Designed and built by a German-based industrial designer Daniel Straub, Sealander is a clever two-in-one vehicle that combines features of an electric power boat and a camping trailer. And it's not just a blue-sky concept - a prototype has been built and successfully tested on the road and on the water and Sealander is now reportedly being prepared for production.
Not surprisingly, Sealander isn't built for a trans-Atlantic crossings - as a boat it's designed with very little draft allowing it to be navigated on shallow waters and launched from just a small patch of clear shoreline.
Sealander's shell is made of fiberglass reinforced plastic with a double bottom to prevent sinking in case of a leakage. Power is via a 5 hp electric motor which doubles as a source of energy for on-board devices.
Along with a removable roof, Sealander will come customizable through a number of modules to choose from. As a standard it will feature cooking-washing module, a cooler, heater, table and two benches that can be converted to enlarge the deck area, while a Porta Potty-style toilet will be optional. Colors and inside materials can be also customized on request.
The floating trailer measures 389 cm (12.8ft) in length, is 160 cm (5.25 ft) wide and 185 cm (6 ft) high. It's inside area of 156 x 200 cm (5.1 x 6.56 ft) of the inside area and it weighs 380 kg (838 lbs).
According to the product page, Sealander doesn't require any special license to tow it, or to sail it in Germany.
Shown this year at Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf, the Sealander is expected to be priced around EUR15,000 (US$20,500) with shipping slated to begin in early 2012.
