Sealegs 7.1 Rib

Daddy sealegs

With three world records and a projected tripling of its income in three years time, the portents are there for New Zealand’s amphibious boatbuilder, Sealegs, to continue its meteoric rise on the local and international stage.

The Sealegs amphibians combine a RIB outboard-powered watercraft design with a retractable independent three-wheel-drive system for off-the-beach launching and retrieval.

In its annual report for 2008, Sealegs cited annual growth rates of 125 per cent in 2006, 85 per cent in 2007, and 92 per cent for the year ending in March 2008 with revenue of $NZ9.6 million from more than 110 boats sold.

On those projections, the company said it could realise revenue of $NZ35 million by its financial year end in 2011 based on an average growth rate of 73 per cent.

The Kiwi amphibians first emerged in 2005 and Trade-A-Boat reviewed a Sealegs 5.6 amphibian for the first time last year (Issue 363), impressing the writer with the safety and ease the craft made the transition from trailer to land to water and vice versa without the skipper getting wet or having to leave the Sealegs at any stage.

And such is the rapid transition of the company, that the current range now consists of a 6.1m D-TUBE aluminium vessel and two Hypalon rigid inflatables with aluminium hulls, the 6.1m and the new 7.1m - all three of centre consul configurations.

The vessels popularity on a global scale has resulted in major international outboardmaker Evinrude sign up with the company to provide its E-TEC range of engines alongside models from Yamaha.

As well as realising increased sales in NZ and Australia, the Sealegs phenomenon has caught on in with sales and reciprocal manufacturing rights to the UK, Middle East, Europe and Asia.

Sealegs said it has also had enquiries from government departments in Italy, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia for rescue and defence applications of the vessels, and the company, in consequence, said it was investing heavily in the design of a purpose-built rescue vehicle.

BIGGER MODELS
The latest of the Sealegs is the 7.1m RIB. This vessel increases: payload capacity by 200kg to 700kg over the 6.1m models; seating for eight adults compared to three for the D-TUBE and four for the 6.1m RIB; and, water speed of 78kmh compared to 65kmh for the two 6.1m craft. The new RIB also has a stronger land-powered engine of 24hp up 8hp on the 6.1m vessels.

The three Sealegs models have two rear marinised hydraulic wheel motors with stainless steel hubs and a bow-mounted forward wheel for steering. Hydraulic steering controls both the front wheel on land and the outboard out on the water.

The rear wheels on the 7.1m RIB are driven by a four-stroke two-cylinder air-cooled 24hp Honda inboard engine (with electronic ignition and electric start) mounted under the centre seat for a land speed of 10kmh. Marinised hydraulic cylinders raise and lower all three wheels which consist of 25 x 12in all-terrain four-ply tyres on nine-inch alloy rims.

The 7.1m RIB is constructed of six-chamber Hypalon 828 tubes on a 4mm 5083 marine grade aluminium hull with an integral 80lt fuel tank and gauge, plus an optional 100lt auxiliary tank.

The RIB has an anchor locker and storage in a forward seat locker, outboard well locker and three deck lockers. The deck is self-draining with dual scuppers and all-three craft come with a 4180lt/h automatic bilge pump. Also standard on the trio are navigation lights and a ski hoop with four rodholders.

OUTBOARD OPTIONS
There are three outboard options for the 7.1m RIB, either an E-TEC 115hp or 150hp, or a Yamaha 130hp two-stroke.

An extensive options list is available on all models, and universal to all three are a galvanised anchor with 6m of chain and 50m of 10mm nylon rope; baitboard with stainless steel mount; bimini with fold-down stainless steel frame; centre console cover, and braked drive-on trailers.

Instrument and electronic options include Navman depthsounder/fishfinder, chartplotter, fuel flow sensor and 7000 VHF radio; and, a Clarion Marine CD/radio and speakers.

Sealegs said its vessels, with single-handed operation, allow one person the freedom to launch on their own, without getting wet embarking or disembarking, and from a beach or car park instead of a ramp.

The company added that the range is the ultimate boating solution for waterfront properties, with the boats driving on land from a garage or car(RIB) port and at the push of a button transforming themselves into high-speed powerboats on the water.

And to prove the boats’ adaptability, Sealegs vessels have already claimed three world records for amphibious craft.

Last year, a 6.1m RIB with a Yamaha 130hp outboard crossed Malaysia’s Malacca Strait in a time of 39 minutes 11 seconds on December 8, and a day later on Sydney Harbour a 6.1m RIB powered by an Evinrude E-TEC 250hp clocked more than 100kmh racing over 500m in just under 18 seconds. On January 29 this year, a 6.1 RIB with a 200hp E-TEC crossed NZ’s 40km wide Cook Strait in 47 minutes.

Recommended retail prices range from $69,000 for the 6.1m RIB, $79,000 for the 6.1m D-TUBE up to $89,000 for the 7.1m RIB (all prices excluding dealer delivery, customs assistance and vessel instruction).

For more information, phone 1300 SEALEGS, email: info@sealegs.com or visit www.sealegs.com.