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Otter amphibious caravan
Trailer · built by Ronald Sams and Alan Eckford
| Also known as | Otter, Otter Tourer |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Ronald Sams and Alan Eckford |
| Built | 1955–1966 |
| Type | Trailer |
| Status | Production |
| Use | Civilian |
| Propulsion | |
| In water | Propeller |
| Hull | Boat hull |
| Engine | Optional 3 hp outboard motor (1959 Otter Tourer) |
| Power | 3 hp |
| Dimensions & performance | |
| Length | 5 m |
| Width | 2 m |
| Speed on water | 7.4 km/h |
| Seats | 6 |
Specifications need checking. Some figures here were taken from the archive and have not been confirmed against a source.
The Otter amphibious caravan is credited as the first floating caravan. It was produced by the inventor Ronald Sams (1917-2002) together with his business partner, the boat designer Alan Eckford, and launched in 1955 to considerable press attention.
Design
The blue and white Otter measured about five metres by two metres and was built of marine plywood. It was towed on land like an ordinary caravan, and two people could slide the body off its undercarriage straight into a river or canal; the wheeled frame stayed on the bank. A winch on the undercarriage was used to haul the caravan back out of the water. Afloat it could cruise at around four knots with up to six people aboard, and its strengthened roof doubled as a sundeck.
History
Popular Mechanics reported in November 1955 on the trailer-boat Eckford had built for his family, noting how quickly it converted. An improved model, the 1959 Otter Tourer, could be driven by a 3 hp outboard motor at about five knots and accommodated four in its caravan-style superstructure. Sams and Eckford sold about 200 caravans in all.
3 Photographs
4 photographs in the archive folder. Click any image to view it full size.
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