Fast Amphibians

Check Out These Early Amphibians

Bryan Laviolette — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:59:47 +0000

Amphibiousvehicles.net claims that this Peugeot was not actually amphibious, but instead was built in 1920 as an advertisement for Peugeot Nautic, the boat-building division of Peugeot.

By Bryan Laviolette

Think amphibious vehicles are a relatively new phenomenon? Think again. These pictures are from one of those emails that your Aunt Gert likes to forward to everyone in her contact list.

Are they “real” amphibians capable of both land and sea travel? Maybe. More than likely, they are one-offs, modified either by their maker for some publicity stunt (Mini Yachtsman anyone?) or by a private owner with too much time on his or her hands.

If anyone has more information about these vehicles, FastAmphibians.com would like to hear from you. Contact Editor Bryan Laviolette at laviolette.autoscribe (at) yahoo.com.

This torpedo-shaped vehicle looks as though it may have been intended to be an amphibian.

This amphibian looks to be boat with wheels attached. Was there anything to provide propulsion on land?

Obviously, this amphibian is at least somewhat seaworthy, although it probably wouldn't be the first choice for a rough-water excursion. Check out the rear wheels churning to provide propulsion.

An Amphibious Mini? Really?

Bryan Laviolette — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 07:01:40 +0000

The Mini Cooper Yachtsman is the brand's attempt to give its owners access to the 70 percent of the planet where regular cars cannot go.

By BRYAN LAVIOLETTE

Mini fans have become accustomed to the brand introducing new takes on the classic Mini theme. But now, the automaker plans to give motorists a vehicle that they can use on the 70 percent of the planet that its regular cars can’t access.

The automaker is introducing the Mini Cooper Yachtsman, an amphibious version of the regular Cooper, at the New York auto show this week.

The Yachtsman comes standard with a variety of features, unique to all of autodom, including shark-resistant undercoating, a body-color exhaust snorkel and an extendable rooftop antenna that comes with a “get-me-home” 20-foot sail that has the added benefit of providing zero-emission sailing.

Click here to read the full story at the DetroitBureau.com

Attorneys: New Classification Needed for High Speed Amphibians

Bryan Laviolette — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:01:55 +0000

Gibbs is taking orders for the Phibian, a 30-foot amphibian that is aimed at first responders.

By BRYAN LAVIOLETTE

ARLINGTON, Va. – As Gibbs attempts to bring its products to market, a pair of attorneys are helping the company navigate issues with getting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to allow the amphibious vehicles to be sold in the U.S.

Andrea Campbell and Richard Penna were on hand for the public demonstration of the Gibbs Phibian Feb. 7 at Columbia Island Marina, which sits in the shadow of the Pentagon and just across the Potomac River from the nation’s capitol.

Penna said the key is getting the EPA to develop a new classification for what Gibbs calls High Speed Amphibians because classifying Gibbs’ products as boats or road-going vehicles doesn’t work.

“It’s a question of how it’s categorized,” Penna said.

Campbell said that the EPA already allows other amphibious vehicles, such as tour buses.

But Gibbs’ products are different because they are high speed on both land and water.

Gibbs has in the past run into trouble with U.S. government agencies because it can’t simultaneously meet regulations for boats and cars.

The Gibbs Humdinga is 21.5 feet and is designed to extremely difficult and remote terrain.

For example, Gibbs Chairman Neil Jenkins has said that a catalyst, which needs to operate at 900 degrees Celsius, is needed to meet EPA exhaust emissions regulations, but the U.S. Coast Guard requires the engine compartment to be at less than 100 degrees Celsius to reduce fire risks. One possible solution would be a two-stage exhaust, which would bypass the catalyst while on the water, but EPA has ruled against that option.

Jenkins said that the EPA has signed off on Phibian because it classifies it as a light truck, which has looser regulations than a passenger car. Gibbs’ Aquada sports car would be regulated as a passenger car.

