Love boating and caravans? Just get a Caracat
Torn between a love of boating and caravans? Now you don't have to choose. Check out the Caracat for an impressive take on the amphibious RV.
By Paul Todd,
December 8, 2022
The Caracat is the latest creation of German manufacturer Schneider Caravaning. While this may not be the first time we’ve seen this attempted, this is a very, very impressive take on an amphibious RV.
A high-end RV that floats
The Caracat is built in Turkey and costs start at approximately €130,00 locally. At the time of writing, that works out to roughly AUD $200,000. It sounds on the high side but when you think about it, it’s not really.
There are plenty of high-end RVs available in Australia for north of $200k. But how many of them float? When you consider all the additional value included, it’s really not hard to see the value on offer. It’s got everything a regular caravan has, plus a hull, an electric motor (yes, it’s also technically an EV), plus a host of high-end navigational electronics. This is absolutely not your average RV.
The range consists of three models; the Caracat 66, 76 and 86. The model numbers correlate to the length of the hull, being 6.6m, 7.6m and 8.6m. The transport width of the Caracat is 2.5m and with electric expanding pontoons, it runs at a stable 3.7m wide on the water.
The Caracat features some top-notch gear
Forgetting for a moment that this is a fully functional, trailerable house boat, it is actually a seriously good caravan. Schneider have cleverly combined the best gear from Victron, Tomatech and Marinco to run the 12v side, and added plenty of creature comforts like a Skytech TV and a Dometic A/C.
The kitchen is made up of Dometic gear, including a wine cooler, and the bathroom is appointed with Hafele fixtures. Control the beds, lounges, tables and TV electrically as well.
The high-quality fixtures and finishes continue throughout with thermal glass in all windows and doors, and teak flooring inside and out. The lounges are clad in leather and the ceiling is finished with Alcantara.
Yes, Alcantara, like a Lamborgini.
EV, petrol and diesel options are available
Depending on the options selected, the Caracat is a 4-6 berth RV. If you aren’t on board with the EV revolution just yet, you can opt for a petrol outboard engine or a 25hp diesel inboard.
Now there’s one last feature that the Caracat can boast over most other RVs. The deck. We haven’t seen many RVs here, or anywhere else in the world, that have a fully operational deck on the roof. Caracat, if you’re listening, we’re ready for our test drive now.
The Caracat sounds absolutely fantastic and we can’t wait to see them in Australia. The only question that remains is just how much all the import costs and taxes will add to the price tag. We’d suggest the Caracat 66 would start at around AUD $235,000, but that’s purely a guess.
