Snowboat

The Snowboat is a patented amphibious vehicle for crossing open water and the ice or snow lying on it. It is a buoyant boat hull with a snowmobile sealed watertight into an opening in its floor.

Design

The snowmobile's endless track supports the hull clear of the ground on snow and ice. In the water the same track pushes water backwards to drive the boat forwards. The front of the hull rests on the snowmobile's two skis, which are tied to the frame by stabilising arms. Their upturned tips carry upright rudders that steer the boat in the water, and they tuck into pockets in the hull. Sloping guides under the hull lift the skis up and out of the water, so the vehicle can climb from open water back onto floating ice.

Prototype

The working prototype measured about 14 ft x 5.5 ft x 4.5 ft (4.3 x 1.7 x 1.4 m) and weighed about 700-800 lb (320-360 kg). It carried three or four people with equipment and was claimed to reach over 65 mph (about 105 km/h). Specifications could be tailored to the customer. Another photograph shows the hull fitted with an outboard motor.