“We have cleared things with the EPA and the Coast Guard,” Jenkins said. “We’re still working on the NHTSA side of things.”

Jenkins said he expects certification with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to be completed within 6 months.

Gibbs is taking orders for the Phibian, as well as the Humdinga II, a permanent four-wheel-drive vehicle. It expects to be able to deliver the first vehicles within 9 to 15 months.

Click here to read more about the Humdinga. Click here to read more about the Phibian.

Alan Gibbs’ Daughter Reflects on Growing Up Gibbs

Bryan Laviolette — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:01:07 +0000

Alan Gibbs' daughter Debbi Gibbs talks with Mike Moore, center, New Zealand ambassador to the United States, and Neil Jenkins, chairman of Gibbs Technologies.

By BRYAN LAVIOLETTE

ARLINGTON, Va. – When they were growing up in New Zealand, Alan Gibbs would ask his children daily to “tell me something interesting.”

Gibbs’ daughter, Debbi, said her dad would challenge what they said to see if they could back it up. They learned to always be ready to defend their position on any topic. She called them “endless Alan challenges.”

Debbi Gibbs was in Washington last week representing her father at the media launch of the Gibbs Phibian, where the company founded by her father announced that it would begin taking orders for the Phibian and Humdinga, which are targeted at first responders, but will be available to the general public as well.

“It’s so tantalizing for people to see so many interpretations of the technology,” Debbi Gibbs said.

Alan Gibbs

Her father founded the company in 1996 because he just wanted to go fishing. The New Zealand industrialist’s home is on the Kaipara Harbor, north of Auckland on New Zealand’s North Island. The harbor is shallow, and retreating tides would make launching a boat difficult.

“I thought ‘I’m going to need to put wheels on a boat,’ ” Alan Gibbs, 72, said at a 2008 press conference at the company’s Auburn Hills, Mich., research and development center.

Gibbs tried to build something to solve his problem, but just ended up frustrated. Then he met another New Zealander who had developed a system that decouples the driveshafts and lifts the wheels into the wheel wells. This turned out to be the key technological hurdle for developing a truly amphibious vehicle.

Almost since the creation of the car, people have been trying to figure out how to be make them amphibious. But before Gibbs, the best anyone has done with a commercially available vehicle was the German Amphicar, but it was limited to just 7 mph in the water and fewer than 4,000 were built before the company went out of business.

The difference this time is what the company calls High Speed Amphibian technology.

“No one’s ever cracked the art of making them go fast on land and water,” Gibbs said at the 2008 press conference.

Gibbs has had several false starts and shattered plans for productions. The company said most of the problems have been related to supplier and regulatory problems.

Through it all, Alan Gibbs has continued to fund the company’s development of the HSA technology for a variety of vehicles including the Aquada sports car and Quadski amphibious all-terrain vehicle, Humdinga off-road truck and now the 30-foot Phibian transporter.

The company has about $200 million – most from Alan Gibbs’ own fortune – invested in development of the technology, even though it has yet to provide any vehicles to customers.

A former company employee once said privately that amphibious technology is a gift Alan Gibbs is giving the world. While others have tried to develop amphibians, no one has been successful solving the technical and regulatory issues inherent building such a unique concept.

When asked about her father’s persistence in sticking with the company, Debbi Gibbs snickered and said “He’s a determined man, my father.”

Humdinga Designed to Traverse Difficult, Remote Terrain

Bryan Laviolette — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:01:38 +0000

The Gibbs Humdinga is 21.5 feet and is designed to extremely difficult and remote terrain.

By BRYAN LAVIOLETTE

ARLINGTON, Va. – While the Gibbs Amphibians Phibian stole the show at the company’s media event this week, Gibbs also announced that it would begin taking orders for the smaller Humdinga II amphibious vehicle.

