by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
When Brian Bosley lived in Key West he realized that in the Keys where the ever-popular boating was much more than a weekend hobby, too many casual sailors and too many who lived on their boats were missing something: an inexpensive energy source that could power the basic appliances.
Thus the Embry-Riddle graduate with what he calls a “multi-faceted” background went to the drawing board. Three years later, he produced the first SolarStik, a solar-powered energy source that is capable of running most appliances on a boat as well as any computers and TVs. Aside from its efficiency, the SolarStik proved popular because – after purchase – the boat owner’s electric bill was essentially nothing.
“Sail boaters were the genesis of the system,” said Bosley, who now has a production shop in St. Augustine. “It’s small power that acts like a big power. I am not a structural engineer, but I have learned enough to make this work.
Bosley said he built the first SolarStik using what he called “off-the-shelf” junk purchased at fishing and boat shops in the Keys. The entire system runs basically off a 12-volt battery and the system works. Bosley said he took a SolarStik to the beach a few years ago to test its effectiveness and endurance. Since the SolarStik can only gather energy while the sun is up, one of the keys was how long it could provide energy after the sun set.
“We took one to the beach. We also brought a 27-inch TV, a half-size refrigerator, a laptop, a satellite dish and a couple of fans and camped out for three days. We ran the fridge 24 hours a day,” he said.
And how much did that cost?
“Nothing,” said Bosley.
Right now, not many homes are built with the proper AC/DC wiring and with appliances compatible with the SolarStik. However, the Army and other U.S. military units are impressed with the energy provider’s ability to tap the sun for free. Bosley also said the counties of Dade and Broward have purchased several SolarStiks to keep in reserve as a source of backup power in the event of a hurricane or other natural disaster. But, it’s the Army that has warned Bosley about the SolarStik’s potential and his eventual need to mass produce it.
“We are going to have to keep up,” said Bosley, explaining how he was “warned” by an Army general who likes the SolarStik that he “better be ready to produce.”
Currently, the price of a SolarStik is between $4,000 and $15,000 depending on the model. Bosley is looking at a building in West Palm Beach from which he would be able to produce about 200 a month. He said one of the keys to growth will be the ability to find the kind of skilled labor it takes to design and physically build a SolarStik.
“I think we can find what we need,” said Bosley.
One place Bosley says he’ll never look for parts or labor is abroad. He is adamant about making sure the SolarStik is an American made and distributed product. He has the domestic and international patent on the SolarStik. Bosley said he would only consider selling if the right buyer became available and certain provisions were put in writing.
“I want to make sure the product is as American as it can be,” he said. “I will not farm out the parts or the labor. That’s one of the reasons it’s kind of expensive, because it’s made in America. You can’t have an economy based on just consumers. You also have to have manufacturers.”
One of Bosley’s first consumers was Jennifer Reed, who used to live on her boat. She bought a SolarStik and immediately saw the benefits. She said instead of running her engine for 30 minutes to an hour a day in order to power her appliances, she relied on solar power.
In fact, Reed liked it so much she went to work for Bosley. Reed doesn’t live on her boat anymore, but she is a senior technician with the company.