Powered wheels on your boat

[62_Kiwi]

A friend of mine came up with the idea recently of mounting electric powered wheels onto a boat so that you can drive the boat down the beach and into the water. When you're finished boating you can drive back onto the beach again.<br /><br />Blow me down, the other day I find that he's followed through with the idea and made a proto-type and set up a web site to display it... http://www.sealegs.co.nz <br /><br />The wheels fold over the side of the boat and are powered by variable speed electric motors which run off the 12 volt batteries which are then charged by the outboard. He says it can run on the wheels for about half a mile.<br /><br />When you're out on the water, you fold the wheels back into the boat to reduce drag. <br /> <br />The target market is people who live by the beach and tenders for larger boats etc.<br /><br />Has anyone here seen this type of idea before ?<br /><br />What do you think about this concept ?<br /><br />( Declaration: I have no financial interest in this project - this post for interest only - not spork or spam )

 

[singerjr]

Re: Powered wheels on your boat

Hey Kiwi,<br /><br />Remember the "Car-Boats" or "Boat-Cars" witch ever you prefer. Once in a while I see one at a custom car show, they are wild, pretty cool!<br /><br />I saw one not too long ago and the guy said it still worked that he had it in the lake recently he got a lot of on-lookers as most thought he was taking this nice restored classic car into the drink. I imagine it was very funny.<br /><br />They were a fad and didn't last and even though this is a completely different thing I wouldn't invest my hard earned money into this new wheel launce system. <br /><br />It's an interesting idea but even by thier own statements on thier web-site the target customer base is small. Small boats, lake-side property owners, the elderly. There's too many downsides for most people the drag would be enough to keep me away.<br /><br />Interesting idea, I'll let you know the first time I see one on the lake

 

[62_Kiwi]

Re: Powered wheels on your boat

Thanks for your comments Capt. I've never seen one of those car-boats (except in picture books), I guess they never made it to NZ. It must look pretty wild seeing what looks like a car drive into the water....<br /><br />He's considering making the sea-legs as a kit that attaches to existing boats. I myself live too far from the sea, so they wouldn't suit me (what would the cops have to say about someone driving one of those on the road! ).<br /><br />I'm going see a demo of the sealegs boat working soon, which will be interesting. It's definitely an "out there" concept. Yes, I'd be interested if you see anything like this over there in the States.