Gibbs is now taking orders for both the Phibian, a 30-foot amphibian, and the Humdinga, which is 21.5 feet. While the company is targetting first responders with both vehicles, they will be available for sale to the general public. It expects to begin deliveries within 9 to 15 months.

Gibbs has shown the Humdinga, which was designed primarily for military applications, for several years. It said this week that the Humdinga will be built in the United Kingdom, while the Phibian would be built in the U.S. The company did not offer more details on where the vehicles would be built. Prices were also not announced.

Like Gibbs other High Speed Amphibians, the Humdinga can transition between land and water within a few seconds.

The Humdinga is designed to handle difficult and remote terrain.

The Humdinga can seat between five and seven people. It’s powered by a supercharged 350-horsepower V-8 engine and has permanent four-wheel drive. While it is a single engine design, in the water, it’s propelled by twin water jets.

Similar to the Phibian, the Humdinga can hit speeds of more than 30 mph on water and achieve highway speeds on land.

Gibbs has been working on its High Speed Amphibian technology ins 1987. The key element of HSA technology is wheels that decouple from the axles and pivot into the body, which allows the amphibian to reach plane in the water.

To enter the water, the operator presses a button that prepares the vehicle for water entry. Sensors determine that it has enough water to float and the wheels automatically retract into the wheel wells.

“High Speed Amphibians are going to change the perception of what can be done in rescue situations,” company Chairman Neil Jenkins said.

HUMDINGA II SPECIFICATIONS

Engine / Propulsion

Type:	supercharged V8
Horsepower (hp / kW):	350 / 261

Suspension / Brakes

Drive layout (land):	permanent 4WD
Brakes:	disc

Dimensions

Overall length (ft / mm):	21.5 / 6553
Overall width: (ft / mm):	79 / 2000
Overall height: (ft / mm):	98 / 2500
Track width (ft / mm):	6.95 / 2120

Capacities

Curb weight (lb / kg base):	4960 / 2750
Occupants:	5-7 configurable
Payload (lb / kg):	1653 / 750
Gross vehicle weight (lb / kg):	6613 / 3500

Gibbs Launches 30-foot Phibian High Speed Amphibian

Bryan Laviolette — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:01:28 +0000

The Gibbs Phibian skims across the water on the Potomac River with the Washington Monument rising in the background.

By BRYAN LAVIOLETTE

ARLINGTON, Va. – Gibbs has launched a new High Speed Amphibian that it says will revolutionize the way rescue crews are able to respond to disaster situations.

With a dramatic backdrop of the Pentagon at the Columbia Island Marina in Arlington, Va., Gibbs demonstrated the new amphibious vehicle, which is 30 feet long and can carry 15 people including a crew of three. It can travel at more than 30 mph on water and after a 5-second transition, travel at more than 80 mph on land.

“Natural disasters in recent memory, such as the earthquake and tsunamis in Japan, Thailand, Sri Lanka and elsewhere in Asia; as well as the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, illustrate the need for amphibians as capable, versatile and efficient as Phibian,” Gibbs Technologies Chairman Neil Jenkins said.

The key to Gibbs' amphibians is the ability to transition seamlessly between land and water. When entering the water, the operator pushes a button preparing the amphibian for water entry. Once the vehicle determines that it has enough water depth to float, it raises the wheels and its ready to go on plane.

No price for the Phibian was announced.

The Phibian prototype features twin 250-horsepower marine diesel engines by Steyr. It features four-wheel drive, but front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive can also be selected depending on conditions. In water, it is propelled by twin water jets.

The military is interested in Gibbs’ amphibians. Technology for beach landing crafts hasn’t changed since World War II, Jenkins said.

Gibbs is taking orders for the Phibian, as well as the Humdinga II, which is a smaller five- to seven-seat vehicle that is aimed at the military, although it has not yet set prices. Jenkins did disclose that the Phibian would be built in the U.S., and said that the company has narrowed its choices for an assembly plant location to Michigan, Texas, Florida and the Carolinas. The Humdinga will be built in the United Kingdom where the company is based. Gibbs’ primary research and development office and U.S. headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich.

