Electric Houseboats Cruising the Erie Canal

The E-Houseboat is being designed and built to be the first all-electric propelled and powered houseboat commercially available within the US.

The design team at East Coast Houseboats has been actively working on a completely unique way of building houseboats, and the E-Houseboat will be the first to benefit from this method. 

Starting with a fiberglass pontoon platform, the hulls are designed to minimize weight and provide less resistance as it travels down the waterway.  The cabin is built completely with lightweight composite materials but without sacrificing the level of year-round comfort that is common to our standard boat designs

East Coast Houseboats has been fortunate enough to partner with marine industry leaders such as Yanmar Mastry and Glendenning Marine to provide the propulsion and control engineering.

The design includes the necessary infrastructure to not only propel the boats, but re-charge it’s battery bank as she plies the Erie Canal in part due to the large rooftop array of lightweight solar panels.

 Capitalizing on the latest lithium-Ion battery technology, controls, and propulsion from industry leaders, and including features such as 12v led lighting throughout, 12v refrigeration, 12v HVAC.  All of which include products chosen for their ability to be integrated into the overall design and build of the boat.

 

At 30’ LOA, with a beam of 12’ the E-Houseboat will comfortably accommodate a family or 4 as a cruising houseboat or can be configured as the perfect day boat anchored in a cove. 

Looking to design your own version, we can build these boats from 22’ to 30’ and in beams from 10’ to 15’9”.  The engineering can be configured to focus less on daily cruising and more on daily living, as an example these boats could be completely off the grid cabins located in remote locations.

Outdoor spaces include a front deck, as well as a large roof deck space perfect for great views and sunsets.

E-One the first boat of its kind is scheduled to launch on the waters of the Erie Canal System in New York during the 2024 Navigation season.  The boat during its sea trials will be available for lock tours, boat shows and on the water events throughout the year.  E-One will then be available for bareboat charters on the Erie Canal. 

 

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World Canal Conference Public Event Days

Join Canal NY during the Public Event Days at the World Canals Conference at the Inner Harbor of Syracuse on Sunday Sept. 24th from 1pm. – 6pm. Through the generosity of Erie Canalway Canal NY will be attending the event with our Discover the Erie Canal display. As always we will be promoting the Erie Canal and the membership of Canal NY throughout the conference.

For more information on World Canals Conference visit their web site at http://wcc2017syracuse.com/publicevents/

 

All events at the Syracuse Inner Harbor except where noted.

  • Tour replica 1862 canal schooner Lois McClure.
  • Row a traditional six-oar long boat built at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum.
  • Watch live hot glass shows presented by the Corning Museum of Glass GlassBarge.
  • Try paddling! Free kayak lessons & demonstrations.
  • Tour Onondaga Lake by boat from the Honeywell Visitor Center.
  • Cycle to the Inner Harbor with Tour the Towpath as it completes its two-day tour from Rome to Syracuse. Meet at the Old Erie Canal State Park trailhead in DeWitt (5100 Butternut Drive) at 1pm for a guided ride through Syracuse. Visit the Erie Canal Museum along the way.
  • Sample Taste NY specialty foods and food trucks, including The Chicken Bandit, Toss ‘n’ Fire Wood-Fired Pizza, PB&J Lunchbox, and Frost Bite Show Cream Shavery.
  • Visit the Freight House for exhibits and displays.
  • Reel in a carp with the Wild Carp Club and observe live fish from Onondaga Lake displayed by students from the State University of New York School of Environmental Science and Forestry.
  • Sample local brews- Delegate Craft Brew Tasting, Aloft Syracuse Inner Harbor, 3-6pm (conference registrants only)
  • “Doors Open” at Museums & Galleries, Downtown Syracuse, 1-5 pm, Experience dynamic cultural institutions, including the Erie Canal Museum, Everson Museum of Art, and Onondaga Historical Association.
  • Water Way Youth Video Exhibition, Everson Museum of Art, Outdoor Exhibition Venue, 7:20 pm- Enjoy the premier screening of 1-3 minute short films focusing on canal life and culture through the eyes, experience and imagination of young people from Scotland, Belgium, Italy and New York State.  Projections will be shown each night from September 24-28.
  • Canal Crossings Street Murals- Head to E. Water Street by the Erie Canal Museum for the opening Block Party of a contemporary public art project that celebrates the historic Erie Canal and brings tribute to the lasting effect the canal has had in Central New York.

A Great Lineup of Music at the Inner Harbor:

  • 1:00-2:45pm The Sim Redmond Band
  • 3:15-4:15pm The Measure
  • 4:45-5:45pm Damn Dog

Free shuttles will be available to conference attendees, with stops at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown, along the Creek Walk, the Honeywell Visitor’s Center on the lake, and Syracuse Inner Harbor.

 

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Help Promote the Discover The Erie Canal Website!!

Promotion Opportunities for the Discover the Erie web site.

