Juneau has its very own electric boat and propulsion company!
Bob Varness is the president and general manager of Tongass Rain Electric Cruise LLC, based here in Juneau! Bob has spent the past six years working on a conceptual electric vessel design; selling electric propulsion systems; performing gas to electric conversions and providing consulting services for those interested in transitioning boats to pure electric or hybrid electric propulsion.
Bob’s latest and most exciting venture is a partnership with Jutson Marine Design of Vancouver, BC.
In THIS seven page pdf file, Bob details his plans for a 30 foot ‘Multi-Mission Catamaran Bow Loader’. At 12 knots, this fully-electric vessel will be able to travel nearly 30 nautical miles on a single charge, perfect for inter-island freight hauling, cabin visits, kayak drop offs, halibut yanking, pot pulling, local whale watching tours, and more!
Quiet, emissions-free, and with no risk of fuel spills, this could be the small boat propulsion system of the future – the near future!
Hmmm. The Forest Service is making plans for tour boats on Mendenhall Lake. This vessel is just what their plans need to consider! Or, maybe his 48 passenger model!
Visit Bob’s website for all the info about Tongass Rain’s other boats and electric drive systems!