In honor of Manatee Appreciation Day last month, we reached out to our partners at Native eSUP Adventures in Florida to ask them for more information about manatees.

Native eSUP Adventures offers private and small-group motorized paddle board and hybrid kayak tours in St. Petersburg, FL. With clear turquoise waters that are warm and inviting, it’s the perfect place to indulge in some much-needed relaxation or dive into the world of adventure.

All of Native’s eSUPs are equipped with Bixpy J-2 Outboard Kits. The motors allow them to go further, faster and see more on each adventure, while also taking care to protect the abundant marine life — like manatees! On the tours, guests frequently get close encounters with dolphins, manatees, and cormorants diving right under the boards and it was very important that none of them get harmed. Thankfully, The J-2 motors are perfect for viewing these wonderful creatures. With this in mind, we wanted to share a few of our favorite facts about these marine animals:

Fun Facts About Manatees

• Manatees can grow up to 13 feet long and weigh over 1,200 pounds!
• Manatees have no natural predators, but they are threatened by humans with boat collisions, fishing lines, and pollution being the most common causes of death.
• Manatees can live up to 60 years in the wild!
• Manatees are herbivores, meaning they only eat plants. They graze on sea grasses, macroalgae, and mangrove leaves.
• Manatees love to be around other manatees and typically form small herds of five or fewer individuals.

Fun Facts About Dolphins

• Dolphins are part of the Cetacea family which includes whales and porpoises.
• Dolphins use a variety of vocalizations to communicate with one another, such as whistles, clicks, and pulsed calls.
• Dolphins can stay underwater for up to eight minutes without coming up for air.
• Dolphins have good memories and can recognize other dolphins they’ve encountered before, even after many years apart.
• Dolphins are carnivores and mainly eat fish, squid, shrimp, and octopus.

Fun Facts About Cormorants

• Cormorants are black with a few white patches on their heads and necks.
• Cormorants can dive up to 70 feet underwater in search of fish, and they often swallow their prey while still underwater.
• Cormorants roost on trees, rocks, or even man-made structures such as bridges or piers.
• Cormorants are sometimes referred to as “water turkeys” because of the shape of their necks when they swim in the water.
• Cormorants are very social birds and will often form large colonies on coastal rocks or islands.

We at Bixpy are proud to partner with Native eSUP Adventures to allow these wonderful tours that protect marine life while allowing visitors to marvel at them safely. One issue these tours often faced was also the wind — leading a group to paddle back against the wind can be very difficult! Wind is no longer an issue with the J-2 motors.

Native eSUP Adventures is the first company in Florida to offer motorized paddle board tours thanks to Bixpy products.

Ready to motorize your watercraft? Shop Bixpy products now!