This is our latest colored Escapade hot out of the mold- still 120 degrees.
We have only 3 in this color - Let us know how you like it!
These particular boats are very sharp and when complete will have our 1/2 windshield.

LED Navigation Lights Kit $75.00 - Everything you need to install on your boat. Factory installed with your new boat purchase. Cruise in the evening with added safety.

In order to meet the requests for an electric model, Nauticraft has completed development of a fully electric Encore. Now called the Encore III, this boat features a conventional fishing trolling motor putting out 55 lbs of thrust. Power for the motor is from two 12 volt AGM batteries. The submersible motor is mounted between the Encore's two molded-in keels where it is protected from inadvertant underwater contact. Speed for this boat is approximately 4.5 to 5.0 mph.

Two powering batteries are located underneath the front seats. To give necessary room for the batteries, the seats have been raised a couple of inches. This gives the front passengers a more commanding view, and the added height also makes getting up and out of the boat easier. The control for the motor is placed between the seats and enables power operation from either front seat. Steering, which used to be dual, is now confined to the starboard side which ends confusion as to who is in command of the boat.

To go along with the Encore III, Nauticraft is also now offering a model with supplimental electric power. This model, called the Encore II, adds a small (about two thirds the power of the Encore III) electric trolling motor to give powered relief to those who may tire of pedaling while yet out on the water. This motor is also mounted between the keels, but the single powering battery is out of the way and out of sight in the front storage compartment.

Contact us for more detailed information on these new offerings.

All Models
http://www.nauticraft.com/models.htm

WATERBUG UPDATE

THE OTHER DAY I got a call from Mark Pares of Harken. Harken, of course, is the Wisconsin company that makes internationally renowned yachting hardware, and in the 80s did the development and production of the Waterbug and Mallard pedal boats. The Mallard is the boat from which we developed the Escapade. Mark is the first person I was in contact with at Harken, and he gave us a great deal of time and patience when my wife and I first went to visit Harken to see what this pedal boat business was all about. Once our deal with Harken was completed, Mark packed up and brought all of the hulls, molds, and parts over to us.

The main reason Mark called was that in Harken's archives he found a mold for a fiberglass part for the Waterbug, and wanted to know if we were interested in it. In the course of my dealings with Harken we got (most of) the Waterbug molds as well as some hulls - even though I was primarily interested in the Mallard.. We then started reminiscing about the Waterbug.

The Waterbug was the first pedal boat designed by Garry Hoyt, the yacht designer, and then developed and built by Harken. An untold number of ‘Bugs were built and, because we also got the parts inventory, we get calls from owners all over (the last one was from Hawaii) trying to locate parts. This is a testimony to the charm of this funky little boat; it has now been almost 20 years since they were last produced and still there are owners who want to keep them going.

Some of the most requested parts we get are for the (Harken developed) drive unit. The parts needed range widely, from gears and bearings and bushings to a variety of miscellaneous items. Unfortunately we now no longer have any significant inventory left. One disappointed owner looking for a set of miter gears told me he thought he might have a friend of his, who owns a machine shop, set up to machine a pair. I suggested, as long as he was going to do a set-up, that they run off a few extra sets as he could make a few bucks by offering these gears to other owners. I was willing to forward these requests, but unfortunately never heard back from him. I think the project got dropped because of cost/complexity; the (miter) gears required intricate machining out of blocks of material – one out of acetal plastic and the other out of aluminum, which was then Hardkote-anodized followed by a Teflon coating.

Mark and I went on to discuss the Harken drive unit, and Mark called it "over engineered". I have designated it the "Rolex watch" of drive units, not only because of its excellence, but because both the watch and the drive unit have precision machined stainless steel parts. However, the Harken drive, as excellent as it is, had the insurmountable problems of being parts costly and time consuming to assemble.

When we began development of the rotomolded Escapade we determined that the complexity of the Harken drive would prevent it from being acceptable for our boats. And, because our focus then was on the Mallard/Escapade, we took no consideration of the Waterbug. However, since then we fortunately discovered that the Nauticraft drive system can be adapted to the Waterbug fairly easily with only a few modest compromises.

Over the years we have received requests from Waterbug owners (as well as “home-built” boat builders) asking about our drive unit. To this point we have been unable to provide them because of our constrained production system. Now, however, recently we implemented a molding system change that enables us to be able to produce extra drives.

Mark and I both agree that the Waterbug probably will never be made commercially again. The boat is hugely heavy as it requires over 300 pounds of ballast, and the hull, like the drive unit, is comprised of a series of parts which are complex to make and assemble. It would seem that today’s technology has left it in passing. But, for those ‘Bugs that are still out there and suffering from old-age drive unit failure, potentially there is new life after all.

It was great talking with Mark and hearing how well Harken is doing. It is always good to hear from old friends.

Curt Chambers
Nauticraft Corp.

Inexpensive solar panels are available from Real Goods/ Solar Living Institute (now a Nauticraft Dealer in CA). These, along with a simple charge controller could be your "green" recharge station for your new Nauticraft Electric Encore boat! Real Goods has been a leader in providing clean solar energy to consumers for many years- they offer excellent service and support, and a wide variety of products. We are proud that they have become dealers for our boats, which are to be featured in their upcoming catalog!

For the used panels see: http://store.solarlivingstore.com/solarexmsx64.html
For new solar panels and accessories see: http://www.realgoods.com/renew/index.cfm

Please feel free to contact Randy at Nauticraft to inquire about how solar panels could recharge your boat.