R J W

Last summer I wanted see how the boat would fare in the ocean so I removed the solar panels and attached an outboard.

In the summer of 2005 I received my acceptance letter for the Authentic Science Research (ASR) program at Toms River High School South in NJ. It is a 3 year elective program which affords students the opportunity to participate in the community of scientific research and scholarships as part of their high school experience. When accepted into ASR, students have the opportunity to conduct independent research on any topic. I was struggling with choosing a research topic when the July/August issue of WoodenBoat magazine arrived at my house. After reading the article on the Sun-powered Cruiser, I decided I was going to design and build a solar powered boat for my project. I spent the next three years researching and building. Upon graduating high school I had finished the construction of a 20' flat bottom solar-electric boat. It had a 36 volt motor connected to a jet drive and was capable of 3 knots. Having spent three years working on this project and still enjoying it, I decided to apply to the Webb Institute of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. I was accepted to Webb and four years later I graduated with an award for excellence of a thesis in Naval Architecture. In the fall I will be attending Stevens Institute of Technology for their Ocean Engineering graduate program. Without WoodenBoat magazine I may not be where I am today.

Thank you.
Sincerely,
RJW

I documented the entire project by video and posted it to YouTube.