Dreadnort Meteor mixes houseboating with cutting-edge design

Auckland-based Dreadnort Boats, which makes alloy trailer boats with a distinctive reversed bow adopted by Dreadnought class battleships built at the turn of the last century, has also built a small pod-style shelter looking a lot like a geodesic ball.

The Dreadnort Pod portable shelter, which can slide onto what looks all the world like a boat trailer, can be transported anywhere it is needed, offering all the comforts of a house but with an economy of space.

However, the Pod was developed as a portable building that could provide emergency shelter after a natural disaster such as a tsunami, and not meant to float.

Earlier this week, though, Dreadnort took the concept a step further, taking a turn back to its core business of building boats and announcing the Dreadnort Meteor houseboat.

According to Dreadnort, the concept Meteor measures 11.95 metres – around 40 feet – with a beam of 5.0 metres. While it’s short for a houseboat, Dreadnort says the Meteor will stand two storeys high.

One of the features of the Pod is that it includes lifting lugs, meaning you could easily transport it to places.

If the Meteor gets the same setup, it means the houseboat could also be easily transported to remote waters.

Dreadnort has also announced plans to build a caravan based on the Pod.

As for Dreadnort’s other products? 

It currently has a spread of models ranging from 4.0-metre open tiller steer and centre console dinghies to the current range-topper, the V8500 Enclosed Cabin, on its order books. 

It has also teased a V10000 game fishing specialist, featuring single or twin inboard diesel engines with sterndrive or shaftdrive, or twin diesel or petrol outboard engines.

The new boat concept also has accommodation for up to six people, a head with a shower compartment, and a transom with a boarding platform or a full-width opening gate.