Bear Mountain Hybrid 30
For Bear Mountain Boat Shop - Peterborough, Ontario (www.bearmountainboats.com)

Bear Mountain Boat Shop in Peterborough Ontario sells canoe and kayak plans, builds racing canoes, and teaches regular folk how to build wood/epoxy canoes and kayaks. Recently, it has turned these skills to building a solar-diesel hybrid electric river-cruising boat. Built in cedar epoxy, the styling is classic with efficiency as the mandate for the shape of the hull.

The boat can be operated in several modes - solar only, solar plus battery, or solar plus battery plus generator - depending on the mood of the operator and the speed required. Propulsion is by electric motor with a conventional shaft and propeller. Toque Innovations designed and installed the complete electrical and electronic system on board. Custom software was also developed to allow the operator to monitor on-board systems in real time.

Download a poster describing the major systems of 'Sparks' (1.5MB)

Sparks tied up on the Trent-Severn waterway		Sparks tied up on the Trent-Severn waterway		View through the cabin underway
Solar panels in the morning sun		The main screen of the custom monitoring software		The electric motor (black), gearbox (grey), and controller during testing

Work Boat Hybrid Conversion
For MetalCraft Marine - Kingston, Ontario (www.metalcraftmarine.com)

MetalCraft Marine designs and builds aluminum workboats, fireboats, and rescue craft. With the market changing to reflect an increased desire for reduced fuel consumption, MetalCraft is investigating hybrid power systems for their vessels. Toque Innovations is providing consulting and design advice on the specification of the hybrid system and integration into existing vessel platforms. This project is currently underway.

One of MetalCraft's workboats

Rowing Tank
For Trent University - Peterborough, Ontario (www.trentu.ca/athletics)

Trent University has recently completed a new athletics and health facility. Part of this new wing is an indoor rowing tank. Two tanks of water flank a central area containing 8 rowing seats and allow rowers to practice technique under controlled conditions.

The tank and general layout was designed by Steve Killing Yacht Design while Toque Innovations designed and fabricated custom oarlocks, dragon boat seats, adjustable rowing seats, and oar storage. A wave damping system was also developed to reduce water splash (not shown).

Rowing Tank facility nearing completion		Custom oarlocks allow quick change from sculling to sweep rowing		Perimeter seating for dragon boat paddler training

Rigging Mechanical Design
For Raven 8M through Steve Killing Yacht Design - Midland, Ontario (www.stevekilling.com)

Raven is an 8M class sailboat which was completely restored and updated for racing. In order to withstand the loads from modern racing, new hardware was needed. In conjunction with Steve Killing Yacht Design, a stiffening structure was designed for under the main traveler, a pulley system fitted to the forestay, and a custom thru-deck fitting fabricated for the running backstays.

Raven under full sail		3D Rendering of the thru-deck fitting		Finished thru-deck fitting

Aluminum Work Boat
For Henley Boats - Manitowaning, Manitoulin Island, Ontario (www.henleyboats.com)

Henley Boats has been building aluminum work boats for many years. However, they wanted to streamline the production process by standardizing the panel production process. Toque Innovations worked with the designer to develop flat panel shapes that could be formed into finished boats in a consistent manner.

An example of a Henley boat		3D model developed to derive the correct panel shapes		Actual boat in the Henley shop