COMING SOON
Rock & Roll, Technology, & Entrepreneurship History
Leo Fender, the father of modern music, was an electrical engineer & entrepreneur who was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 by Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones who said “thank God, for Leo Fender, who makes these instruments for us to play.” Aquafen is a 50’ classic 1966 Stephens yacht built by Leo Fender after he sold Fender Guitar to CBS in January 1965.
Come aboard – Relax & play like Leo Fender would in 2025 – Music Technology – Engineering Toys
Photo & Restoration Galleries
Technology Revolution
Occasionally, the world produces one of those rare thinkers that alters the course of history. Disney reinvented entertainment, Einstein revolutionized science, Edison lit up our lives with the light bulb, Gutenberg spread knowledge with the printing press, Bell got the world talking with the telephone, the Wright brothers made human flight possible. All of these inventions are Black Swans – unpredictable or unforeseen events, typically with extreme consequences. One simple, quiet, humble engineer revolutionized sound amplification and music in the 1950s with his inventions much like Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs revolutionized communications and entertainment with Apple Computers and iPhones. This engineer and entrepreneur has influenced every person on earth today – at least everyone who has ever heard a song. His inventions are still used by musicians today and are largely unchanged from his original designs.
Mission From God
In the book Leo Fender: The Quiet Giant Heard Around The World his wife once asked why? Why was he so obsessed with his work trying to perfect amplifiers and electric guitars? Leo told her that he had a dream. He said “Jesus told me that this world was going to be a very tough place. He told me that he had sent angels to the earth. He called these angels “musicians,” and they make the world more bearable and bring joy.” “The Lord works in mysterious ways. Yep.” – The Blues Brothers LOL (see video in slider below)
Destined For The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
In the book Leo Fender: The Quiet Giant Heard Around The World his wife once asked why? Why was he so obsessed with his work trying to perfect amplifiers and electric guitars? Leo told her that he had a dream. He said “Jesus told me that this world was going to be a very tough place. He told me that he had sent angels to the earth. He called these angels “musicians,” and they make the world more bearable and bring joy.” “The Lord works in mysterious ways. Yep.” – The Blues Brothers LOL (see video in slider below)
Experience the Rockin’ History of Cleveland: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Beyond
The heart of rock ‘n’ roll is still beating in Cleveland.
ROCK TO ROCK FOR DAD’S DREAM
I grew up near Toledo, Ohio. I developed a love for boating on the shores of the Maumee River and Lake Erie. My favorite place as a chld was Cedar Point amusement park . The distance between Cedar Point Amusement Park and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame by boat is approximately 63 nautical miles (72.5 statute miles) across Lake Erie5.
My Dad’s Dream, before his death from leukemia (blood cancer) January 18, 2016, was was to pilot his cabin cruiser from his home in Champlain, NY around the great loop. He died 6 days after David Bowie died of liver cancer. I remember the headline the day my father died was bold “PLANET EARTH IS BLUE”.
Ground Control to Major Tom
Your circuit’s dead, there’s something wrong
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you-
The Great Loop nautical route from Champlain, NY to Champlain, NY is a circular journey that covers approximately 6,000 miles of waterways16. This route takes boaters through a diverse range of waterways, including canals, rivers, coastal waters, and the Great Lakes. The journey typically takes about a year to complete, with boaters adjusting their schedule to be in certain areas during the most favorable seasons11.
Who will join us along the way?
6,746 Nautical Miles
28 days @ 10 knots
From ROCK: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (Lake Erie, Cleveland, OH)
Assuming a ship traveling at 6 knots (about 6.9 mph or 11.1 km/h), here’s a list of ports where the ship could potentially stop overnight on a journey from Cleveland, OH to Morro Bay, CA through the Panama Canal:
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Port of Cleveland, OH (starting point)
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Port of Buffalo, NY
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Port of Toronto, Canada
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Port of Montreal, Canada
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Port of Quebec City, Canada
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Port of Halifax, Nova Scotia
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Port of Boston, MA
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Port of New York and New Jersey
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Port of Philadelphia, PA
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Port of Baltimore, MD
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Port of Norfolk, VA
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Port of Charleston, SC
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Port of Jacksonville, FL
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Port of Miami, FL
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Port of Havana, Cuba
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Port of George Town, Grand Cayman2
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Port of Cartagena, Colombia2
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Port of Colón, Panama2
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Port of Panama City (Fuerte Amador), Panama4
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Port of Puntarenas, Costa Rica6
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Port of Acapulco, Mexico
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Port of Manzanillo, Mexico
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Port of San Diego, CA
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Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach, CA
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Port of Morro Bay, CA (final destination)
Summer Home
ROCK
Spring (Primavera)
ROLL
Panama Canal
Fall
(Otoño)
ROLL
Winter
Home
ROCK
A Revolution That Changed The World Forever
Mission & Vision
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Experience – Cultural Revolution Through Musical, Technological, & Entrepreneurship Education
Rock and roll music was a weapon of mass cultural revolution. It was one of the most vital revolutionary forces in the world. Rock and roll revolutionized daily life, fashion, attitudes and language in a way few other social developments have. Aquafen and the electric guitar share this mission that was born out of Leo Fender’s dream. To fight back against a cruel and corrupt world through the medium of art and the amplified healing POWER of musical angels that Leo Fender helped make possible. To bring joy and make the world a more bearable place. To bring truth to lies. To rebel against what is wrong and bring forth what is right. Aquafen is Rock & Roll and dance. It is MTV and Youtube. It is archetypes and the Hero’s Journey. It’s missions include education, technology, engineering, mentorship, guidance, inspiration, motivation, and revolutionary change.
Entrepreneurship Principles & Hero’s Journey
“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek”
“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation.”
“If you’re not failing, you’re not pushing your limits, and if you’re not pushing your limits, you’re not maximizing your potential”
Music As Collective Hero’s Journey
The Belly Of The Beast
Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.
– Nelson Mandela
New Rock
Classic Rock
Pop
Dance
Play With The Latest Revolutionary Technologies
In 1965, after Leo Fender sold Fender Guitar he built Aquafen and at the same time he founded his next company CLF (Clarence Leo Fender) research. CLF Research which was a guitar R&D company that would build a dream team of guitar designers that became G&L Guitar. Leo loved the lab. He loved to tinker and innovate and perfect. He loved engineering and technology. Aquafen’s current owner, like Leo Fender, is an electrical engineer and entrepreneur. He was the University Software Program Manager at Cadence Design Systems and managed nearly 100 computational software products for intelligent system design in the Electronic Design Automation (EDA) industry. He assisted Professors to develop university level programs to teach these cutting edge electronic design tools. He was later in charge of developing EDA product marketing & sales collateral including technical product demonstration stations and tutorials and educating and training the sales force.
Aquafen will provide a platform for entrepreneurial & creative learning, mentorship & inspiration through Leo Fender’s example at CLF (Clarence Leo Fender) research and the current owner’s Silicon Valley teaching experience. Aquafen will be restored and updated to all the latest technologies Leo Fender would have loved in 2021. Aquafen will offer the services of a traditional yacht charter – tours, charters, events, wildlife watching. In addition Aquafen will provide a platform for entrepreneurial & technology learning, mentorship & inspiration in partnership with Aquafen’s partners and through Leo Fender’s example.
Music
Electronics & Technology
Marine
Business & Entrepreneurship
Partners
Our Partners
Come Aboard
Play & Learn Like a Rock Star Engineer. It’s Never Too Late To Have Fun. It’s Never Too Late To Learn.
Come aboard. Relax & play like Leo Fender would want in 2021. Music. Technology. Engineering Toys.