Switched has a new home! Huffpost Tech.

Click here to visit the new home of Switched!

Hot on HuffPost Tech:

See More Stories
AOL Tech

'Sofa Boat' Adds a Couch Above Deck, Redefines Leisure Cruise

by Caleb Johnson on March 3, 2010 at 06:30 PM


Couch potatoes aren't known for having an adventurous streak. But that might change with the debut of a new ocean vessel. According to Marine Business World, a zero-emissions "sofa boat" that's powered by an electric engine was a hit at the recent Abu Dhabi Yacht Show. Designed and built by Abra Marine, the 11-foot "green" boat has a comfy couch that'll seat three passengers and is covered by a canopy, which will help protect that pasty skin from the sun. The vessel, steered with a joystick, can be charged by simply being connected to an electrical outlet -- a full fix gives you 12 hours of open-sea cruising.

"I wanted to offer boats that were enjoyable to women and families - low noise, easy-to-handle craft [sic] that are perfect for quiet sundowners or a more glamorous arrival at a private yacht than in a tender," Dr. Martin Mai, managing director of Abra Marine, told Marine Business World.

The basic model will cost you about $16,000, but tack on extra fees for added features, like: leather seats, a refrigerator, an extra couch and even a stereo system. And, seeing as you're purchasing a boat from Abu Dhabi, might as well go all out and buy the solar-powered version that generates 1,000-watts of power with on-board solar panels. [From: Marine Business World, via: Nerd Approved]

Tags: boat, couch, electricity, electricvehicle, green, marinelife, sofa, top

Comments

1

HuffPost AOL Social News Most Popular