The company plans to announce a production location for the Phibian with the next several weeks.

Gibbs Chairman Neil Jenkins introduces the company's Phibian High Speed Amphibian, which is aimed at first responders. "High Speed Amphibians are going to change the perception of what can be done in rescue situations," he said.

The Phibian is a true multi-continent effort. Jenkins said it was conceived in the U.S., engineered in New Zealand and will be manufactured in the U.S. with some materials supplied through the U.K.

Like its other High Speed Amphibian vehicles, the Phibian's wheels rotate into the wheel wells, allowing it to reach plane.

Gibbs gave demonstration rides on the Phibian to the media and dignitaries including the New Zealand ambassador to the U.S. Gibbs was founded by Alan Gibbs, a New Zealand industrialist.

The Phibian’s introduction was timed to precede the annual conference of the American Society of Naval Engineers, which is also this week. Gibbs officials were scheduled for meetings about its vehicles in connection with the conference.

The announcement of the Phibian came as a bit of a surprise because the company is also working on the planned launch of the Quadski amphibian, which is a single-seat cross between an all-terrain vehicle and a personal watercraft. The vehicle is capable of 45 mph on land and water. Gibbs has said that the often-delayed Quadski would go into limited production this summer.

Gibbs said that the Quadski would be the first model produced by a new division it is calling Sport Amphibians.

The Phibian is slightly longer than 30 feet and has a beam of 8 feet 4 inches.

The company also had one of its Aquada amphibious cars at the Phibian launch. That project is stuck on the back burner as Gibbs works to secure regulatory approval for it.

U.S. government approval for the Phibian has proven to be a little easier because it is classified as a light truck. Jenkins said that it expects that approval from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration within the next six months. It expects to begin delivery of the Phibian in 9-15 months.

“We have cleared things with the EPA and the Coast Guard,” Jenkins said.

While the Phibian is targeted at first responders such as rescue crews and fire departments, Jenkins said it will be available for sale to the general public. The prototype shown in Arlington had what Gibbs calls a quarter cab, with seating for three people, but it can be ordered with no cab, half cab or full cab. The prototype’s deck has attachment points for a versatile range of uses.

Jenkins said the hull and superstructure of the Phibian are carbon fiber. It has a payload capacity of 3,307 pounds. See below for full specifications.

Like the rest of its products, the Phibian uses proprietary technology that allows it to seamlessly transition between land and water. The primary technology is a system that decouples the drive axles and allows the wheels to pivot into the wheel wells. Raising the wheels out of the water enables Gibbs’ amphibians to reach plane in the water.

The company has spent 15 years and 2 million man hours developing the HSA technology, investing $200 million into the project.

Phibian specifications

Engine / Propulsion

Type:	twin turbo diesels (land) with twin jet drives (water)
Horsepower (hp / kW):	500 / 368
Water speed (mph):	more than 30

Suspension

	coil over springs and dampers
Drive layout (land):	FWD or RWD, selectable 4WD
Steering type:	power-assisted hydraulic

Brakes

Type:

hydraulically operated disc brakes

Wheels and tires

Dimensions

275/80R20 MPT

Overall length (ft / mm):	30.22 / 9212
Overall width: (ft / mm):	8.3 / 2532
Overall height: (ft / mm):	11.98 / 3654
Track width (ft / mm):	6.95 / 2120
Wheelbase (ft / mm):	20.63 / 6289
Approach angle (degrees):	30
Departure angle (degrees):	28
Ground clearance (in / mm):	16 / 353

Capacities

Occupants:	three crew, 12 passengers
Curb weight ( kg base):	4500
Payload (lb / kg):	3307 / 1500

PHIBIAN SPECIFICATIONS

Engine / Propulsion

Type:	twin turbo diesels (land) with twin jet drives (water)
Horsepower (hp / kW):	500 / 368
Water speed (mph):	more than 30

