For those of us who have always wanted to combine the classic road trip with a serene river cruise, industrial engineers in Germany may have come up with a solution. The Sealander, a vehicle designed to be both a trailer and a boat, could change the way people caravan in Europe, and perhaps someday in the United States and the rest of the world, according to a recent article in the Daily Mail.
While the concept of a floating car has been around for decades, the Sealander is a dedicated mobile home that can function on land or in a body of water and providers passengers with a comfortable place to rest and relax. The inventor of the Sealander, Daniel Straub, believes the vehicle offers multiple options for people who seek the ultimate freedom in a weekend getaway. Also, this "cara-boat" isn't in the concept stage. Straub worked for over two years on the Sealander so it would be ready to market to consumers. And with an estimated retail value of just over $20,000, it's a competitively-priced vehicle compared to other crafts.
The Sealander isn't your average duck boat — Photo courtesy of Sunfox
Unlike duck tour boats that started in Boston and now are found in many major cities such as San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington DC, the Sealander is a slick UFO-like craft with a smooth aerodynamic design. It is equipped with a double hull (incase of leaks or damages, it will stay afloat) and benches that can also serve as beds on water or on land. Straub says that while this Sealander is ready for the sales floor, he hopes to design bigger, more elaborate designs that can float and run on the road.
From the looks of this demonstration video, he seems like he's well on his way:
Sealander - Schwimmcaravan - Grenzenlos mobil from SEALANDER - Der Schwimmcaravan on Vimeo.