Many long-distance, long-term overlanders eventually become sailors, or cruisers as they are known, who choose to explore the planet by water once they have had their fill of exploring by land. Why? Well, living on the water has distinct advantages (and obvious disadvantages); you can fish for protein, do not have to pay for camping or rely solely on fossil fuels, can choose your neighbors, and can wake up and dive into that enormous swimming pool before breakfast. The disadvantages are sharks, storms, limited space, that sinking feeling, and having to master the art of sailing before traveling long distances across open water. No thanks, I would rather eat my boots after a hike into the Amazon.
Amphibious vehicles are often the worst of both worlds if only someone would invent a floating caravan. The Caracat is just that, a stylish and modern camper trailer that seems just perfect for the explorer who would like to have his cake and eat it. Imagine driving down to southern Baja and launching your Caracat into the crystal clear water, leaving the noisy land lubbers to fight over the prime beachfront camping real estate while you smugly devour Mahi Mahi ceviche and sip yet another ice-cold Pacifico. Or dragging the Caracat down to the lake district in southern Argentina and floating on pristine glacier-fed lakes before cruising up to Florianopolis in Brazil to take up residence on Lagoa da Conceição. Sold!
According to the Caracat website, the “Caracat 860 Caravan Catamaran series full functional luxury GRP, hull and superstructure vehicle can be used both on land and at sea. Caracat is designed and equipped with superior technology and furnished with every imaginable luxury….” The German-engineered camper trailer features extendable pontoons, which, theoretically, offer a safe and stable floating platform. We say theoretically because, as far as we can tell, the Caracat has not yet made it into production and all available images are slick and enticing renderings.
The Caracat will offer all of the creature comforts and living essentials, including sleeping for six, a bathroom, a kitchen, two decks, solar power, and water tanks. But, you will not be dead in the water; the floating home features a Torqeedo 4R 8 HP electric engine and an ITT steering system allowing you to launch and cruise the lagoon, bay, or lake. The specification list is extensive, and this is no mere floating caravan; the craft features all the equipment required for an ocean-going vessel, including battery and tank level monitoring, a Garmin 722 XS GPS/chart plotter and deep sounder, VHF radio and glomex antennas and a DC 12-volt compass. Did we mention the electric anchor lift Danforth 6-kilogram stainless steel anchor, port and starboard navigation lights, horn, stainless steel bollards, and guard rail?
When you have caught your fish and chuckled off that conversation with the passing, curious oligarch, you can retire to the comfort of interior (and exterior) teak flooring, leather walls, Alcantara ceiling, and leather upholstered sofa and bed while a 200-watt solar system and Dometic appliances provide air conditioning and heating, a gas cooker for the lobster tails and fridge to chill the champagne. Life is tough!
The manufacturer offers three sizes, Shneider Caravaning, ranging from 6.6-metres (21.7-foot) to 8.6-metre (28.2-foot). If you can travel the world in a gigantic Unimog, you can tow this caravan. From the images, we can see that the limitations will be the total length of the caravan, plus the vehicle and the trailer would need to be modified with larger wheels and perhaps a robust suspension system to be able to cope with the rigors of overland travel.
Or, here is an idea, mount the Caracat on the tipping flat bed of a truck and slide it off into the water when the opportunity presents itself. Genius.
As a base camper combined with a capable and powerful 4WD towing vehicle, the sky really is the limit.
Starting from $128,500 with more information at cara-cat.com
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