Most
boaters are, by nature, explorers. We revel in opportunities to visit
new marine parks, seaside villages and rural islands. We invest unstintingly
in boats to take us to our general destinations and dinghies to get
us ashore, at which point we customarily revert to self-propulsion via
Topsider sole. Not that the exercise isn't good for us-indeed it is.
Our limited terrestrial travel resources often mean that an area we
traveled 100 miles to visit will only be investigated for a short, easily
walked radius from the marina.
We miss a lot. How many boaters ever make the effort to hike to Georgina
Point on Mayne Island from Miner's Bay or Horton Bay? How many of us
have thoroughly explored the interiors of the larger San Juan Islands?
And then there's the convenience factor-ask anybody anchored in Liberty
Bay or staying at the Poulsbo Marina just how far it is to a major grocery
store, and the concept of some type of land transportation begins making
sense.
Eric Sundin, owner of Electric Vehicles
NW in Seattle's Fremont district, has some excellent solutions to the
land-transportation challenge. We checked out his folding electric bikes
last winter and discovered they were lightweight, fun and easy to ride-even
uphill. On a recent visit to his shop, Eric suggested we try out a few
of his scooters, and we zipped around Fremont on a variety of devices
that should be of interest to cruisers.
We discovered that electric scooters
are generally grouped into two categories: one we'll call the "stand
and scoot" and the other the "sit-upon" category.
Standing Scooters
We discovered that the stand and scoot
models are fun to ride, light to carry and are most suitable for people
wishing to be at least slightly "active" in the riding experience.
Electric Vehicles NW carries a variety of stand-up models, and one that
might be a good choice for boaters is the Amplifier A7.
The Amplifier A7 has a thick gauge, TIG-welded aluminum, unitized body
and frame. It won't rust, and that can be important for gear aboard
a boat. While some scooters have motors rated at under 200 watts, the
Amplifier A7 has a 350-watt brushless DC motor.
When we tested scooters around Fremont,
we discovered that some of the stand and scoot models lacked the power
to bring a full-sized adult up a steep hill. In such cases, the lack
of power wasn't a completely fatal flaw-a rider just puts a foot down
and helps the scooter along with (of all things) a scoot! The Amplifier
A7, with about twice the wattage of many models, seemed to take the
hills in stride.
With a fully charged battery, the Amplifier
A7 can achieve speeds of up to 13 mph, or about four times as fast as
a casual walk.
The Amplifier A7 uses a belt-drive system
and runs very quietly. A variable speed, thumb-controlled throttle and
disc brake controls are mounted atop the adjustable height handlebar.
The 34-pound unit folds to a compact 11 x 14 inches, or roughly as large
as two Nor'westings laid spine to spine. A fully charged battery will
propel the Amplifier A7 up to six miles. The Amplifier A7 comes with
a "smart" charger, and batter recharge time will be between
two and four hours. The scooter is fun to ride, and at $495 the Amplifier
A7 sells for less than many other things we routinely purchase for our
boats.
Sit-Upon Models
As with the stand and scoot versions,
Electric Vehicles NW offers a variety of scooters that the rider can
sit on.
The CityBug, by EV Rider, seemed like a good choice from among Eric's
available options. Like the Amplifier A7, it is made of aluminum and
should prove more corrosion-resistant than if it were made of steel.
City Bug is a bit heavier than some scooters (48 pounds), but features
a wider platform suitable for placing both feet side by side. There's
very little balancing required. The handlebar and seat are both easily
adjusted for height, and a handy, folding basket provides a means for
hands-free hauling of groceries or gear.
We charged up a steep, Seattle hill on
a CityBug, at a speed that seemed about twice as fast as a walk. On
flatter terrain, the CityBug will achieve speeds of 12 to 14 miles an
hour. Range is reportedly up to 12 miles on a single charge, and recharge
takes about four to six hours.
CityBug is belt-driven, with disc brakes. It requires slightly more
space aboard than the Amplifier A7: folded dimensions are 10" x
14" x 40".
CityBug is also reasonably priced; actually
less than the Amplifier A7 at just $395.
CityBug and the Amplifier A7 can be seen
at Electric Vehicles Norwest, 110 N. 36th, Seattle. Additional information
is available on the website, www.ebikes.com, but an actual visit to
the store is far more informative. Eric is likely to encourage a shopper
to use a loaner helmet and take one of his demonstrators for a test
ride through Fremont. Riders returning from a short jaunt may well be
asking, "Why is it that we don't already own one of these?" 