Many of our members have made great contributions towards the creation of the www.discovertheeriecanal.com web site. It is built to provide any member the opportunity to promote their organizations, their communities, promote events and programs that are related to the Erie Canal. We continue to encourage members to provide content and pictures relevant to their organizations and communities we are now looking forward to the next phase of the site and that is promotion.

We have developed a multi-faceted campaign built to incorporate many platforms designed to promote the site.

A number of these items have been listed below.

Any contribution that you as a member commit to the program will be dedicated entirely towards your organization, we will work with you to design a program to promote the content you wish to feature in a manner acceptable to you

We have three levels that we will develop programs for

$500

$750.00

$1,000.00

Below we have outlined a number of different marketing platforms that we are planning in working within.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at [email protected]  or call me at 516 313-8777

  1. DIGITAL MARKETING

 

Reach potential or existing customers with digital targeted advertising. This includes, but is not limited to, the following strategies:

 

  1. Site Retargeting                     
  2. Search Retargeting
  3. Keyword Targeting
  4. Contextual Targeting
  5. Geo-Fencing

 

Investment:

~$10/CPM (Cost Per Thousand Impressions of Ad)

Minimum of $750 per month = $9000/yr

Recommendation of $1500 to $2000 per month (fluctuate seasonally)

 

 

  1. SOCIAL MEDIA

 

  1. 3 weekly optimized social media posts across chosen Social Media channels
  • Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.
  1. Management of comments and replies
  2. Paid Ads boosted across social media
  3. Bi-monthly detailed report of all efforts with recommendations

 

Investment:

~$499/month + advertising budget for boosted ads if desired + 15% of ad budget

~$250 Setup Fee per Social Media Channel (for branding consistency)

 

 

  1. PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS

 

Encourage tourists to support the Erie Canal and proudly wear items with the DTEC / Canal NY logo, use drinkware, flags, blankets, dog leashes, etc. This also allows you to make money off of the products by marketing them up.

 

Investment:

~$15/per Embroidered Shirt

~$12/per Screen Printed T-shirt

~$18/per Embroidered Hat

~$8/per Can Koozie

~Many more items available

 

 

 

  1. ONLINE STORE

 

Add an online store to your existing website.

 

Investment:

~$6000 Online Store Setup

 

 

 

  1. VIDEOS

 

Develop key videos setting people at ease, explaining the process, virtual tour, targeting specific target markets, etc. Utilize these to attract online attention, play off of YouTube.

 

Investment:

~$1500/per video (Recommendation to have at least 10)

 

  1. EMAIL CAMPAIGNS

 

  • We’ll work with you to set up a MailChimp account for managing your email lists
  • Includes one email template setup and ready for you to use
  • Field added to the website allowing individuals to opt in for your mailing list
  • These individuals will automatically be added to your MailChimp account

Allows for multiple list management

 

Investment:

~$750 One Time Setup (does not include list import)

~$50 Per List Import

~$500 Monthly Management of Email Blasts (includes additional designs and graphics)

 

 

  1. RELATIONSHIP MARKETING

 

  • Develop a strategic plan for managing leads gained from tradeshows and other lead sources
  • Develop a strategic plan for staying in front of your existing customer base
  • You’ve worked hard to earn the attention of members and followers, now let’s give them even more reasons to follow you and refer you to others:

o   Send introductions, welcome and thank you cards to members, celebrate birthdays and other events; gifts may be included.

 

Investment:

~$395 Setup

~$39/month + postage (cards are physically mailed)

 

 

 

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Boater Resources

A Boat trip on the Erie will be an exciting trip.  Any boat trip starts with a good plan and the Discover The Erie site will allow you to pick a region or Canal and learn not only about the communities within the region but all the resources available to the boater.

Start your search by region, then by community.  Each community will have a directory of visitor resources, including everything from where to obtain healthcare to where to shop for supplies.  In addition, you will be able to find out what the opportunities are for boaters within that community.

You can also start right here and access the directory of boater resources that are available throughout the Canal System.

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Create A New Canal NY Website

If you’re looking for a way to provide additional support for Canal NY consider a contribution towards the development of a new Canal NY web site.

The current www.canalny.com web site continues to function but the platform it is based on has become outdated and the ability to post information and update the site continues to grow more difficult.

While a simple web site that would contain all the necessary information about Canal NY, it’s mission, and its membership could be built for as little as $2,000, what Canal NY’s real need is to create a web site that includes a membership management system.

This would give Canal NY the tools necessary to manage & grow its membership. A web site that offers Canal NY the ability to simplify its dues collection, allow for prospective members to register and pay online as well as re-new their membership each year will provide greater opportunities for growth as well as providing increased revenue throughout the year.  The budget to complete the overall project is $7,500.00.

To obtain a detailed proposal on this project please contact Bill Drage @ [email protected] or 607 467-4462

 

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Seneca Falls Canal Fest 2017

Join us at the 2nd annual Seneca Falls Canal Fest. This year’s event will be held on July 7th, 8th and 9th. at the Canal Harbor in Seneca Falls NY.

