In order to fit original motors in restored fiberglass boats from the 1950s and ’60s without sacrificing their history, John Sharar, owner of Retro Boat Rentals in Saugatuck, Michigan, looked to marine electric propulsion manufacturer Torqeedo.
“John came up with the idea of removing the old gas motor from its casing and replacing it with a compact Torqeedo motor coupled to a custom-designed sail drive pod,” says Steve Trkla, president of Torqeedo, Inc. “He attended Torqeedo training and worked with Torqeedo engineers to modify various motor brands. The electric motor is driven by a Torqeedo lithium-ion battery in the boat.”
The first restored boat to get the new outboards was a 1960 Crownline back in 2016. Then the rental business took off. Now Sharar is taking his success to a wider market, leasing his many restored boats to operators around the country, including in Chicago, Milwaukee, as well as a potential partnership with the Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven. “
The Retro Boat Rentals operation is a perfect example of how Torqeedo is bringing clean, green electric marine propulsion to harbors, lakes and waterways around the country,” Trkla says.
