Happy holidays, the caravan that can float

(1 Nov 2015) LEAD IN:
A German inventor has built a caravan that turns into a boat - so travellers won't have to make the choice between caravanning or cruising.
With Sealander, leisure seekers can enjoy a picnic on the water without having to worry about their accommodation.
STORY-LINE:
Is it a caravan? Is it a boat? No, it's Sealander - a boat that you can tow like a caravan.
This compact pod combines features of a camping trailer and an electric power boat.
The 406 cm long and 168 cm wide invention is the brainchild of German inventor Daniel Straub.
It comes with a small electric propeller engine, enough to thrust the Sealander to a top speed on water of nine kilometres per hour.
The Sealander has space for two people and comes with most of the amenities of a normal caravan, including a small kitchen, a bed and a stereo.
If campers want to see the stars at night or even listen to the birds in the morning, then their wish is the Sealander's command as it has a detachable roof.
"The strong advantage is that we can combine the two ways of travelling," says Straub.
"It gives people many more possibilities. When you have a boat or a caravan you have to decide which one you will use. What we offer here is a freedom from that decision."
The transition from sea to land can be done in a few seconds: Sealander can be hitched to a car just like a normal caravan before driving the two-in-one vehicle on the road.
Straub came up with the concept of the Sealander while studying industrial design.
After finishing his degree he decided to try to produce it.
The entire vehicle is now produced in Germany.
More than 20 have already been sold since the product was launched at the start of the year.
But it is not cheap, at least compared to a regular caravan. The basic Sealander model costs 15,117 euro (approx. 16,680 US dollars) but extras can push the cost up to 18,000 euro (19,870 US dollars).
For that money you are likely to be at the centre of attention in the marina or on the camping ground.
"Of course it is entirely new. People need a bit of time to understand the concept and the possibilities that comes with it. This is a vision that we have turned in to reality. But of course, for most people this is something entirely new and they often stare, clearly wondering what those crazy people are doing on the water," says Straub.
The reinforced fibre glass will last for decades, says Straub, even when exposed to salt water.
He now spends most of his time marketing the Sealander around Germany, and he hopes to expand to other European countries soon.
"I find it funny, because it actually is funny," says Clemens Gleich, editor of auto news magazine Heise Auto.
"But the next question is whether there is a market for this type of thing. When people are smart and have a bit of luck then they can sometimes find a niche market for this type of thing. With Sealander it seems like they have been able to find this niche."
Gleich says that many times, developers "have bad luck and go under pretty quickly," before coming back with a new idea.
The caravan trailer doesn't need a licence to sail and can be launched from a small patch of clear shoreline.
So if you spot a caravan on the water, hold off calling sea rescue. It might just be a Sealander coming to a marina near you.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...