The Maker Family
Ryan Maker and his family live in Machiasport and have long been connected to the Downeast waters. Ryan makes part of his living as a commercial clammer, and his son wants to be a lobsterman—Luke, at just 8 years old, already has his student license and fishes the cove near their home. With his crew (Luke’s younger brother and father), he uses a solar-powered electric outboard on the family skiff to motor out to his traps and check for keepers.
Ryan worked with Island Institute staff to acquire the right electric system for their needs:
- A 1.5 HP trolling electric outboard to motor around the cove
- A portable 350W solar panel to generate power for the outboard
- And a battery backup system to store the solar power
“I’m thankful for folks like the Island Institute. It gives us the chance to try [electric propulsion] out. It’s proven now that there’s a place for it.”
– Ryan Maker, Machiasport
Ryan and Luke keep their small operation local and sustainable, catching their bait in the same cove they fish for lobsters. The Makers take their boat out to harvest pogies by rod and reel and find that the silence of the electric outboard is helpful because it doesn’t spook the fish.
With no gas powered propulsion, Ryan and Luke don’t have to worry about gas spills, and their student lobster operation is virtually carbon-neutral. But having now used a solar powered motor in a practical fashion, Ryan has found that electric outboards are more than just an environmental benefit, they are a sensible business choice because the renewable power is essentially free. Plus, the solar powered battery serves as a back-up in case of power outages, and he can charge his power tools on the system as well.
Ryan continues to work with Island Institute to scale up the family’s electrification, and his next goal is to replace his existing gas motor with a more powerful electric outboard so he can use it to travel longer distances to harvest clams.
Join Our Community
Since 1983, Island Institute has tackled the most pressing issues facing Maine’s island and coastal communities. Join us!
