​USING THE AQUANAUT

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How many people can go in the AquaNaut 270 at once?

The 270 model has a CE rating of 300kg / 660lb, including people, baggage and motor. We have, however, tested it with significantly more than that and faced no performance or stability problems - even when everyone was sitting/standing in one hull only. But the official certification is for 300kg / 660lb. Electric motors are often <10kg, so that leaves room for a family of 4-5 people, depending on the weight of each person.

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If I climb in the AquaNaut over the side, will it tip over?

No, even if you are fairly heavy and the boat is completely empty, it is pretty much impossible to tip over by climbing or pulling on the side.

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How do I get back in the boat after a swim?

If you're somewhat fit & energetic, you can climb over the side wall. Otherwise, we recommend use of any standard dinghy boarding ladder, and suggest hanging that on the front crossbeam between the hulls, or else over the side.

 

Is the AquaNaut easy to row?

Yes, it is easy to row by yourself (using the oarlocks) or paddle with a friend. The twin hulls of the AquaNaut act as rudders to keep the boat going very straight, so even if your rowing is of bad form or your teamwork isn't going well, the boat still moves well across the water. Paddling with friend (or spouse) can be one of the more challenging activities on a boat - but not so with the AquaNaut! Everyone stays relaxed & friendly since the boat moves so nice & straight.

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Where do you sit to row the boat? How does that work?

The boat can be rowed by 1 or 2 people - or "paddled" by 4... If you order the rowing option, then there are 2 oarlocks - 1 on each side - in the center of the boat. The oars we supply allow 1 person to row while seated on the center bench, or 2 people to row, each in their own seat.

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If I am in the boat by myself, does it get tippy or twisted?

No, actually this boat works perfectly for a single person - big or small. When driving the boat by yourself, the best place to sit it directly in front of the motor on the center bench, within comfortable reach of the outboard. By sitting there, your weight ends is distributed evenly across both hulls side-to-side and front-to-back. It works perfectly, and it's very comfortable too.

 

Where does the water collect that might come onboard?​

First of all, the high freeboard all around the AquaNaut keeps most of the water out of the boat.  And, when water does come on board (rain, crazy wave action, swimmers, etc.) then it flows down under the floor boards so that everything stays dry. The "bilge" can collect 50+ liters (12+ gallons) before you notice it. To get the  water out you can (i) scoop it out with a cup - very easy since the boat has a nice shape for this), (ii) use any manual or electric bilge pump, or (iii) lift one end of the boat so the water runs out of the other.

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ENGINE POWER

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What type of electric motor is recommended? What was used in the videos?

We routinely recommend the Torqeedo T1003 electric outboard (that's what we use to power the AquaNaut when we use it as a cruising sailors dinghy). But Torqeedo may not be for everyone (they are fantastic engines but somewhat pricier than other options). Any electric outboard motor with a power of 600W or more generally works fine for most people - that's what we used in our videos.

 

If I use an electric outboard, how much will I spend on a battery?

For a boat motor, it is not like a bicycle needing a compact, lightweight lithium-ion battery. In fact, in all our videos, we use a standard 12v lead-acid battery like you find in a car, and costing under €100. While you can spend even just €50, we chose to go with a higher capacity 100Ah battery so that we could go boating for hours. With this 100Ah battery, we never ran out of juice, even on our longer trips!

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Do I use a short shaft of long shaft motor?

We recommend the short shaft motor. Torqeedo and e-propulsion both offer short shaft motors with a shaft length of 62.5cm / 24.6".

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Can I use a gasoline outboard engine on the AquaNaut?

Yes, you can use any outboard engine - gas or electric. As long as the outboard has a standard mounting clamp, it will fit the AquaNaut's motor mount accessory.

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What is the maximum weight / size of outboard that can be used?

We have tested the Aquanaut with outboards up to 8hp and even plan a 15hp test soon, but at this time our recommended maximum outboard motor size is 5hp power with a maximum of 22kg/50lb outboard weight. If you really wish to get a higher-power / heavier engine, then contact us for a heavy duty engine mount to allow that.

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Is there a minimum size outboard motor that is recommended / required?

In much of our testing and demonstration, we have used a 600W electric outboard motor - that is the size of the small electric outboard used in our promotional videos. Since there is little price difference at this size of electric motor, we recommend 600W or larger. For a gasoline outboard, any size 1.5hp or larger should be adequate, depending on how you plan to use it.

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TRANSPORTATION

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Do I need a special rack to carry the boat on my car?

No. You can tie the AquaNaut to any rack or crossbars on the roof of your car, using 2 standard straps.

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Can I keep all the parts of the AquaNaut inside the boat for storage & transport?

Yes, what we generally do is keep the seats and floor pieces from each hull inside that hull, together with one of the cross beams, and then close the hull with a small strap. The only thing that doesn't fit is the motor mount - everything else can be placed inside the two hulls. Then, for transport, just strap the hull on the roof, and off you go! Of course, you don't have to do it this way, and you might also keep the hulls empty and put all the pieces in the boot of your car...

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Can I pull this boat with my bicycle?

Yes and no. Yes, since the boat weighs only 54kg in total, it's quite possible to pull it. No, because we haven't built the trailer yet. But, it's on our list to do this so that we have the ultimate solution for flat and watery countries like the Netherlands! First things first, and so we put that on the wish list for 2022.

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USE AS A TENDER

 

Can I use the AquaNaut as a tender for my sailboat or motor yacht?

Yes, most definitely. The AquaNaut was developed as a sailboat tender to begin with and has been purchased by both sailboat and motor yacht owners for use as a tender.

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Can I assemble the AquaNaut on the deck of my boat?

Yes you can. Depending on the size of your vessel, it may require a little planning, but it certainly is simple enough to assemble and fold away on the deck of your boat.

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Can I lift the AquaNaut with a host or hang it on my davits?

Yes you can. We offer optional lift rings that are fastened to the crossbeams, providing a very stable and strong lifting point.

 

Does the AquaNaut come with a drain plug?

Yes, as an option you can get a drain plug for each hull. Especially if you plan to use the boat as a tender to your yacht and keep it assembled while hanging on the davits, drain plugs are a must-have to allow rainwater to flow out and not accumulate. Note: Normal users (without a yacht) will no require drain plugs.

 

 

OTHER QUESTIONS

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​​​​​Where can I see the AquaNaut in person?

Yes, you can. If you are close to northern Germany or Holland, then contact us to set up a viewing. We have boats in the Netherlands (Veghel area) or Germany (Hamburg area).

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I don't live in either the EU or USA - can I still get an AquaNaut?

Yes you can. We ship boats worldwide.  Sometimes when the cost of shipping is too high, people group together and we then ship to a common point for pickup or onward shipping. 

Do I have to pay sales tax or value-added tax?

Value-added tax only applies for shipments within the EU; sales tax only applies on USA customer purchases in the state of Texas.

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Why do you show both EURO and US DOLLAR prices?

The EURO price applies to all shipments/purchases within the EU. It can be adjusted to remove the VAT tax in cases where this is permissible (shipment outside of EU, wholesale purchase by your company or state agency). The US DOLLAR price applies worldwide, but if you rather pay in euros then that's fine too. All prices exclude shipping, which is from our factory near Hamburg, Germany.

 

What future options might be sold for the boat?

We have a wish list and it goes like this: (a) shade topper that folds up/down to keep off the hot sun and/or rain, (b) sailing kit to add a mast & sail for sailing, (c) bike trailer to make this the ultimate Dutch sport boat, and (d) any other interesting requests from you. So... just let us know your ideas and we can see about bringing them to life too!