- The Sealander acts as both a light trailer and a motorboat.
- It can be towed by small cars without a special driver license.
- Pricing starts at €40k ($46k) before options and engine.
Ever wanted the merits of a camper trailer and a small boat in the same object? Well, you’re in luck, as German outfit Sealander has built one. On land it’s a light teardrop trailer. On water it’s a motorboat, and the switch between the two doesn’t involve anything more complicated than a slipway.
Diving into the specs, the Sealander measures 469 cm (184.6 inches) long, 166 cm (65.4 inches) wide, and 193 cm (76.0 inches) tall, keeping it inside the footprint of a standard garage or parking spot. Maximum gross weight is 750 kg (1,653 lbs), and that figure matters more than the dimensions do, since it puts the trailer within reach of small hatchbacks and SUVs, towed on a regular driver’s license with no extra paperwork.
The Part Where It Becomes A Boat
Plenty of teardrop trailers hit those numbers. What they can’t do is leave dry land. The Sealander carries a Category D CE boat classification, so you can back it down a slipway into sheltered bays, lakes, and calm rivers, provided wind stays at 4 Beaufort or below (11-16 knots) and waves top out at 0.3 m (1 foot). Anything rougher and you should stay in the parking lot.
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The hand-laminated, glass-fiber reinforced plastic (GRP) monocoque has a double-walled floor and a protective gel-coat finish, so fresh and salt water are both fair game. The galvanized unbraked single-axle chassis gets the same treatment, with water-sealed oil bearings.
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In the water, power comes from an outboard motor mounted to the stern transom. The manufacturer recommends engines with outputs ranging from 5-10 hp (4-7 kW). The less potent units are good for a maximum water speed of 10 km/h (6.2 mph) or 5 knots and don’t require a special license under the German law.
Sealander
Inside, the Sealander has panoramic tinted acrylic windows, a folding roof, LED lighting, an adjustable table, and two opposing benches that accommodate up to six people. When required, the seating area convert into a cozy bed measuring 205 cm by 151 cm (80.7 by 59.4 inches).
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Sealander
The payload capacity of the Sealander as a boat is between 382-410 kg (842-904 lbs). The company offers many options including a stove, a sink, a cooler, a sound system, solar panels, an onboard grille, a portable toilet, and a board shower. The standard lithium battery has a capacity of 50 Ah but can be optionally upgraded to 100 Ah. As for the exterior, owners can choose from a variety of wheels and different colors for the folding top and the bodyshell.
What It Costs
Sealander asks €39,750 ($45,900) for the caravan, which in Germany is Toyota RAV4 Hybrid money and in the States lines up with a Crown Limited. That figure covers the trailer and nothing that pushes it through water, since the outboard engine is a separate purchase. Work through the options list with any enthusiasm and the total can climb by more than €12,000 ($13,800) on top of the base price.