Hovercraft, the Slovenian company that created the popular Electricat inflatable houseboat, has launched a new model that incorporates all the learning and customer feedback from the past five years.

The Electricat 16 name reflects its size – 16 square metres (175 square feet) of deck space – that can accommodate up to 10 people for fun on the water, with 6 m² (65 sq ft) of space on the roof that can be used for sunbathing or removable solar powers to charge the electric motor’s battery. The salon area has over 2 m (6’ 6”) of head room.

For a family or group of friends looking to get away for a day, this is a great solution. The entire unit (less motor and battery) folds up and weighs only 170 kg (375 lb) with the heaviest part being 50 kg (110 lb). Two people can easily load it into a car (uninflated!) Once you get to the lake it inflates in a few minutes, the parts zip together and all you need to add is the motor, food and drinks, a cooler and some beach towels.

It is a houseboat, so obviously not designed for speed, but you can get to your favourite swimming spot or just cruise along the shore at up to 4 knots (4.5 mph / 7kmh) with a 1kW (≈ 1.5 hp) electric outboard and up to 7 knots (8 mph / 12km/h with a 3kW (≈ 4.5 hp) unit.

For a smaller group or a family, the Electricat 16 converts to an on-water tent in minutes for overnighting. Windows and doors zip on to enclose the salon, and you already have a giant air mattress underneath you.

Blaž Stepišnik is the President/CEO of Hovercraft and the creator of the Electric inflatable houseboats. The first model was a Finalist in the 2020 Gussies Electric Boat Awards and won the Solar Award at the e-Regatta of the 2021 Venice Boat Show.

Stepišnik started the company in 2003 to produce sport hovercrafts – hence the company name – then shifted focus to inflatables when he saw the possibilities in all kinds of areas – structures, advertising platforms, swimming pools, land vehicles, watercraft and more.

He and his team are well-recognized as top experts in double-walled inflatable structures of all kinds made from CSM (Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene, also known as Hypalon), rubber, and PVC. They now produce innovative solutions for a wide range of applications, including civil protection, rescue operations, construction transport and sports equipment.

A few examples of their inflatable solutions:

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• a Cargo Platform for transporting heavy machinery, military vehicles, and oversized equipment across water bodies or challenging terrains
  
• Houses and Hangars that can be quickly set up for military, rescue, medical, and industrial operations
  
• the AirDrive, an advanced amphibious vehicle designed to conquer diverse terrains—from open water and shallow shores to mud, snow, ice, rocks, and sand
  
• the Airtrack pad designed for gymnastics, martial arts and professional sports applications
  

On the watercraft side, the Jet Boat was one of Stepišnik’s first successes. It comes is sort of like an inflatable dinghy with the back half taken off. The Jet Boat, which comes in various sizes, attaches to the front of any jetski to turn it into a boat that can carry up to 10 people.

The Ferryboat is an 8m (26 ft) barge that inflates in 5 minutes and is certified to carry up to 5 tonnes (11,000 lbs) and is ideal for transporting personnel, vehicles, and heavy equipment like excavators for military, emergency, rescue and construction.

Hovercraft also offers smaller version of the Electricat 16 – the Electricat 450 – that has 8 m² of deck space below and a 4 m² roof. It is available with the option of adding a steering wheel console and seat, which adds to the comfort on the water but increases the weight and reduces transportability.

While I haven’t been on an Electricat, I have seen and inspected them up close them on land at various boat shows and have to say they look like a convenient and affordable way for a family or friends to spend quality time on the water. 

Their light weight and the way they are used also makes them a great match for electric motors. No one is looking to break a speed record on a houseboat, the Electricat is much more like a pontoon experience – with the added bonus of an upper sundeck – where you are able to enjoy time together without the noise, smell and environmental impact of burning gasoline.

Hovercraft

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