Visit www.mogcanalboat.com for more details about the MOG Canal Boat.
"Well, have you left yet?"
That question is what keeps me going. Nope,
not yet, is the answer and the word 'soon' is getting really tattered
around the edges. Stuff happens in life and plans get delayed.
However, the way the boat, medical, electro-mechanical and weather
seem to be looking, I will go back to beating up on the word 'soon'.
Hillary (wife) and I have gotten our medical clearance and the boat is
having real pictures by a real photographer tomorrow, April 18. I will
follow this short update with captioned pictures of the ALGEMAC II (a/k/a MOG) in
the water at the Bennett Brothers Yacht yard here in Wilmington, NC.
It is one thing to embark on a long journey with a boat developed and
manufactured by a boat building corporation that functions with
systems of sail and petrol engines. There is quite another journey
just to design, develop and build a boat that is powered solely by
solar electric energy (petrol outboard auxiliary excepted). The
difference seems miniscule, one being petrol and one being electric.
Gee, what is the big deal here? The big deal (for some readers) is
revealed when one sends this blog to an acquaintance who has made
several one month or more excursions on their personal yacht (38 feet
or larger). The usual reply is "no way". That should give a clue that
this endeavor is not simple or a no brainer.
A very large solar electric yacht over 100 feet long has made a world
trip and also cost far in excess or ten million dollars. The MOG is
aimed at the boater who is looking forward to retirement and plying
the waters, estuaries and inside passages of the Intracoastal
Waterways of America. The eastern and mid nation areas of the Great
Loop are capable of enlargement of the watery highway by three to four
times, using the shallow draft of the MOG Solar Electric boat. The
usual route of the Great Loop is about 6,000 miles. If one considers
that the MOG is able to navigate 24 inches of water, then there are
myriad rivers and streams that are opened to view which formerly were
the province of canoes and kayaks.
I look forward to some pictures 'soon' and starting the Loop a bit
later 'soon'. Thank you all for your patience.
Stay tuned...
