GIIRA YACHTS - India's First Yacht Blog: sealegs

SeaLegs - the amphibious boat or rather the RIB with a split persona has always caught our fancy!

Basic but essential...it's definitely a practical solution for many situations!

And guess what these guys at SeaLegs go-ahead and do...

They add more value to an already fab proposition of a boat...albeit in the Search, Rescue and Emergency industry.

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SeaLegs Corporation unveiled a special rescue version of its amphibious boats which is purpose-built to meet the demands of rescue services and coastguard agencies, targeted specially at flood rescue and inshore marine applications.

The new 6 meters and 7 meters SeaLegs models build on the existing range but feature an extended run-time package (XRT) which enables the Sealegs XRT amphibious boats to be run continuously on land or water. This will ensure the product meets the rigorous demands of local and international rescue and emergency agencies.

Sealegs Corporation CEO Mr David McKee Wright says “Sealegs developed this option based on feedback and requests from international rescue organisations. The extended run-time package gives Sealegs amphibious boats the capability to be effectively deployed in very demanding field conditions and has been tested extensively in high ambient temperatures.”

IN OTHER SEALEGS NEWS...

SeaLegs Corporation recently announced that it had shipped its 250th Sealegs amphibious boat and has set up a second manufacturing facility in Albany, Auckland.

SeaLegs Corporation has appointed Paul Simmonds to the position of International Business Development Manager. Paul most recently was consulting for New Zealand manufacturers expanding into Middle East markets, and prior to that was the Director - Europe, Middle East and Africa for Investment New Zealand (New Zealand Trade and Enterprise) and worked in the New Zealand financial services markets.
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Now wouldn't you love to just drive your boat onto land, just as easily you have been driving it in the water over your voyage...rather than getting off, then mooring, then all the hassles that are part and parcel of owning a boat and that you are not fond of!

Or even simpler - imagine driving your boat right out of your garage and few miles away to your nearest bay by road...and then getting into the water there...WOW!

SeaLegs is a revolutionary award winning design that could easily give any powerboat a BIG inferiority complex without wanting to give them one!

SEALEGS - A WHOLE NEW EXPERIENCE !

SeaLegs has been specifically designed and developed to take all the hassle out of the boat launching and retrieval process.

The SeaLegs system consists of motorised, retractable and steerable wheels which are fitted to specially designed 6.1m boats to give users a fully integrated, turn-key package.

The SeaLegs system works by having powerful motorised wheels which give a user variable speed of 0-10km/h (forward and reverse) powered by an on-board 16hp Honda driven hydraulic power-pack.

A SeaLegs boat can be driven from a storage location, down a boat ramp or beach and into the water - all with the occupants staying in the boat and remaining completely dry! Once in the water, the SeaLegs wheels are easily retracted into the "UP" position and are completely out of the water. The boat is then driven and used as normal. When approaching land, the SeaLegs wheels are lowered into the "DOWN" position whilst still moving in the water.

It is then simply a matter of trolling towards the beach and the SeaLegs powerful motorised wheels touch the bottom and drive the boat up onto land. The occupants can then disembark, totally dry and safe.

The SeaLegs system utilises all submersible components and is Salt Water ready.

DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY

One characteristic that makes the SeaLeg vary from other contemporaries is that this is a boat that is engineered towards having on-road capabilities. Unlike most other pioneering companies that have made cars that can travel in water, in the process hampering the car's capabilities in terms of speed, stability and engine dynamics - the SeaLeg is simply a boat with the added advantage of being driven on land - and with its design, none of the water-going capabilities are compromised.

With a top speed of 37 Knots, you are rest assured that this is as boat-y as a boat can get. Working on making a sea-going rib into a road-going amphibious, SeaLegs is not about doing different things, but about doing things differently.

SOME FAQS TO AVOID FICTION

With something revolutionary, there is always a chance that related information can be misconstrued due to lack of understanding. The below FAQs about the SeaLegs gets the ball rolling right in understanding it.

How does it drive on land?
Sealegs is driven hydraulically by an air-cooled motor under the seat. The air-cooled motor is a 16hp Honda, 2 cylinder, 4 stroke for the 6.1m models (which uses the same petrol as the outboard), and a 24hp Honda, 2 cylinder 4-stroke for the 7.1m model.

How fast does it go?
10km/h on the land, and 30-35 knots on the water. The wheel motors are low speed, high torque (although Sealegs did set a new World Speed Record for an amphibious boat of 105kmph on Sydney harbour using an E-Tec 250hp outboard, 7th December 2007)

How steep a gradient will it climb?
One in four gradient = 25 degree slope.

What surfaces can it drive over?
As a general rule Sealegs will operate over terrain where you can launch a 6.1m, or 7.1m, trailer boat using a car.

How long can I drive with the Honda inboard motor?
You can drive for a maximum of 10 minutes, which is approximately 1km. Run time begins the moment you start the engine.

Why only 10 minutes or 1km on land?
Because the Honda inboard engine and hydraulic transmission oil are air cooled, after 10 minutes of constant use it requires approximately 20 minutes to cool down before use again.

How much do they weigh?
6.1m D-Tube = 1,090kgs and the 6.1m RIB = 990kgs (with Evinrude E-Tec 115hp outboard & fuel)
7.1m RIB = 1180kgs (with Evinrude E-Tec 150hp outboard & fuel)

What is the difference between a RIB & a D-Tube?
A RIB is a Rigid Inflatable Boat as has inflated tubes made of 828 grade Hypalon (a rubber compound), compared to a D-Tube which is an all aluminium boat made from 4mm 5083 Marine Grade aluminium.
Our customers tend to be drawn to a RIB if they're looking for a tender, or for more recreational use that includes fishing, diving, water skiing and general boating. D-Tube owners tend to be more orientated to purely fishing and working their boats harder with cray pots and scallop dredges etc.

The D-Tube does offer the added Option of having Clears domed into the Bimini, which creates a sheltered forward cockpit area for those looking for extra protection from the weather. The D-Tube has rigid aluminum sides which means as a tender your would require fenders, maing the RIB the more friendly tender model of boat. The RIB has the Option of a Bimini only.

'NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF ALL INVENTION'

Apart from most of the reasons and uses you can think of while being on a SeaLegs - it was mainly made keeping the following reasons in mind :-

1) Waterfront residence use - beach front, river front, lake front.

2) Use as a luxury yacht tender.

3) In situations where getting in and out on the water as quickly and easily as possible is paramount - for pure convenience or in emergency roles.

4) When you can't be bothered with the hassles of trailer boating. - Getting wet, waiting for boat ramp access, parking the trailer etc.

5) Applications where young children are safer in the boat during launching and retrieving.

6) Applications where aged people wish to enjoy boating but may not be able to manhandle the boat during conventional trailer launching/retrieval.

THE VIDEO SAYS IT ALL

The video gives a complete idea and know-how about the SeaLeg, how to use it, where to use it - and in the course of the video you may just want to get one for fun.

Surely, a concept such as this is here to stay - with newer models with more specific purposes coming around soon.

Hopefully soon they would come with an engine that is capable of doing more mileage on land too.

BRAVO!...
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