Sunshine Pedal Boats is a new enterprise owned by Sunshine Williams, a long-time real estate broker in Central Texas now living on Lake LBJ, and her son, Wes Williams, internationally acclaimed builder of custom titanium mountain bikes, whose shop is located in South Austin. They have an exclusive dealership for the entire eastern half of Texas with the Nauticraft Corporation of Muskegon, Michigan, where the boats are built.

The pedal boats are light weight, 12-feet to 14-feet long, with a rotationally molded polyethylene hull, rugged and impact resistant; molded-in keels; positive flotation with cast-in foam; and generous free board, which deflects waves and spray. The boats have either one set of pedals or dual sets, self-righting features, large spade-type rudders and an over-sized steering handle that make them easy to maneuver in the water. The drive system includes quadritwist drive belt; quiet and efficient propellers; bicycle cranks and axle; roller bearings for smooth, easy pedaling; and custom-molded support parts. They can be easily offloaded from the trailers into the water and reloaded by one person.

One model has an optional electric motor and one is strictly a sailboat. The seats are recumbent type with foam cushioning and full back support. The boats leave a low carbon foot-print; are ecologically correct; require no gas, oil or expensive engine maintenance; contribute to physical fitness; and are quiet, thus relieving stress and promoting peace of mind. In other words, they are very Zen!

Sunshine and Wes would like to see someone offer rental operations and tours on Lady Bird Lake, where they are legal; Lake Austin; Lake Travis; Lake LBJ; Inks Lake; Lake Buchanan; Lake Walter E. Long; Canyon Lake; the Colorado River below Longhorn Dam and in all the other lakes, rivers and streams in this half of Texas, as well as the Gulf of Mexico. In 2002, a 59-year-old man in a 12-foot Nauticraft Escapade, pedaled across the English Channel and back in 14 hours and 20 minutes for a world record, which was included in the Guinness World Records (see story attached).

The demo models may be seen in Austin at 2401 Thornton Road, #200, which is off West Oltorf one block east of South Lamar Blvd. Interested parties may take a cruise with Wes on Lake Austin from Walsh Landing on Lake Austin Blvd. near the Hula Hut.

For information, features or an appointment call Sunshine at 1-800-829-0163 or email her at lake@nctv.com.