The Pelican Breeze Foundation announced Monday that it has accepted a final bid over the online auction site eBay for the sale of the Pelican Breeze pontoon boat. The boat cruised Albert Lea Lake for the past 10 years and will be replaced by a new, larger boat with a riverboat style. It arrives in April from Gun Lake, Mich.

The Pelican Breeze was purchased by a private party from Illinois that plans to use the boat for personal use. The final purchase price was $13,109. There were nine bids and over 3,000 hits on eBay for the boat.

This was the second time the Pelican Breeze Foundation listed the boat on eBay. Bids and interest came from as far away as Norway, and in the United States interest came from Pennsylvania, Illinois, Minnesota and Iowa. Profit made by the sale will go to help pay for the new Pelican Breeze II cruise boat.

The Pelican Breeze Foundation is hosting Float the Boat, a fundraiser on Saturday at the Albert Lea American Legion Hall from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tickets are being sold at the Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau office or the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce office or by any board member.

People can visit PelicanBreeze.org or call 383-2670 for more information or to book a cruise.