Portland Boat Show 2014 steps into the future with solar panels and electric motors

The Portland Boat Show offers a host of boating innovations, including fully-electric motors and attachable solar panels.

Have you ever seen an all-electric motor boat? What about solar panels you can use to charge your boat while you're out fishing? Renewable energy for boaters, as well as used boats and beautifully-crafted behemoths will be on display at the 54th Portland Boat Show, taking over the Portland Expo Center this weekend.

"I've got everything here," show manager Peter O'Loughlin said over the phone, rattling off half a dozen categories, from car-toppers and runabouts to luxury houseboats. The variety ensures there will be something for everyone, he said, as long as you come with some level of interest in the boating lifestyle.

Boats are often pigeon-holed as toys for the rich, but while they typically come with a fairly high price tag, there are still options for would-be mariners with smaller budgets. "I think the marine industry understands that this is still something based on disposable income, so they make it as easy to be involved as they can be," O'Loughlin said.

One of the newest innovations on that front is the shockingly obvious strategy of selling used boats. Last year was the first year the Portland show featured used boats, and it proved to be enormously popular. That might sound like a no-brainer, but it's still relatively rare, he said, included in only a handful of shows around the country.

Another obvious innovation is the recent infusion of renewable energy sources into boat design. Gas-powered boats aren't known as the most energy-efficient mode of transportation, but by mirroring the improvements made in the auto industry, that could soon change.

Like many buildings, and some cars, boats could soon come equipped with solar panels. The show will feature panels designed by local company Solar Tracker 360 that attach to the side of a boat, supplying power to an electric motor or generator. Paired with a fully-electric outboard motor, one of which is set to be unveiled at the show, the panels create a green machine that could help broaden the appeal of boating.

There aren't many regions better suited to gain an interest in the world of boats. With a wealth of rivers and lakes, not to mention the entire Pacific Ocean, the Pacific Northwest is something of a boater's paradise. "Outside of maybe the Great Lakes, I'm gong to tell you that Portland is probably top five," O'Loughlin said. "We're spoiled here."

That assertion would make the Portland Boat Show a premier showcase for the best resources the region has to offer. The event is a can't-miss for those interested in boating and a great opportunity for those who aren't to see if maybe they should be after all.

 

The Portland Boat Show will run Wednesday, Jan. 8 through Sunday, Jan. 12 at the Portland Expo Center, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10, but two-for-one coupons are available every day