Remember the donut-shaped iREV party boat for partying in style without having to float your megayacht for a small get-together? Now comes the electric “Sofa Boat” that entices you to adopt the floating lifestyle without the guilt of leaving your carbon footprint behind. The electric boat was unveiled at the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show recently and was the highlight of the show. The boat features a 3.5m “floating fun platform” - designed, developed and built in the UAE with a folding sun canopy covering the seating area, joystick steering and a soft-foam bumper to allow easy maneuverability. The “B2B” version of the sofa boat will come complete with laptop docking points and a fridge for refreshments on the go. A perfect example of a marina masterpiece, the boat is a perfect blend of form, function and design.
“I wanted to offer boats that were enjoyable to women and families - low noise, easy-to-handle craft that are perfect for quiet sundowners or a more glamorous arrival at a private yacht than in a tender,” says Dr Martin Mai, Managing Director, Abra Marine, the boat’s designer and manufacturer.
The boat is completely powered by electricity and has 0% carbon-dioxide emissions. It can be charged via an electric socket and has batteries that give it 12 hours of charge on one go. And the company even has a solar-powered version in development that will generate 1,000W peak electric energy from its seven square meter solar panels, sufficient enough to run for up to 10 hours.
The basic model is offered at $16,064 with add-on customization options such as luxurious leather seats, refreshment tables, a stereo system on board or a two-sofa configuration.
