We’ve made no secret of the fact that we’re enamored with Hobbie’s Mirage-drive-equipped pedal-powered kayaks. So what would you get if sailboat people, rather than kayak people, made a pedal-powered boat?
You might get something like the Nauticraft line of pedal-powered boats:
Where did these unusual boats come from? Glad you asked! Fisheries Supply has the Nauticraft’s forerunner on display just now: The 1985 Hoyt-Harken Waterbug. In keeping with our recent James Bond theme, let me point out that
it looks a lot like a tall version of Blofeld’s "bathosub" escape submarine from the end of Diamonds Are Forever.
So while researching the Waterbug, I learned that it was a joint venture between yacht designer and sailing innovator Garry Hoyt and the Harken brothers. These are high-caliber sailboat people.
Hoyt put a lot of thought into this tiny vessel, and Harken designed and manufactured the unique hardware it would require. It’s an amazing little craft, but it failed in the marketplace. Perhaps this is not a surprise.
Nauticraft’s Curtis Chambers has picked up the ball, however, and this time, he thinks the time is right. Not for the Waterbug, precisely…it’s still a little too "buggy" for most people’s taste.
Instead, Chambers has revised the Waterbug’s sistership (the Mallard), discarded fiberglass in favor of roto-molded construction, and added several innovations of his own. In fact, he’s created an entire line of similar boats, including two-seater models.
In addition, there is an optional electric propulsion package, and coming full circle back to the Waterbug’s Hoyt/Harken roots, there’s even a sailboat in the line-up. You can read the whole story on Nauticraft’s website.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I own a hobie mirage and made it more sailable (bigger sail, higher mast, plus boom). As a former yachts women of the year and part of the Shore sailmaking Co. I was looking for something I could adapt to canal sailing in FL. I feel there is a great need for sailing, electric and pedal boats. I used to live in Newport RI where Gary Hoyt lives and loved his innovative designs. I would love to be in the fore front of your new sailing pedal boat. When it comes out I’d love to promote it. Everyone gives me a look and a thumbs up to my present rig….lots of possibilities. Bonnie Shore
I have a seacycle in Frostproof, Florida, Bonnie, that I have adapted a windsurf mast and sail to, located forward on the boat in the jib position, and use an additional mast behind my seat with a kind of spinnaker pole attached, to hold the sail and sheet away from my face. It is great to power pedal thru the tack or jibe. We may know people in common in the Cleveland, Ohio sailing community, maybe someone who sailed in America’ s cup? I am no great sailor, but I do windsurf as well as particpate in all waterskiing events, barefoot, wakeboard, wakeskate, slalom, ect. I would like to have a contact in Florida while I stay there in the winter. Please contact me at your liesure.
Bonnie, my email is station39@sbcglobal.net, the firehouse community email where I am stationed.