New on the Water: A Boat that Can Run on Natural Gas

Peoples Natural Gas is outfitting a contest winner’s boat with a dual-fuel engine.

New on Pittsburgh’s rivers this summer –– a boat that can run on either natural gas, gasoline or both.

Nicole Moga, (pictured) owner and operator of Boat Pittsburgh, is the winner of the Peoples’ Boat Ambassador contest. Boat Pittsburgh will have one of its rental pontoon boats fitted with a hybrid natural gas engine at Peoples expense.

Running on natural gas offers a number of advantages:
 

• Half-price fuel
   
• No water pollution
   
• No smoke
   
• No exhaust odor
   

“This boat will be rented nearly every day from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with exposure to both passengers and other boaters on the water throughout the season,” Moga wrote in her contest entry.

The new hybrid engine will help avoid toxic spills and reduce carbon monoxide fumes. The engine will have the ability to run on gasoline, natural gas or both fuels combined.

Moga’s boat will be the first non-industrial natural gas boat in the state.