Sealegs gets a lid

The new Sealegs 7.7m cabin boat which will make its Australian debut at the 2012 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, boosts the current line-up to three and will sit alongside the 6.1 and 7.1m open models. The new boat incorporates Generation Three componentry and represents the very latest development of the highly-successful Sealegs concept.

Sealegs designers say 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 very successful and there are now more than 600 boats operating in 40 markets around the world. 

With the new cabin boat, 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: "While 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."

According to Sealegs, 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 three 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 has ensured that this new Sealegs has a generous 500kg payload and seats up to six adults.

The new boat is powered by a 150hp Extended Run Time (XRT) Generation Three inboard motor which is quieter, more reliable and sits more discreetly within the boat design. The motor has been mounted toward the stern 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. More information can be found at www.sirocomarine.com.au or www.sealegs .com.