Home of solar tour boat in question after North Rustico Harbour Authority votes

The owners of P.E.I.'s first solar water tour boat are re-evaluating whether to base their business in North Rustico, P.E.I., after trouble with the Harbour Authority and some local fishermen.

The originalplan was to operate the boat from North Rustico, selling tickets for North Shoretours and dinner cruises from the wharf. But co-ownerPeter Ixkessays theplan hit rough water after a special meeting was held March 14th by theNorth Rustico Harbour Authority, a six-member management board.

• Solar-powered water taxi under construction in P.E.I.

Ixkes and his business partner were not atthe meeting, but their business was discussed and voted on by the authority and some local fishermen. The vote was15 to threeagainst the solar water taxi operatingout of the North Rusticoharbour.

"They didn't know anything about the business. They didn't know anything about the boat. And I didn't understand why they voted against the boat," said Ixkes."I saw the boat as a great benefit for North Rustico. I think we bring people to North Rustico, tourists to North Rustico."

Ixkesand his partner wrote a letteraskingthe authority toallow themto present theirbusiness planat another meeting, which happened near the end of March.

A vote at that meeting showed the change of heart with support for the business now 18 to two in favour of itoperating out of NorthRustico, but that support comes with conditions.

The harbour authority and local fishermen agreed to give the business a year trial period, with the conditionthat the water taxi's ticket booth be located away from the deep-sea fishing businesses on the wharf.

'People kind of got up in to a littletiffy'

Ixkesis concerned about the one-year lease and restrictions andis no longersure this is the best environment in which to launch a business."We have a lot of costs, we have to make marketing, and we have to set up a shop," saidIxkes. "With that situation in the back it's not really easy to make a decision."

Chair of the harbour authority,Norman Peters, said the situation isunfortunate.

"With little information and differentpeople talking about 'Oh deargod, there goes my deep-sea fishing' all this and that. People kind of got up in to a littletiffy, and it was voted out," said Peters of the first vote.

He said some of the half-a-dozen or so deep-sea fishing business owners, none of whom wouldspeak with CBC, are worried the new boat could take away their business. But Peters feels those concerns are unfounded.

"It's a different business. It's a different clientele altogether," said Peters. "To me it sounded like a win-win for the tourist operators, but some didn't feel it that way. They felt that it worked against them somehow."

Unique business likelytourist draw for North Rustico

Peters said the solar boat owners even offered to advertise the North Rusticodeep-sea fishing businesses on a big screen TV on the boat.

"Our business is totally different, totally different. We don't have deep-sea fishing, and we don't intend to," saidIxkes.

With the boat expected to launch in June, the owners are considering their options and expect to make a decision soon.They say other harbours are interested in hosting the boat.

Peters hopes the differences can be worked out, and the boat will be based in North Rustico.

"What they wanted to do is bring a businessto Rustico, get people to spend some money in Rustico," he said.

"Other harbours are saying 'Come here, come here boys. We'll take you. People are going to spend money in our community. Sure.' So that's what a small community should be looking for, is businesses to build up, and keep a small community viable."