Press Release                          Depco Pump Home

August 24, 2001

Canal Boats, Inc. has delivered the first bio-diesel hybrid electric ferry, the “Clay Shaw” to Broward County Mass Transit.  Mrs. Emilie Shaw, wife of U.S. Congressman Clay Shaw, Rep., Fort Lauderdale did the honors before a crowd of 150 people.

Seven more ferries to increase Mass Transits routes and service levels will join the “Clay Shaw”.  Riders will be able to use ground or water interchangeably.  With 300 miles of “wet streets” in Broward County, the area is perfectly suited for ferry service.

The drive system is powered by a 100KW John Deere genset which runs on bio-diesel, an 80/20 mix of diesel fuel and vegetable oil.  A bank of 6V DeKa batteries also provides 240V power to the Baldor drive motors through Danfoss variable frequency drives.  Throttle/directional controls are by Marine Engine Controls and steering is Seastar capilano.  The unique top was built in Quebec by RTM and shipped in one 39’ long assembly.  The top has anodized aluminum frames and Lexan Thermo-Clear overhead panels.  Rich Beer’s Technicold supplied a 10-ton programmable air conditioning system.  Conveyor and Castor supplied the fendering.  Depco supplied the fire pump.

Canal Boats, Inc.

           

                        LOA                                        42’
                        Beam OA                                11’6”
                        Draft                                       3’
                        Power Sources                        John Deere 100KW Genset 6068 TFM
                                                                      40 DEKA 6V lead acid batteries
                        Drive Controllers                      Danfoss
                        Drive Motors                            Baldor
                        Gear Reducer                           Hub City, 2:1 Ratio
                        Speed Directional Controls        Marine Engine Controls, Inc.
                        Battery Chargers                      Zivan
                        Superstructure                         RTM Construction
                        Climate Control                        Rich Beer’s Technicold
                        Fendering                                Conveyor & Castors
                        Steering                                  Seastar capilano
                        Seating                                    U.S. Seating
                        Safety Equipment                     Jim Buoy, ACR
                        Fire Pump                                Depco Pump Company
                        Sanitation System                     Headhunter, Inc.
                        Shafts                                     1 ½” Aquamet 19 shafts
                        Wheels                                    Michigan, 22” x 18” x 4
                        Underwater Gear                      Frank & Jimmy’s

                           

For more information contact:   Robert Bekoff
                                              President
                                              Canal Boats, Inc.
                                              (954) 467-0008
                                              e-mail:  rbekoff@watertaxi.com

 

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