifications. You should also consider the candela rating. The higher the candela rating the farther the lantern will be visible.