Good looking design and build on this Ive been both a Boat owner and a Travel Trailer Owner in my life , this gives you the best of both Worlds the foldable pontoons are a smart part of the Engineering on the setup plus I’ like the way they look when deployed especially having the railings that make the entire setup look like a ordinary House boat that belongs on the water often making a trailerable house boat starts to get goofy looking because the designer is trying to put to many features into the setup that it sacrifices looks when set up as a boat this one looks like a well planned hull design BTW 13K lbs is pretty good for pulling most American Deisel Duallies are capable of that easily and they are affordable plus with the added 4 WD. Option they should be capable of retrieving at most Boat ramps Well thought out on the designers of this Vessel Ive pulled a lot of boats and my Normal thoughts are to use a truck that is well overrated than what I’m pulling from the manufacturers reccomendations and Specs I’m curious to know what type of a braking system is on the trailers that they use for this one
Interesting design concept. After watching part 1 and 2, had to come back and comment on a few things. First, I have a rather unusual background, as I've worked in both RV and boating industries before as a product engineer, so I have a bit of experience in both product lines... The idea of an aluminum framed RV with extensible pontoons is quite interesting...and at a $140k-ish price point, isn't bad, considering a 36-ft RV with slides on an aluminum frame will set you back $80-$100k usually...without building in a helm-control or propulsion expense...so the price-point isn't bad at all. The pontoon forward needs some serious 'boat engineering redesign', as the 'splash' from 0-1's is bad...and tells me that 1-3' waters would possibly swamp it...it needs to 'cut' the water more with laminar flow, not just 'push' the water out of the way. Were it me, I think I'd look at a 'lower tub wrap' for the first 1-2 ft of craft, where you have the corners and lowers 'tubbed'...by doing this, I mean a full 'saucer' lower (kind of like old RV's used diamondplate aluminum as stone guard)...just a TIG corner-welded 'cup' to help prevent 'up-splash' from causing water-creep and delaminating those walls later. The ABSOLUTE BEST idea would be to look for GIBSON HOUSEBOAT videos...ideally, say, the 44-ft Standard models...Gibson (the original company) was in business from 1968 to 2008...when it went under due to the economy. It is now owned and producing again, so careful of 'patent infringements'...but the original owner figured out pretty quick how NOT to make a small houseboat look like a 'cheap RV'...and your company could take some pointers from what he did with his product...(moreso the interior layout and coverings...as the molds for the formed hull are patented). Give this more of a 'boat feel', and people will be willing to look at it as a 'Gibson competitor' than a 'Floating Forest River RV'...and then when you ask for $150k...you can know you are competing against $250k Gibsons, not $75k Forest River RVs. As for the towing weight limits that all the 'highway sheister lawyers' on here are talking about...forget them. The national limits on a Class D (or 'Operator') license is 26,001 lbs...which has a couple of 'loopholes'...such as if your tow vehicle is over 10k GVWR, then your trailer must have a GVWR of less than 16k such that the combined GCWR cannot exceed 26,001-lbs, but if your tow vehicle is less than 10k GVWR, then your trailer can weigh up to the total GCWR of 26,001 with the GVWR of the tow vehicle taken into account. This is taken directly from US D.O.T. weight limits. As for Canada, they have a different methodology of identifying 'truck-trailer' combinations, but know this...ALMOST ALL PROVINCES follow the 'law of reciprocity' (their east coast is as crazy as ours...check before towing there), meaning that if you are LEGAL to tow your truck-trailer configuration in your home of license, then they accept that same weight-standard as legal in their province...Legal at home means LEGAL IN CANADA. This is from the Canadian Government, itself. Hope all this helps, and that it 'takes the falsehoods' out of a bunch of 'assumed towing experts' below. WHEN IN DOUBT, CHECK THE GOVERNMENT STANDARD DIRECTLY...don't follow the 'rules' as given by unknown commenters!
someone mentioned one of these went to a buyer in Minnesota. I wonder how it does on the Great Lakes, down the Mississippi and if it could handle coastal waters in the gulf and maybe to the keys?
I don't know what state you are from but Class C Kansas where we are from GVWR limit is less than 26,001 lbs. Do you realize how many vehicles are over 10,000 lbs. Good luck finding an large RV less than 10,000. I just looked up a 36' fifth wheel with 3 slides and is 14,500.
