by David Ball
Staff Writer
The campus of Jacksonville University already has one of the more coveted locations for a university, situated right along the banks of the St. Johns River.
But students learning at the new Marine Science Center set to be built by 2009 could get instruction right from the river itself, aboard a floating classroom that will also set an environmentally friendly example.
“We’re trying to make the entire operation of the (Marine Science Center) sustainable, and we’re going to look for all water and energy conservation methods,” said Quinton White, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
“Naturally, this will extend out into our boat.”
Currently, the boat only exists in engineer schematics. But when built, the 40-foot-by-14-foot vessel is expected to hold 30 students and include a marine touch tank, bathroom, front davit and various research and scientific equipment.
The boat will be powered by a fuel-efficient four-stroke engine, but more importantly, will also employ two electric motors powered by roof-top solar panels.
“The advantage is it’s not going to use as much fossil fuels and it will operate quietly,” said White. “Rather than yell over a motor to talk to the class, you can explain what’s going on while the boat is moving.”
All that equipment and student payload will rest on two large pontoons that White said will make the boat more like a catamaran than a typical pontoon boat.
“One of the things I’ve discovered when talking to (naval architect) Matt Pitman is that the design has to withstand the whale-watch factor,” he said. “That’s when the boat is stable so that if everyone suddenly moves to one side of the boat, it doesn’t tip over.”
White said the plans for the boat are being sent out to companies to determine the cost to build it. White said he expects it to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $275,000 or more.
“We have a potential donor who has committed to work with us to make the boat a reality,” said White. “This is huge for the Marine Center, and it’s something I think will be used a lot.”
White said he envisions community groups and students from middle and high schools also learning on board. He said the boat would be a natural fit for the St. Johns Riverkeeper, who currently has an office at JU and will be expanding into the new Marine Science Center when it’s built.
“Just anything that gets people out on the river I think is a good thing,” said Riverkeeper Neil Armingeon. “Hopefully, we can figure out how our education program and their education program can partner.”
The Riverkeeper currently runs very popular family boat rides down the river as well as various education excursions and multi-day trips. Armingeon said getting more people out on the river is vital as city leaders grapple with pollution and other river concerns, such as the threat of Central Florida communities drawing potable water from the St. Johns.
“I think in some things, JU is reawakening to it’s relationship to the River,” said Armingeon. “It’s really a continuation of the entire community’s reawakening to the river.”
White said he didn’t have a timeline for the boat to be built, but he said he wants it to be ready when the classes begin at the Marine Science Center. Preliminary construction has already begun on site, and White said he is closing in on the $10 million fund-raising goal to complete the project.