Trying to imagine a journey into the heart of the rugged beauty of the Shenandoah Valley is something incredible. Here the natural escape captures the human eye, surprising it at 360 degrees. But this trip has something even more special, that’s why it’s important for us to talk about it!
It all begins with Jeff Kelble, who has spent most of his life fishing through the rivers of the area, hunting and rafting in the Shenandoah Valley waters.
We are in an over 300 kilometers long valley in Virginia, surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. Here, among picturesque towns, caves and cellars you may literally immerse yourself in nature, experiencing different sports activities. From hiking to camping, from canoeing to horseback riding. But what makes Mr. Kelble’s journeys so special? His eco-sustainable choice, involving Torqeedo engines: let’s find out why!
Discovering Shenandoah Valley
Jeff explored every cove, every shoreline of the area’s waters and adjacent forests. He was a leader in the Waterkeeper Alliance organization for 14 years and has always been involved in protecting the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers from sources of pollution and agricultural runoff. Precisely for this reason, helped by his wife Erika, he decided to launch an interesting initiative in 2018.
With Ashby Gap Adventures he introduced a new business that presents luxury river experiences with scenic tours and trips designed specifically for consumers.
First of all, to offer all of this, it was clearly important to understand which type of boat could be suitable for this tour. But unfortunately, none of the boats managed to guarantee the central objective: to reduce pollution in the area.
So, their first aquatic version of a ‘Land Rover’, a 15-foot commercial raft with six cushioned swivel seats, has been set aside to embrace a new mode of transportation. And here comes Torqeedo!
An ecological revolution with Torqeedo electric engines
Jeff himself has publicly explained that the adventures and trips he proposed needed to be improved with sustainable choices, capable of enhancing the means of transport. Therefore, not wanting to rely on a noisy and polluting gas outboard, he naturally turned to Torqeedo’s electric engines.
Jess decided to buy his first outboard engine, namely the Travel 1103 with a 915Wh lithium battery. What are its features?
As described by Mr. Kelble, the engine offers maximum lightness, excellent performance, and great yield on the water for long periods. In addition, a rock protection submarine frame is provided, as well as protection for the flexible propeller.
Great autonomy
Another important issue is that related to the autonomy of the engine and its range with battery power. In order to get the full picture of the engine, Jeff noted that it produces 12 hours of runtime from a fully charged battery. This means being able to cover up to 2 weeks of travel without recharging.
This way it has been proved that even fully electric boats can become an ideal means of transport based on the needs of each person. In this specific case, we are talking about relying on an engine that can offer maximum performance in places where there are no docks or maintenance facilities.
The same goes for the noise level which is reduced to a minimum: each person can now participate in this eco-sustainable tour, entering the wildlife without creating any danger. The noise generated by the engine is minimal even when the speed of the vehicle increases. All of this is very different from what we are used to hearing: think, for example, of gas engines, which in addition to making noise can also cause unpleasant odors and disorder.
Based on the experience told by Jeff, it is clear that Torqeedo electric engines are exactly in line with nature and they respect the environment that surrounds us. This way he is able to continue to offer quality nature tours with the minimum effort and the maximum level of entertainment for travelers.