Why should you choose between a boat and a truck, asks reporter Elena Gorgon for a report for AutoEvolution.com. Why should anyone have to deal with the hassle of towing a boat, when they could have a vehicle that would be just as easy to drive and use on the road as it was on the water?
That was the idea behind the Boaterhome, arguably one of the strangest and coolest inventions ever – which still happens to be around today. August is Travel Month here on autoevolution, and we couldn’t possibly talk about summer vacation plans without at least one mention of the seemingly-perfect vacation vehicle for the entire family. And it’s not just for the summer, either: the Boaterhome was certified all-season.
So what is this Boaterhome? It’s an RV-type of vehicle that combines a boat and a truck into a single unit. So, while the boat still sits on a trailer, it’s not being towed, since it integrates seamlessly into the rear of the truck. It looks strange, alright, but the few lucky owners to still have one promise that the experience is comparable to driving a limousine, with an added bonus for convenience, comfort, and uniqueness.
The Boaterhome is not a new invention. Records are sketchy, but it seems that at least two such companies made a product like this one, with similar names. First, there was the Boaterhome made in Idaho, U.S., back in the mid-’80s, followed by the 1996 model Highwave Boatorhome 2000 made by Boatorhome Inc. from Ontario, Canada. The latter was first introduced at the Toronto International Boat Show and then, over in the U.S., at the 55th Miami International Boat Show. The reported price tag for it was of $180,000, which would be roughly $312,000 in today’s money, adjusted for inflation.
