Solar-powered boat traveling Erie Canal makes stop in Medina

Couple committed to sustainability taking small boat from Buffalo to New York City

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Richard Scotten explains to Cora Goyette of Medina what “GENNY-DELIGHT” means on his collapsible solar-powered boat. His wife Jennifer graduated from Geneseo State College. They later learned the area was also the home of “Genny” beer. By logging on to the site, viewers can watch a video of their progress.

MEDINA – Cora Goyette of Medina was out for a walk Monday afternoon when she spotted an unusual watercraft docked in the canal basin.

Walking over, she met Richard and Jennifer Scotten of New York City, who are spending the next four weeks traveling the canal from Buffalo to New York City in a collapsible solar-powered boat he built.

After welcoming the couple to Medina, Goyette learned how their trip came about.

Richard, owner of a software company, and Jennifer, a classical singer, had been living in an apartment in New York City when their lease ran out, and they decided to move into their fifth wheel. Recently, after two and one-half years of living in their fifth-wheel, they learned it had to have warranty work, which would take six weeks.

“We had to decide what to do for six weeks,” Richard said. “We had two options. First, was to go to England. Second, we could build a collapsible solar-powered boat and travel the Erie Canal.”

 Cora Goyette of Medina, left, was out for a walk Monday afternoon when she spotted this unique craft docked in the canal. Here, she welcomes Richard and Jennifer Scotten of New York City to Medina. The couple is making a four-week trip down the Erie Canal from Buffalo to New York City.

The couple loves to travel, combining work with pleasure. They have traveled across the United States and Canada, seeing the sights, while pitching their software to new clients and visiting old ones.

“New York is our favorite state,” said Richard, who comes from California. “Last year we spent all summer and fall in New York and loved the Erie Canal. We visited the Canal Museum in Syracuse.”

Richard said they had been interested in boating and he had already done a complete solar re-build of their RV for off-grid camping.

“We call it ‘boondocking,’” he said.

Richard and Jennifer Scotten of New York City are traveling the Erie Canal and living on this small collapsible solar-powered boat he built. Here, it is docked in Medina for the night, covered with the camping tent he retro-fitted to provide privacy.

Richard started building their boat in January, complete with electric motor.

“There is a lot of interest now in electric vehicles, with gas prices rising,” he said. “I thought it would be interesting to build an electric solar-powered boat. I had seen a guy at an RV show selling inflatable boats you could pack up and take with you.”

He already had solar panels from his RV and acquired a bimini (collapsible tubing with attached covering) used as boat canopies.

“I bought two from Amazon and cut them down so I could fit solar panels on top,” Richard explained. “I built all the electronics which tied it all together.”

He also had to construct a steering wheel and throttle, as there is no tail rudder for steering. This also had to collapse at night, like the rear seats in a car, which then becomes the base for the pump-up air bed, Richard told Goyette.

To cover the boat at night, they bought a camping tent, in which Richard cut out the bottom and tailored the tent to fit the boat. An inflatable mattress, non-perishable food and minimal clothing are their luxuries for the next few weeks.

Richard Scotten of New York City kneels by the collapsible solar-powered boat in which he and his wife Jennifer are calling home as they travel the Erie Canal for the next four weeks.

Jennifer said she had wanted to go to London, but Richard convinced her to experience the Erie Canal.

“London would have been easier and more comfortable,” he said. “This trip is much more difficult, complicated and uncomfortable. People had told us the Erie Canal was a death trap.”

Regardless, the Scottens wanted to experience the legendary Erie Canal.

They had dropped their RV off in Indiana for repairs and drove to Buffalo, where they spent five days at a marina, preparing for their trip down the Erie Canal.

They started their journey where Lake Erie funnels into the Niagara River, and the currents and eddies are strong.

“We were told not to do it, but we had no problem,” Richard said.

Jennifer said they plan their “necessary” stops to places along the canal, like Medina, where there are showers and bathroom facilities.

Goyette, who has joined the Medina Triennial as a guide, wasted no time in informing the Scottens where to visit while they were spending the afternoon and evening in Medina.

“Their’s is a great story, given their commitment to a lifestyle of sustainability,” Goyette said. “It’s a great tie-in to our Triennial.”

The Triennial theme for its arts exhibition: “All That Sustains Us.”