Sounds a bit crazy, yes. But it can be seen as the "Portless Catamaran" at the "Interboot" trade fair in Friedrichshafen. And one of the favourites of the new trade fair director Felix Klarmann.
The idea comes from Hungary - and is more or less a further development of inflatable SUPs: the drop-stitch technology used there now makes it possible to manufacture inflatable products with high sidewall strength. The two-storey hull of the "Portless Catamaran" was designed in such a way that it only weighs around 120 kilograms in total and is divided into four elements that can be easily connected with strong, industrial zips. "Assembly is very simple," promises the manufacturer. And none of the individual elements weigh more than 30 kilograms, meaning that the catamaran can also be assembled by one person alone. A "safety roller" at the front and rear prevents slipping - and also provides some comfort when lying down. In addition, the upper deck, which can be reached via a multifunctional ladder and also features a bendable, walk-on solar panel, can be used for sunbathing. The catamaran is designed for a total of six people.
The inflatable catamaran in detail:
The vehicle is produced in a total of two different versions: There is the 4.5 by 2.5 by 2 metre basic version with 9+3 square metres of usable space and an upper deck that can hold a maximum of 160 kilograms. And there is a larger and significantly heavier 6 x 3 x 3 metre "Deluxe" version with 14 plus 12 square metres of usable space. There is also an 8 square metre inflatable floating dock called "Beach", which can be used for sunbathing, swimming or simply as an extension to the outside area of your motorboat.
Electric motor with solar charging on board
The necessary propulsion is provided by the Spirit 1.0 plus motor from ePropulsion. It produces a maximum noise emission of 60 decibels, delivers the equivalent of around three horsepower and is suitable for boats up to around 1.5 tonnes. With an economical driving style, it initially has a range of four hours, at full speed - 7 km/h - it is already over after one and a quarter hours, and the motor with its battery capacity of 1,276 Wh then has to be recharged for eight hours. According to the manufacturer, the lithium-polymer battery offers on average twice as long a journey time on a single charge as other electric motors with a lower battery capacity. If the battery should fall into the water, it simply floats back to the surface. A display provides information on performance, voltage, remaining running time and battery charge and is backlit for better visibility.
The Deluxe model can be equipped with up to two 3-kilowatt motors, which of course consumes more energy. However, the maximum speed is then 14 km/h.
Long-term operation of the electric motor is guaranteed by the solar cell on the upper deck of the catamaran "If there is enough sunshine, you can even keep moving all day long," promises the manufacturer. Large windows offer an almost 360-degree all-round view, but the boat can also be closed with UV-resistant, transparent blinds - and there are also curtains as an extra to provide shade everywhere.
The price list and further information are available on request at portlesscatamaran.com