Yes we just finished one last June. Keep in mind this is a part time thing for us and there are only 5. We have a used boat that would be around the 140K range. New one optioned similar would be 150K+.
yup , need a A or AZ licence to tow that in Canada. Max tow-able weight without the A license is 4,600 kilograms (10,141 lbs) You cant even get a special permit. With all that clip-together railing, must be awful noisy with the rattling, if not when new, it will .
To stoll40. Are you still building these boats? If so tell me how I might get info on where to buy or see them in person. Maybe some pricing? Very cool boat and a very good idea.
Don't confuse kilograms with lbs. !2, 000 lbs is legally able to be carried on a 1 ton truck. (eg F350 etc). Also anything designated as recreational is exempt from commercial licensing requirements. The only thing you have right is the requirement for a Z or Q endorsement for air brake operation.
13,000 Lbs. that means the driver needs to hold a Class A drivers lisence, with just a class B, C or D you are only aload to have a total towed GvW of 10,000 Lbs. anything over that you need a Class A, and if the trailer has air brakes you need the Z endorsment, this is the Laws of Canada, Note a Class A with Z indorsment is same as you need to drive a 18 wheeler/trasport truck, you can do your road test with a 1 ton truck with a fith wheel trailer that has a GVW of over 10,000 Lbs.
This has got to be the best trailer/houseboat conversion design ever
What an amazing bit of engineering. That thing is really well done. My hat is off to the engineer(s). Thanks for sharing.
This design was first done by another man in the 70's
Definitely a calm water boat only.
Good looking design and build on this Ive been both a Boat owner and a Travel Trailer Owner in my life , this gives you the best of both Worlds the foldable pontoons are a smart part of the Engineering on the setup plus I’ like the way they look when deployed especially having the railings that make the entire setup look like a ordinary House boat that belongs on the water often making a trailerable house boat starts to get goofy looking because the designer is trying to put to many features into the setup that it sacrifices looks when set up as a boat this one looks like a well planned hull design BTW 13K lbs is pretty good for pulling most American Deisel Duallies are capable of that easily and they are affordable plus with the added 4 WD. Option they should be capable of retrieving at most Boat ramps Well thought out on the designers of this Vessel Ive pulled a lot of boats and my Normal thoughts are to use a truck that is well overrated than what I’m pulling from the manufacturers reccomendations and Specs I’m curious to know what type of a braking system is on the trailers that they use for this one
Interesting design concept. After watching part 1 and 2, had to come back and comment on a few things. First, I have a rather unusual background, as I've worked in both RV and boating industries before as a product engineer, so I have a bit of experience in both product lines...
The idea of an aluminum framed RV with extensible pontoons is quite interesting...and at a $140k-ish price point, isn't bad, considering a 36-ft RV with slides on an aluminum frame will set you back $80-$100k usually...without building in a helm-control or propulsion expense...so the price-point isn't bad at all. The pontoon forward needs some serious 'boat engineering redesign', as the 'splash' from 0-1's is bad...and tells me that 1-3' waters would possibly swamp it...it needs to 'cut' the water more with laminar flow, not just 'push' the water out of the way.
Were it me, I think I'd look at a 'lower tub wrap' for the first 1-2 ft of craft, where you have the corners and lowers 'tubbed'...by doing this, I mean a full 'saucer' lower (kind of like old RV's used diamondplate aluminum as stone guard)...just a TIG corner-welded 'cup' to help prevent 'up-splash' from causing water-creep and delaminating those walls later.
The ABSOLUTE BEST idea would be to look for GIBSON HOUSEBOAT videos...ideally, say, the 44-ft Standard models...Gibson (the original company) was in business from 1968 to 2008...when it went under due to the economy. It is now owned and producing again, so careful of 'patent infringements'...but the original owner figured out pretty quick how NOT to make a small houseboat look like a 'cheap RV'...and your company could take some pointers from what he did with his product...(moreso the interior layout and coverings...as the molds for the formed hull are patented). Give this more of a 'boat feel', and people will be willing to look at it as a 'Gibson competitor' than a 'Floating Forest River RV'...and then when you ask for $150k...you can know you are competing against $250k Gibsons, not $75k Forest River RVs.