Suspension

	coil over springs and dampers
Drive layout (land):	FWD or RWD, selectable 4WD
Steering type:	power-assisted hydraulic

Brakes

Type:

hydraulically operated disc brakes

Wheels and tires

275/80R20 MPT

Overall length (ft / mm):	30.22 / 9212
Overall width: (ft / mm):	8.3 / 2532
Overall height: (ft / mm):	11.98 / 3654
Track width (ft / mm):	6.95 / 2120
Wheelbase (ft / mm):	20.63 / 6289
Approach angle (degrees):	30
Departure angle (degrees):	28
Ground clearance (in / mm):	16 / 353

Dimensions

Capacities

Occupants:	three crew, 12 passengers
Curb weight (lb / kg base):	4500
Payload (lb / kg):	3307 / 1500

Gibbs to Introduce Phibian First Responder High Speed Amphibian

Bryan Laviolette — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:30:26 +0000

The Gibbs Phibian is a large High Speed Amphibian that the company is aiming at first responders such as fire departments and rescue crews.

By BRYAN LAVIOLETTE

It’s taken a lot longer than the company had hoped and it’s not the High Speed Amphibian ATV enthusiasts are waiting for, but Gibbs Technologies is finally demonstraing a fast amphibian it says will be targeted at first responder agencies such as fire departments and rescue crews.

Called the Phibian, Gibbs – which may be changing its name to Gibbs Amphibians – showed the vehicle at a special media event in advance of the American Society of Navel Engineers’ annual conference in Virginia. Check back later today for a full report on the Phibian.

In an invitation to members of the media, Gibbs said that the vehicle is capable of traveling at highway speeds on land and more than 30 mph in the water.

A fast amphibian would allow rescue crews to more quickly reach distressed boaters on open water and it would allow access to otherwise inaccessible areas. In keeping with that mission, the Phibian would appear to be significantly bigger than the Quadski.

Gibbs has previously said that a vehicle aimed at first responders would be one of its first products. The others are:

Quadski - The company said last fall that it expects to begin limited production of this cross between an all-terrain vehicle and a personal watercraft this summer. The Quadski has a top speed of 45 mph on land and 45 mph on water.
Aquada - Gibbs built a couple dozen amphibious cars in the early 2000s before its engine supplier, Rover, went belly up. The company moved its research and development office to the United States with plans to revamp the car and begin production after getting U.S. regulatory approval. But regulatory approval has been far more cumbersome than the company expected, forcing the company to put the three-seat car on indefinite hold.
Humdinga - This vehicle is aimed at military use and was the starting point for the Phibian.

Fast Amphibians.com plans to have a full report from the media event.

How Would You Use a Fast Amphibian?

Bryan Laviolette — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 07:01:25 +0000

Gibbs Quadski would seem to have dozens of unique uses. Read some here and suggest some of your own.

Most readers of this site probably don’t get this, but I run into a lot of people who ask me why someone would want an amphibious all-terrain vehicle. Many wonder if there is a market for such a vehicle.

But readers of this site have suggested several uses for Gibbs Technologies’ Quadski, a one-person vehicle, which is essentially a cross between an ATV and a personal watercraft.

Once the Quadski finally goes on sale – Gibbs’ current plan is to begin limited production in mid-2012 – owners will probably find all sorts of uses for the revolutionary vehicle, which will be capable of 45 mph on land or water and transition between the two in as little as 3 seconds.

Until then, all we can do is look at the uses some FastAmphibians readers have suggested. Here are some of their best suggestions, along with a couple more.

Reader Nicholas Oberzire says he would use a Quadski in place of a dingy for his sailboat.

“We will be traveling around the world on a 75-foot sailboat and in many places dingy and motor thefts are routine,” Oberzire said. “With a Quadski, I have an option to drive it out of the water, go to the market and then drive it back to the boat, bring it on board and its safe.”

