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Ships-amphibians are becoming more and more popular in the world, previously used for military and rescue purposes. The new generation of boats can reach water on wheels or crawler chassis.

Low-speed boat

France made a boat-cater Iguana 29, which can reach water on its crawler chassis. It can reach the speed of 8 km per hour. However, in the sea, it becomes a fast ship, reaching the speed of 35 knots (65 km/h). This new type boat, which can carry up to ten people at the time, was constructed by Iguana Yachts Company. The company was established in 2008 and this year saw their first product made available for public. The boat is 8.6 meters long and 2.5 meters wide and weighs two tons. It is equipped with extendable tracks. It is driven by an auxiliary 40 hp engine. When on water, the boat uses another more powerful diesel engine. The price of first entertainment boat amphibian is 220 thousand euro. It is estimated to make 5-6 such amphibians every year.

Invaluable in tidal zones

Boats, using tracks, are especially popular in nature with a lot of wet areas, where there are stringent environmental requirements. Such ships with battery-powered motors can be used in such places. The idea to build such a ship first arose among the people who were suffering from tides. In some places at low tide, the water recedes a few kilometers and traditional craft becomes impossible to use. New amphibians easily overcome such obstacles. Their draft is relatively low, about 40 centimeters. Another advantage of such a boat is that when going on its tracks, it does not put high pressure on the ground. These boats never sink in soft intertidal zone soil.

Boats on wheels

Wheeled pleasure boats are being made longer than the ones using track chassis. They have simpler constructions. Anyone with required skills can make a ship with retractable landing gear. The official maker of such ships is a Canadian company Sealegs. The main users of this company are hotels, built in special zones near waters and seaside. One of the first customers of wheeled boats was the hotels of Seychelles Islands. These are not conventional multi-level hotels with people concentrated in one place. The hotels of Seychelles Islands remind luxurious individual villas.  Their customers are allowed to use three wheeled boats. Such additional and innovative measures attract wealthy tourists. Not everyone can pay 1.7 thousand euro for a night at such a hotel.