Green Energy in Action: An Evening with Captain David Borton

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kerry Gallagher, Director of Education, [email protected]

Media Inquiries: Kirsty Gaukel, Press & Marketing Manager, [email protected]



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“SOLAR ELECTRIC BOATING IS THE BEST WAY TO GO!”

Green Energy in Action
An Evening with Captain David Borton
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KINGSTON, N.Y. (July 20, 2023) – The Hudson River Maritime Museum is pleased to announce an evening with solar-energy aficionado and maritime history-making adventurer Captain David Borton on Wednesday, September 27 2023. The event is part of the Museum’s Follow The River Lecture Series sponsored by Rondout Savings Bank. 

Join Captain Borton—the designer of the solar-powered technology used in Hudson River Maritime Museum’s cruise boat—onboard Solaris. He'll give a demonstration of his solar-powered technology in action, followed by a presentation on land in the Homeport Barn during which Borton recounts his own historic journey from Bellingham to Alaska’s Glacier Bay onboard a 27-foot carbon-neutral electric boat. The solar cruise will begin at 6:15pm, followed by a 7:00pm in-person lecture in the museum's Homeport Barn. Tickets are $32 for the General Public and $25 for HRMM Members. Price includes a 30 minute boat tour and an hour lecture. Those interested in the lecture only, can purchase tickets at  www.hrmm.org/lecture-series, priced at $7 for the general public and free for Hudson River Maritime Museum members.

Captain David Borton—a Troy-based solar boat maker and the designer behind the technology used to power Hudson River Maritime Museum’s 44-foot tour boat Solaris-- believes that Solar electric boating is the best way to go. His most recent adventure put his beliefs to the test as he embarked upon a 1,400-mile journey in the Inner Passage on a 100% solar-electric powered boat the Wayward Sun that he designed. Sailing with notoriously cloudy skies. Borton and his son completed the 20-day journey without setting foot on land, navigating treacherous waters and the area’s charismatic wildlife, which were not scared away by their quiet vessel.

The route to Alaska, which was made famous by the ‘49er gold rush, was first chartered by sailboats in the late 1700s. Captains George Vancouver and James Cook described the waters as dangerous, the weather as inhospitable, and the tides and winds often overpowering. The route has a thousand islands and is littered with thousands of shipwrecks.

About Captain Borton
Captain David Borton has been in canoes and Adirondack guideboats since birth. In 2013 he stopped teaching solar energy engineering at RPI to focus his attention on developing solar-powered electric boats. After building his 25-foot wooden boat Sol in his garage, using his since-patented solar-electric design, he followed with the 44-foot tour boat Solaris, and the 27-foot Wayward Sun, the first 100% solar boat to cruise the northwest passage to Alaska.   

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About the Follow the River Lecture Series
For more than a decade the Hudson River Maritime Museum's "Follow the River Lecture Series" has hosted historians, authors, and maritime experts for engaging illustrated talks on a variety of regional history and maritime subjects. In recent years, many of the lectures have also been recorded and are available on YouTube. For more information about upcoming lectures and to access recordings of past lectures, visit www.hrmm.org/lecture-series. The series is sponsored by Rondout Savings Bank.


The Hudson River Maritime Museum is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the maritime history of the Hudson River, its tributaries and related industries. In addition to extensive collections documenting maritime transportation, industry, recreation, and natural science, the museum offers classes and programs at its Wooden Boat School, Sailing and Rowing School, and aboard Solaris, the 100% solar powered tour boat and floating classroom. The museum is located along the historic Rondout waterfront in downtown Kingston. Visit www.hrmm.org for more information.


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Photo Cations:

Photo 1 – The Wayward Sun  
Photo 2 – Captain David Borton with Wayward Sun ​



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