Solar marvel featured at Suncoast Boast Show

Montgomery Gisborne built his first electric boat rigged solar panels intended for a home to a pontoon boat in 2005.

Gisborne, president of Tamarack Lake Electric Boat Company, will display a manufactured version, which the firm touts as the world’s first solar powered pontoon boat, during the Suncoast Boat Show of Downtown Sarasota at Marina Jack this weekend. He said boaters are tired of paying $5 per gallon for gas, and expects Sarasotans to respond well.

“Boaters are emotional people, and they buy on emotion,” Gisborne said.

The electric pontoon boat is one of hundreds filling the marina and parking lot from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 21. The Marina Jack parking lot between Main Street and Ringling Boulevard will be closed for displays.

Tickets are $8 online and $10 at the show. Children under 15 are free.