Amphibious Class A Motor Coach
Price: Terra Wind Prices from the $850,000's to $1.2M
How often have you pulled into an RV park late in the day to find all of the choice waterfront slots taken? Now you can do one better by parking your motor home on the water.
The Terra Wind amphibious Motor Coach/Yacht in water, driven by two 19 inch propellers.
For those who love land and water, and want to enjoy both in luxury, Cool Amphibious Manufacturers International (CAMI) is custom building the Terra Wind amphibious "Motor Coach/Yacht". Luxury motor homes make a statement on their own, but talk about turning heads when you drive your custom coach into the lake.
The Terra Wind looks like a typical Class A on land, complete with amenities you would expect in a luxury coach. It is 42½ feet long, 102 inches wide, 12½ feet tall, has a GVWR of 33,000 lb, GCWR of 43,000 lb, and a starting price of $850,000. The only thing that might tip you off to this machine's alter ego is the angled front nose in place of the typical straight bumper.
A few unique features caught my attention:
Residential style sliding doors in the back, providing a wonderful bedroom view on land and water. Swim deck in the rear lowers like a toy hauler ramp. Whirlpool tub
The photos show the prototype; the production model promises a 45 foot hull with additional features such as two engines, tandem rear axles, and additional stability so that the slides can be deployed in water.
If you are still lacking for toys, the manufacturer promises more: "We are also now building the trailer for the Terra Wind. This trailer will be able to float just as the coach does. We will be able to carry 1 car and a golf cart, or 2 jet ski's for an added toy. This will also be an added party barge with flat roof for sunning and diving from."
I found it amuzing that the specifications describe which side the slides are on with the nautical terms of port (left) and starboard (right). I suppose this is only fitting for a machine that will require you to learn not only RV terms, but boating terms as well.
For more details and photos, please visit the Terra Wind web site.
Does it really go into the water? Yes, it does.
Why would someone want a motor coach that goes into the water? Because you have a houseboat and a motor coach all wrapped up into one vehicle. If you are taking a trip across the country and you find a lake you can drive right into it; boat across and drive out the other side, then keep on going.
How does it switch from road to marine? You drive the Terra Wind into the water, place the road transmission into neutral and the marine transmission into gear and your away you go.
It looks top heavy, is it? No, it is not. All of our weight is in the bottom of the boat. When we built the Terra Wind every single component was taken into consideration for the weight and balance of the stability
Can the room slide outs be used on the water? Yes, the outrigger sponsons (pontoons) keep the boat level with the room slides in the out position.
What is the draft? 3 1/2 feet; this means 3 1/2 feet of the coach/boat remains in the water. The water line is right beneath the front bumper.
How deep of water can the Terra Wind go into? The depth of the water is irrelevant, it is a boat. It can go into any depth of water, it simply needs 3 1/2 feet to clear the bottom of the waterway.
How big of a wave will it take? It was designed for protected waters such as lakes, bays, rivers, and sounds. With the outrigger sponsons she can take 3 foot waves or wake.
How much wind can it take? With the outrigger sponsons she can take approximately 40 mph winds.
Does it go into the ocean? No, it is not an ocean going vessel.
Can it go into salt water? Yes it can go into salt water, however, fresh water is preferable. If it is taken into the salt water a fresh water rinse is necessary.
Is rust or corrosion an issue? No. The hull is 100% aluminum which does not rust. The only steel parts are the suspension and axle components. These parts are coated with the same protective marine coating used on cruise ships.
Why are the door and room slide outs elevated? Actually the floor is lowered, as it is with any boat. You have to lower your center of gravity for stability.
Does it have an anchor? Yes, it is under the back deck.
How long can it be out on the water? The Terra Wind can be on the water as long as it has diesel fuel. There is no limit regarding the integrity of the vessel. She has a 150 gallon fuel capacity tank. It requires diesel fuel to run the generator also.
From where can you fish or sunbathe? There is a 6 foot swim platform that folds out from the back deck. You can fish, layout, or dive/jump from there. It has cleats so you tie up you jets skis, boat, or rafts to the platform.
Can you ski behind it? No, it is not fast enough to pull a skier.
What size engine does it have? It has a caterpillar 3126E 330 horse power diesel engine with power take off to the propellers.
Does it have 2 separate engines, 1 for road and 1 for marine? It only has the one engine. However, the next Terra Wind will have 2 engines; for more horse power.
Which kind of fuel does it use? The Terra Wind uses diesel fuel.
What size generator does it have? It has an 18 kilowatt 240 volt diesel generator with a 20 kilowatt peak capacity.
What kind of chassis is it on? It is not on an existing chassis. The Terra Wind is built from the ground up. We start by building an all aluminum 3/16 marine plate hull. Once the integrity of the hull is assured we build a motor coach on top of the boat hull. This is truly a boat on wheels.
What propels it on the water? Two 19" twin bronze propellers are what move the vessel on the water. She also has stainless steel rudders with a one-touch rudder control.
What kind of speed does it get on the water? She gets 6 to 7 knots of speed on the water.
Speed on the land? We can reach highway speeds up to 85 mph (or what ever the speed limit permits).
How much does the Terra Wind weigh? She weighs 31,000 wet (full of fuel and water). There is an allowance of 4,000 pounds for people and stuff. Therefore, her maximum weight capacity is 35,000.
How long is the amphibious motorcoach? It is 42 1/2 feet long. The maximum length we will build is 45 feet.
How wide is it? She is 8 feet 6 inches wide. (Street legal)
How tall is she? The coach stands 12 feet 6 inches tall to the top of the coach; and 13 feet 4 inches to the top of the satellite. All Terra Winds do not have to be this tall. (John Giljam, the owner, engineer, and designer stands 6'8". He chose this height in order to walk through the coach without ducking his head.)
What materials are the sides and roof made from? The sidewalls and the roof were made specifically for us. A fiberglass reinforced plywood with a foam core was used. R values: R14 wall and R32 roof.
