Iguana 29

The Iguana 29 is an amphibious motor boat from the French yard Iguana Yachts. Designed by Antoine Fritsch's agency Fritsch-Associés with naval architect Tanguy Le Bihan, it hides a patented track system in the sides of a conventional V-hulled planing boat. The concept dates from late 2007; design studies followed in 2008 and then a prototype, which was tested for several months before production was planned.

Design

The boat is 8.6 m long and 2.5 m wide, weighs about 2 tonnes and draws 0.45 m. Afloat it is powered by a 300 hp outboard; it planes quickly, reaching about 35 knots according to the specification, and its sharp V wave-piercing hull handles choppy water well. Ashore, a separate 40 hp engine drives hydraulic pumps and motors for the tracks, which are lowered on arms from the hull sides and steered with a joystick; land speed is limited to 8 km/h. Afloat the tracks retract and the arms are covered to keep the hull clean hydrodynamically. The brochure claims ground pressure lower than a pedestrian's.

The Iguana 29 seats up to ten on two full-length benches and has generous stowage and a sun deck. It was marketed as a tender that can land passengers dry-shod, a day boat independent of marinas and moorings, and a carrier for goods and equipment to otherwise inaccessible places.