As for the towing weight limits that all the 'highway sheister lawyers' on here are talking about...forget them. The national limits on a Class D (or 'Operator') license is 26,001 lbs...which has a couple of 'loopholes'...such as if your tow vehicle is over 10k GVWR, then your trailer must have a GVWR of less than 16k such that the combined GCWR cannot exceed 26,001-lbs, but if your tow vehicle is less than 10k GVWR, then your trailer can weigh up to the total GCWR of 26,001 with the GVWR of the tow vehicle taken into account. This is taken directly from US D.O.T. weight limits. As for Canada, they have a different methodology of identifying 'truck-trailer' combinations, but know this...ALMOST ALL PROVINCES follow the 'law of reciprocity' (their east coast is as crazy as ours...check before towing there), meaning that if you are LEGAL to tow your truck-trailer configuration in your home of license, then they accept that same weight-standard as legal in their province...Legal at home means LEGAL IN CANADA. This is from the Canadian Government, itself.
Hope all this helps, and that it 'takes the falsehoods' out of a bunch of 'assumed towing experts' below. WHEN IN DOUBT, CHECK THE GOVERNMENT STANDARD DIRECTLY...don't follow the 'rules' as given by unknown commenters!
Get ready buddy. I'm coming
Looks like fun. And thanks for the Buffet.
Yeah man that music makes me wanna listen to Elton John and eat chili dogs.
How cool is that! 😎👏👏👏
Great video and great design👍👍, i wish i have some money to build a boat .
Nice $30,000 trailer and go get an F-450 another $80,000 (late model used) and you're ready to go!
This is just a brilliant idea...I really like this one:)
someone mentioned one of these went to a buyer in Minnesota. I wonder how it does on the Great Lakes, down the Mississippi and if it could handle coastal waters in the gulf and maybe to the keys?
The dual outboards has already been done. The boat that went out last June had dual Mercury "Big Foot" 60 HP 4 strokes on it.
Love the boat. But um. Inwas listening to the music and started wondering were I could buy a thong for my wardrobe
Love it but is it water proof? It must be built like a boat and installation is vital to.
I don't know what state you are from but Class C Kansas where we are from GVWR limit is less than 26,001 lbs. Do you realize how many vehicles are over 10,000 lbs. Good luck finding an large RV less than 10,000. I just looked up a 36' fifth wheel with 3 slides and is 14,500.
Are they still manufacturing this boat?
Yes we just finished one last June. Keep in mind this is a part time thing for us and there are only 5. We have a used boat that would be around the 140K range. New one optioned similar would be 150K+.
Am I the only one that fills like dumping olive oil all over them self and running out on to a football field with a birthday suit on.
yup , need a A or AZ licence to tow that in Canada. Max tow-able weight without the A license is 4,600 kilograms (10,141 lbs) You cant even get a special permit. With all that clip-together railing, must be awful noisy with the rattling, if not when new, it will .
Nice
We are located in Kansas. There is a boat in Minnesota, 2 in Texas, and West Virginia.
And by the time you get it set up and break it down the weekends over and you gotta go
It only takes about 15 minutes to get ready and put the boat in the water for 2 people.
To stoll40. Are you still building these boats? If so tell me how I might get info on where to buy or see them in person. Maybe some pricing? Very cool boat and a very good idea.
كم طول القارب وكم عرضة وكم الغاطس للمياة وما ا رتفاع الحوض؟
Tried watching, but that music was painful.
do we need our own trailer.
Don't confuse kilograms with lbs. !2, 000 lbs is legally able to be carried on a 1 ton truck. (eg F350 etc). Also anything designated as recreational is exempt from commercial licensing requirements. The only thing you have right is the requirement for a Z or Q endorsement for air brake operation.
Can it travel the ocean waters?
Juss Phil
No
and it would be sweet if you guys make one that drives. so you don't need a truck or trailer. it could go any place in the world.
I'm going to call after I sell my house. cuz this thing would be great for Alaska to Michigan living.
I should have bought this instead of a motorhome... :^(
how much $
Didn't you see? $119,000 new!
I read $150,000.00
He could if he used a truck. Not everyone drives a Prius.
pick up your fenders!
13,000 Lbs. that means the driver needs to hold a Class A drivers lisence, with just a class B, C or D you are only aload to have a total towed GvW of 10,000 Lbs. anything over that you need a Class A, and if the trailer has air brakes you need the Z endorsment, this is the Laws of Canada, Note a Class A with Z indorsment is same as you need to drive a 18 wheeler/trasport truck, you can do your road test with a 1 ton truck with a fith wheel trailer that has a GVW of over 10,000 Lbs.
Your regular drivers license allows you to have a truck and trailer GVWR of 26,000lbs, if your truck is 10,000lbs your trailer can be 16,000lbs.
It's kinda like making me think about other men
this is nothing more then a house boat with its own trailer
You don't Wana see that do u
Not good man