New 7.7m Sealegs Cabin Boat has Boating Covered
OutdoorHub 03.18.12
The incredible inflatable that can travel on land and sea has just gone even further. The Sealegs new 7.7 metre cabin boat adding to the current line-up of 6.1 and 7.1 metre open models will have its Australian launch at the 2012 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. It incorporates Generation 3 componentry and represents the very latest development of the highly successful Sealegs concept.
Sealegs designers reassured us that the addition of a cabin on top hasn’t hampered the range of challenging terrain this boat can traverse. To date, Sealegs has been so successful that there are now more than 600 boats operating in 40 markets around the world. Yet after the flooding we’ve recently endured, there is arguably no country in the world more in need of such a craft than Australia.
Why a cabin boat? Suddenly the Sealegs concept will appeal to even more people in more places. With a solid floor underneath and strong GRP top, this all wheel drive craft really shines when it rains. Naturally it offers greater protection from the elements, while its all wheel drive configuration lets it scale steeper banks, even in wet and muddy conditions.
As company founder David McKee-Wright said, “Whilst we’re proud of the company’s past achievements, we’re particularly enthusiastic about the release of the cabin boat which will secure a more significant place for Sealegs in the future. The 7.7m cabin boat responds to market demand and builds on the existing product technology resulting in a superior product.”
Creating an all-new model wasn’t simply a matter of adding a cabin and stretching the current design to 7.7 metres, this all new model has been more than 3 years in development. The design team had to consider weight distribution as well as the overall mass, buoyancy, stability, and performance on the water as well as on land. Clever design ha ensured that this new Sealegs has a generous 500kg payload and seats 6 adults including the skipper.
What else is new? It is powered by a 150hp Extended Run Time (XRT) Generation 3 inboard motor which is quieter, more reliable and sits more discreetly within the boat design. The motor has been mounted towards the rear resulting in optimum weight distribution and ensuring more cargo space and greater layout flexibility.
While production capacity of these largely hand-built boats is strictly limited, Sealegs is taking orders for mid 2012 production.
