an a Based in Auckland, New Zealand, Sealegs is a company offering true innovation in the field of amphibious boat technology. Using their patented amphibious system, boat users can transform their boat from land to sea and vice versa at the push of a button. This removes the need for the use of boat ramps, winches, backing trailers and other boat launching methods.
Hassle-free boat launching and retrieval
In a new evolution of land and sea technology, Sealegs have created a unique, single-handed system that allows boat users to transform their boat from a 92hp land-going craft with three all-terrain tires of up to 37 inches in size to a water craft driven by 800hp of outboard engine power.
Using this system, users can now bring their boat to the lake or ocean and then simply “drive” it onto the water. The seamless switching between land and water use foregoes the need for any crew assistance. It would help empower countless boating enthusiasts to enjoy their own craft more.
A truly unique amphibious system
The idea for Sealegs’ groundbreaking technology started as all great ideas should — as a funny sketch on the back of a napkin, back in 2001. Amphibious craft are not a new technology. However, the ability to operate one as an individual user is what sets Sealegs apart from the long amphibious craft heritage.
Sealegs’ technology removes all the difficulty that previously existed when it came to launching a small watercraft. Moreover, it finally takes amphibious technology out of the hands of large commercial hovercraft operations and into the possession of small-craft operators. It’s nothing short of a game changer.
Even better, the Sealegs system can be retroactively installed on existing hulls. Sealegs can take what they call the “donor hull” and then use its technical specifications and weight to put together a package that allows integration of the new amphibious system. This further empowers users of smaller crafts. They don’t have to buy entirely new vessels in order to enjoy the benefits of amphibious capabilities.
Flagship: The 12m Cabin RIB
Besides creating and fitting its system to an existing craft, Sealegs also has its own boats in development. Among them is their flagship model, the 12m Cabin RIB. This is their largest platform boat and is also one of the most versatile watercraft you’ll ever see.
Its on-land engine gets up to 94hp, which switches easily to the twin outboard engines outputting 800hp once on the water. It can carry up to 500 liters (132 gallons) of fuel. As the name suggests, it is 12m in length. It has space for 9 passengers on board when set in its recreational configuration.
Sealegs is creating these as custom units. Buyers can choose from a selection of accessories and add-ons, including (but not limited to):
- Twin retractable sunroofs
- Retractable swim platform
- Dining table
- Kitchenette
- LED light bar and/or underwater lights
- Stereo speakers
- Up to 4 berths
- And more…
The 12m Cabin RIB is customizable for both leisure and commercial use, and is the highest-powered unit in the entire Sealegs range. It was first designed as a concept in 2020 and is now under production for release in mid-2021.
Startup
A startup or start-up is a company or project undertaken by an entrepreneur to seek, develop, and validate a scalable business model. While entrepreneurship refers to all new businesses, including self-employment and businesses that never intend to become registered, startups refer to new businesses that intend to grow large beyond the solo founder. At the beginning, startups face high uncertainty and have high rates of failure, but a minority of them do go on to be successful and influential. Some startups become unicorns; that is privately held startup companies valued at over US$1 billion.
Actions
Startups typically begin by a founder (solo-founder) or co-founders who have a way to solve a problem. The founder of a startup will begin market validation by problem interview, solution interview, and building a minimum viable product (MVP), i.e. a prototype, to develop and validate their business models. The startup process can take a long period of time (by some estimates, three years or longer), and hence sustaining effort is required. Over the long term, sustaining effort is especially challenging because of the high failure rates and uncertain outcomes. Having a business plan in place outlines what to do and how to plan and achieve an idea in the future. Typically, these plans outline the first 3 to 5 years of your business strategy.
Design principles
Models behind startups presenting as ventures are usually associated with design science. Design science uses design principles considered to be a coherent set of normative ideas and propositions to design and construct the company's backbone. For example, one of the initial design principles is "affordable loss".
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