A Seminole man recently started up a new company called See Through Canoes that pairs a transparent canoe with a customized wireless remote controlled electric motor.

The owner, Michael McCarthy, said he got the idea while trying to cast net fish from a regular canoe.

"It's difficult to paddle and throw a cast net," he said. "Once I put the motor on there, I'm thinking, well gosh, who's not going to want to cruise around in a transparent canoe with a quiet electric motor that makes no sound?"

McCarthy assembles the canoes in his Seminole garage and said he started selling them about six months ago. So far, he's sold about a dozen canoes - but none in the Bay area.



"Just sent one to Nebraska of all places," he said. "We get a lot of orders from the Virgin Islands, but not right here yet. It's $2,300 just for the canoe. If you'd like the wireless motor and the ultimate in coolness, it's another $1,000."

McCarthy said that price includes shipping to anywhere in the country and you can buy a cheaper motor that's not wireless for around $200 to save some money. The See Through Canoe owner said he'll also knock a couple hundred dollars off the price for locals who do not need it shipped.

When McCarthy launched a See Through Canoe into the Intracoastal Waterway for Bay News 9, it immediately drew attention from bystanders.

"That looks pretty cool and amazing," said Eric Korhonen. "Let me know where you can buy one."

McCarthy said his canoes are also perfect for wildlife viewing.

"Manatees are just coming right up to it. One at a time, they were pushing their noses up against it," he said. "When you've got a manatee hanging onto your canoe upside down, running the length of your canoe and you're just looking through there at his tummy, it just doesn't get any cooler than that."

McCarthy said the only drawback to feeling like you're gliding on glass on the water is the bottom can scratch easily.

"You don't want to just drag it up on a rocky shoreline," he said. "You don't want to even drag it up on a beach but they're only 40 pounds, so you don't have to drag it."

