Toyota TownAce "Roofliss"

"Roofliss" is a Toyota TownAce van converted into an amphibian by Adam Turnbull and Dan Melling, two 23-year-old aeronautical machinists from New Zealand. In September 2009 they used it to cross Cook Strait, the stretch of water between New Zealand's South and North Islands.

Conversion

The van has four-wheel drive. The builders kept the front wheels for driving on land and replaced the rear propeller shaft with a new shaft that runs over the rear differential to a propeller. The engine and gearbox sit inside a sealed box. The body sides were sealed with galvanised sheet, the doors were welded and glued shut, and the many bolt holes were welded or filled. The front differential is sealed where it passes through the box, and the rear drive is sealed at its bearings. Polystyrene under the floor adds buoyancy. The 2.0-litre turbo diesel gives 85 hp, and the van does about 5 knots afloat. It has a large sunroof (hence the name), a bilge pump and a 240 V supply.

Cook Strait crossing

The pair left Waikawa Bay marina near Picton at 6 am. They passed through the Marlborough Sounds, fixed an engine cut-out caused by a loose battery lead, and entered Cook Strait at about 10.20 am. They went round the north side of Mana Island to avoid rough water and were escorted part of the way by dolphins. They reached Mana Marina near Wellington at 3.45 pm, 9 hours 45 minutes and about 65 km after setting out, heating pies on the exhaust along the way. The support-boat skipper said the van rolled less than his boat did.

Afterwards the van was sold on the TradeMe auction site for NZ$9,100 against 141 other bids, to help pay for the project.