Seneca Falls has set out to recreate the events that were first held in the early 1960’s when thousands of visitors and what seemed like 100’s of boats crowded the Canal Harbor.   Last year attracted more than 10,000 visitors who attended the three-day event and this year there are even more events scheduled and more promotion planned to ensure an even larger event.

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Spencerport Canal Days Celebrates 37 Years!!

 

Don’t miss this free, family oriented festival located in the quaint village of Spencerport. There’s plenty to see and enjoy, including unique arts and crafts vendors, delicious food, outstanding live entertainment, and a delectable wine tasting area with farm market stands selling fresh produce and honey. Enjoy a carriage ride on some of Spencerport’s scenic streets. Visit the car show at the American Legion on Trimmer Road where over 200 cars will be on display. Take your children to The Depot Museum where they can play historic games or make a rag doll.

Free parking will be available (TBA), where free shuttles will take you to and from the festival site.

The festival will be open 10 am – 5 pm Saturday, July 28th and Sunday, July 29th.

Latest Info:

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Co-op Advertising Opportunity for Canal NY Members

Dear Member,

CanalNY is working with JMF Publishing to create a New York Canals section in their popular Upstate Summer Magazine. The section will comprise of multiple pages about summer recreation on and near New York State canals. It will contain a feature article, pictures and advertising. Canal New York members are eligible for special co-op advertising rates. Through this special offer the member’s rate for a basic ad size (1/8 page) will drop to $133 from the regular rate of $295. ¼ page will be $266 (regular $499), 3/8 page will be $399 and ½ page will be $532 (regular $950). The deadline for space reservation is November 15. Payment terms are net 30 and ad copy is due no later than March 1, 2018. Other details are on the attached rate sheet.

 

Upstate Summer is different from other places-to-go publications. All advertising is focused on travel and tourism related businesses and is supported by editorial features. This makes the ads part of the content, and helps form cohesive regional sections. Upstate Summer has low cost per copy advertising rates and is the only New York travel publication offering multi-region coverage and targeted distribution in the most desirable markets.  In 2017 every distribution location used 100% of what they had by the end of the season. There was no waste.

Distribution: Upstate Summer Magazine is distributed in supermarkets in the higher income suburbs of Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Albany, and Buffalo. We have found this to be the best way to cover a wide area because everyone in town shops at these stores and the distribution companies keep the racks full. The magazine is also available at information centers on Interstate 81 and the Thruway, as well as chambers of commerce, coffee shops, convenience stores, and other high-traffic locations across Upstate New York. There is also an online edition available at www.DiscoverUpstateNY.com www.upstatenyfun.com and www.seawaytrail.com.

 

If you would like to receive a copy of the 2017 edition contact John Farrell, president of JMF Publishing, [email protected].

 

Please consider advertising and help us promote New York State Canals in 2018. Thank you.

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Canal NY Membership

Canal New York Marketing and Business Alliance is the primary private sector organization to promote economic and business development along the entire New York State Canal System Corridor. Canal NY focuses on bringing business to its members through tourism marketing programs, educational outreach, legislative advocacy and projects such as the Discover the Erie Canal web site. This web site is being built to be the most comprehensive online resource for the Erie Canal Traveler. It is the only web site devoted to tourism in the Erie Canal Corridor.

Canal NY offers many opportunities to promote your business or organization. Whether it’s a featured listing in one of the directories located within this site, brochure distribution at one of the numerous events that Canal NY participates in, or even greater opportunities at an event such as the Media Luncheon that Canal NY hosts each year to introduce travel writers to the Erie Canal region.

Visit Canal New York to learn more about the membership opportunities available.

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Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor Visitor Research Report

 has released results from a recently-commissioned study about current and prospective visitors to the 500-mile Canalway Corridor.

The information is intended to help tourism promoters, businesses and heritage sites better attract and serve visitors, including boaters, cyclists, sightseers and vacationers.

More than 1,000 people participated in online surveys and 20 provided interviews conducted by Rochester-based Level 7 Market Research on behalf of the National Heritage Corridor. Visitors and prospective visitors who live near the canal system, as well as those from other parts of New York and neighboring states, participated.

Among the findings:

Recent and prospective visitors were drawn to the history of the area and to exploring local canal communities; boat tours/boating and attending festivals/events are major draws among prospective visitors.

  • Recent canal visitors tend to be older, travel in smaller parties, and have higher income households compared with prospective visitors. Most are savvy travelers who are three times more likely to travel internationally.
  • Lack of awareness and knowledge are among the greatest barriers to visiting.

The research was funded by a grant from Market NY through I LOVE NY, New York State’s Division of Tourism, as a part of the State’s Regional Economic Development Council initiative.

To view the entire report Click Here

https://eriecanalway.org/application/files/2815/1786/6378/ECNHC_Visitor_Research_Report_Final_web.pdf 

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