The Beginning

Alex lives on the west coast and wanted a Solar Sal boat. Built by Sam Devlin in 2019, Solar Sal 27 (now called Wayward Sun) is a work of wooden art. This is the boat Alex and David are taking to Alaska. The cloudy weather and tides off British Columbia make the run to Alaska a particular challenge for a small, 100% solar-powered boat. It takes a lot of preparation to make that voyage safe and successful.

One necessity is a dinghy to get ashore from the boat when anchored in up to 25 foot tides, and Alex in Bellingham WA decided to make one. David in Troy NY had wood, epoxy, fiberglass and consumable supplies as well as a back-up 4 kW electric motor and extra anchor. Therefore David and Harriet loaded a rental car and drove those supplies plus 4 cases of freeze dried food, a 2 gallon water filter, miscellaneous mosquito nets and other spare parts across the country.

Harriet stayed for a few days then flew home. David stayed about 3 weeks to help Alex build the wood and fiberglass dinghy. to accompany the 27-foot “Wayward Sun” on the Alaska trip.