Hawaiian Islands resident Ken Meatoga envisions reaching areas that are inaccessible to virtually any other type of vehicle.

“I live on the island of Kauai where we have secluded beaches and the only way to reach them is kayak or boat or hike in,” Meatoga said. “I like to hunt and fish (dive) and the areas I go to would be easily accessable with a Quadski!”

Colie O’Donnell said a fast amphibian would be the ideal way to reach the island he owns in Maine.

The Gibbs Quadski will be able to transition from land to water in about 3 seconds.

“Over the 25 years I’ve owned this island, I have learned that the biggest headache is wondering if my boat is OK sitting on the mooring. I have had three of them sink. So if there is a fast amphib that can get up and out of the water at each end, where it can sit in my parking lot or on the island rather than in the water, that is very useful.”

Another reader, Corné, said he would use the Quadski to commute to work.

“Bus, train, train, boat and light rail to get to work today,” Corné said. “I live on the Thames River and work is never far from it, with no water speed limits beyond Wandsworth it will be a exhilarating journey.”

Fortch, a reader from Australia, said he wants a fast amphibian to reach otherwise inaccessible hunting areas.

“The reason why I need this type of high-speed amphibian is that I’m what you would call an over-the-top waterfowl hunter and with this said with any type of hunting the game you hunt seem to be in areas in which standard type boats, etc. cant get too,” Fortch said. “We hunt in an area that we can only access on high tide giving the wind strength and tide height and time factor which makes it very hard if at all so you can see how this can help my issue.”

Here’s another. You’re planning to go camping at the state park and you’d like to be able to go both trail riding and riding a personal watercraft, but don’t have the capacity to bring both. The Quadski is like having two toys in one.

Or you live in a condominium with restrictions on the type or number of vehicles you can store. With the Quadski, you can replace your ATV and personal watercraft with a single vehicle.

How would you plan to use a Quadski? Share your comments below.

Quadski Production Delayed Yet Again

Bryan Laviolette — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:01:42 +0000

Gibbs has delayed production of the Quadski once again. Now set for mid-2012, the production version of the Quadski will sit higher with far greater clearance in the wheel wells.

By Bryan Laviolette

The long-awaited update from Gibbs Technologies on production of the Quadski fast amphibian is not good news. Production has been delayed again.

According to a Gibbs spokesman, initial, limited production of the Quadski is now set to begin in mid-2012.

“The Quadski is currently being redesigned to address worldwide regulations,” the spokesman said. “We anticipate production to begin in mid-2012, depending upon when we receive the necessary regulatory approvals.”

The previous plan for Quadski production was the fourth quarter of this year.

Gibbs has been talking to potential dealers, but have not set prices. It has still not announced a location for its production facility or details such as the engine and transmission. It will be rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive is not planned.

“Once the product design, testing and certification work is complete, we will begin to address sales and service opportunities,” the spokesman said.

The Quadski will be the first production High-Speed Amphibian, as Gibbs calls the technology it originally developed for the Aquada amphibious car.

The production version of the Gibbs Quadski will have higher fenders and more ground clearance than the prototype the company has been showing for several years.

The single-seat vehicle is essentially a cross between an all-terrain vehicle and a personal watercraft. The water jet-powered Quadski is capable of traveling 45 mph land or water and can transition between the two in less than five seconds.

HSA technology includes a special system to raise the wheels into the wheel wells, allowing the vehicle to achieve plane.

Besides the Quadski and Aquada, Gibbs is also working on military and first-responder vehicles using HSA technology.

Gibbs Delays Planned Announcement

Bryan Laviolette — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 02:48:29 +0000

The July event for Gibbs came and went with none of the news promised by a company spokesman. But the company continues testing prototypes of the Quadski amphibious all-terrain vehicle and news of production plans is expected soon.

Watch FastAmphibians.com for the latest news from Gibbs.