Transformer - Who would own one of these !

[Fred.]

Somebody without waders who doesn't like getting their feet wet, I guess ..!







Seen today down by Southampton !
so what drives the hydraulic wheels as in wheres the engine for this ?

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Honda 4stroke engine in console. Plenty of them in Abersoch N Wales. Called Sealegs. Google them.

[butty]

I'm with OP, just odd...

[Fred.]

Thanks, Just googled it :-)
SEALEGS | Amphibious Marine Craft


Handy if you've no slipway or tractor etc

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Saves on your launch fee from a boatyard, could be £50 a launch/recovery or more.

Saves in marina fees on a pontoon. Significant ££££

Seen one at the Gazelle in N Wales about 5 yrs ago when they came out (?), drove straight up the beach into the pub car park and parked up. LOL Had a pint then drove off back in to the sea. my dad thought he'd lost the plot/had a few too many scotches. Mint!

There's two parked up in land and sea in Abersoch. It's a great idea if you can store near access to the sea. It would also save the hassle and sometimes damage to the hull caused putting the rib on a trailer each time with cross winds and rough weather.

[HDAV]

Not seen the ones in abersoch, tbh seems a bit naff ( I'd rather have a tractor too) I see the point perhaps in remote locations where you need to beach land with no available trailer or mooring, Pacific islands, parts of Far East etc
You have to avoid a lot of launch fees to justify the extra cost, abersoch boat yard are unlimited launches if you pay the high storage fees, can't imagine it's easy to drive one round the town or park by the shops in.....

[Poly]

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

Saves in marina fees on a pontoon.

Crikey I knew you southerners were getting ripped off on marina fees but I didn't realise it was that bad...

[Pikey Dave]

There's a bloke in France with one at the slip that we use, what a palaver, he needs all the car park to get the thing into the trailer. The inboard hydraulic engine exhaust has melted the cowl on the outboard. The only advantage he has is that he doesn't have to get his trailer wet. It's a gimmick imho. If I had a house with sheltered beach access, I might just about consider one.


Sh1t happens

[HUMBER P4VWL]

LOL - no surprise they're not loved on here really. Dry suits, geckos, twins, plbs, AIS, ex military, land rovers etc

Horses for courses.

Two in Abersoch are parked in land and sea by showroom.

[Dry Run]

They are a surprisingly capable boat when in the water

We have a new 9M version (all wheel drive and jet black) arriving in september.

Regards

Steve

[Iron Dials]

There's one in and out of the marina here.
It's owned by people who live out on a nearby island with a tidal harbour. Boathouse nicely above the waterline.
Perfect for that job.
Just drop the landing gear as you approach the shore, don't even stop and you're recovered to the boathouse.
Not even wet feet

[Chris Caton]

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

Seen one at the Gazelle in N Wales about 5 yrs ago when they came out (?), drove straight up the beach into the pub car park and parked up. LOL Had a pint then drove off back in to the sea. my dad thought he'd lost the plot/had a few too many scotches. Mint!

we watched one coming ashore just along from the Gazelle a couple of years ago in front of one of those "grand designs" places, not seen the rib since and we've never seen anyone at the house, thinking of offering to look after it for them when I retire

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

There's a bloke in France with one at the slip that we use, what a palaver, he needs all the car park to get the thing into the trailer. The inboard hydraulic engine exhaust has melted the cowl on the outboard. The only advantage he has is that he doesn't have to get his trailer wet. It's a gimmick imho. If I had a house with sheltered beach access, I might just about consider one.


Sh1t happens

Does look spectacular when it motors down the beach and glides off...saw one do the buisness in the Scillies last year.
BUT.. All that metal and hydraulics pluss the other mechanicals open to the full force of the Briney!...would seem it's certainly a "Rich Boys Toy" to me!....we ALL know what it costs in terms of time and money to keep a standard Rig Tip Top!

[Wightdiver]

Originally Posted by Maximus

Does look spectacular when it motors down the beach and glides off...saw one do the buisness in the Scillies last year.
BUT.. All that metal and hydraulics pluss the other mechanicals open to the full force of the Briney!...would seem it's certainly a "Rich Boys Toy" to me!....we ALL know what it costs in terms of time and money to keep a standard Rig Tip Top!

If you can afford one of those you can afford someone to maintain it for you!!

[jeffstevens763@g]

wasn't there an issue awhile back with one cracking up and the guy having problems with warranty a Poole marina seems to ring a bell not mentioning names.

[Fender]

Originally Posted by Dry Run

They are a surprisingly capable boat when in the water

We have a new 9M version (all wheel drive and jet black) arriving in september.

Regards

Steve

I'd hazard a guess not as capable as a 'normal' like for like rib without all the extra weight, how does the extra equipment and engine affect trim, balance and sea keeping?
They have there purpose and I'm sure a appeal to a very small market, I've also heard that once away from the shore and wanting to trailer any distance there a pig to load and unload.........but then life would be boring if we liked all the same things

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Originally Posted by Fender

I'd hazard a guess not as capable as a 'normal' like for like rib without all the extra weight, how does the extra equipment and engine affect trim, balance and sea keeping?

They have there purpose and I'm sure a appeal to a very small market, I've also heard that once away from the shore and wanting to trailer any distance there a pig to load and unload.........but then life would be boring if we liked all the same things

Best off with a flatbed trailer, just drive it on!

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Wightdiver

If you can afford one of those you can afford someone to maintain it for you!!

The question was who would own one...Not me....and they are pretty scarce!Affordability and Good Value not always the same thing

[Wrekindave]

Originally Posted by Maximus

The question was who would own one...Not me....and they are pretty scarce!Affordability and Good Value not always the same thing

Bear Grylls!! Seen him numerous times at Abersoch. Don't think affordability worried him too much when he bought it.

[Fender]

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

Best off with a flatbed trailer, just drive it on!

Inless like the majority of car trailers and flat beds they are set-up with two outer ramps, bow wheel on the amphibious thingy is in the middle I guess a third ramp is req? Lol