Sealegs 7.1M RIB

SeaLegs 7.1M RIB Courtesy Sealegs

Video: Sealegs Amphibious Vehicle

The first-ever commercial amphibious vessel with retractable all-wheel drive, the Sealegs rigid inflatable boat (RIB) allows boaters to launch and land nearly anywhere. On land, the 23-foot craft gets around on three 25-inch all-terrain tires. Each wheel is powered by its own hydraulic motor, while an onboard 24-horsepower motor provides the fluid. It tops out at 6 mph but can crawl over even the toughest terrain. The drive system adds just 335 pounds to the Sealegs’s weight, so when the wheels are folded up and out of the way, it rides as well as any high-performance RIB. In boat mode, a 150-horsepower outboard motor propels the V-shaped aluminum hull to a top speed of 48 mph. Military and rescue organizations, including the Royal Thai Navy, are using the craft to quickly access hard-to-reach locations and more easily transfer accident victims from the water to ambulances. But for pleasure boaters, Sealegs simply makes entering and leaving the water as easy as it gets.