The all-new Sports Limousine from Tasmania's Van Diemen Luxury Crafts
joins the swelling legion of convertible, multi-use boats that includes
the sports coupe-styled Revolver 44 GT and the Kormoran super-transformer.
The Sports Limousine goes a step beyond the basic electric hard-top
convertible, adding an electrically raised glasshouse to create three
distinct body styles for a myriad of on-water uses. It's a cozy fishing
boat, a roomy, semi-enclosed limousine, and a compact tender in one.
The key component of the Sports Limousine's design is its
electrically activated roof, which rises and drops into position by way
of hydraulic arms. In the boat's most open configuration, the roof panel
rests atop the gunwale, covering the interior cabin and providing a
low, streamlined shape. Van Diemen says this configuration is ideal for
transiting at speed and maintaining clear visibility. The compact 6.6-ft
(2-m) height is also handy for storage in smaller spaces that lack the
room for a high roof, such as inside a yacht's tender bay or in a home
garage.
The roof can be lifted partially, sealing around the
electrically-raised, wraparound glasshouse to create a covered cabin
space. This limousine configuration gives shelter to up to eight
passengers on the cozy sofas while also offering panoramic views of the
water and shore. The captain and co-captain take the helm outside the
covered cabin.
Fully deploy the roof and the Sports Limousine shields the center
console with a full sun shade, perfect for fishing or diving. The
windows can be retracted to provide a breezy, open-air layout or raised
partially or fully to offer side protection from wind and weather. The
conversions take mere seconds, allowing the captain to quickly adapt to
changing weather, water conditions and passenger preferences.
Van Diemen introduced the Sports Limousine last September and offers
the craft in various sizes from 5.5 m (18 ft) on up, starting at
AU$150,000 (approx. US$114,000) . The model listed on its website is a
7.5-m (24-ft) variant and uses a 260-hp diesel duo prop stern drive to
hit speeds up to 35 knots (65 km/h). Equipment and options include a bow
thruster, hydraulic steering, a Raymarine E 165 chart plotter, teak
decking, a toilet, a refrigerator, LED lighting and a Fusion sound
system. The boat has a listed dry weight of 5,950 lb (2,700 kg). Van
Diemen tells us that the demo 7.5-m model lists at AU$350,000 (approx.
US$266,000).
Van Diemen offers a variety of customization opportunities, including
a choice between aluminum or composite construction, personalized
styling, and a number of engines, jet drives and hybrid propulsion
systems. It's also started design work on an electric-driven day boat
with three-in-one convertible system.
Watch the Sports Limousine's convertible system in action in the video below to get an idea of what life aboard is like.
Source:
Van Diemen
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