A watercraft quite unlike others, the Portless Catamaran is a large inflatable that packs small enough to ride to the water inside a motor vehicle. At water's edge, it quickly inflates into a dual-deck cruiser and lounge propelled along cleanly and quietly by a small electric outboard powered with help from a flexible solar panel. It invites water lovers to leave the headaches of the marina, off-season dry storage and boat trailers in the past and enjoy long days on the water atop a fun, simple, stable electric vessel.
A product of Hungary's DDD Manufaktúra, which also has an office in Germany, the Portless Catamaran relies on the type of sturdy drop-stitch hull construction used for inflatable paddleboards. At 265 lb (120 kg) all packed up, it'll take a few people to carry, but it's designed to store inside the trunk of a larger vehicle, making transport easier than with solid-hulled catamarans.
At the water, the Portless Catamaran inflates into an impressive 14.8-foot (4.5-m) cat with upper and lower decks designed to accommodate a total of six people. It's meant to go from car trunk to water launch in as little as 10 minutes.
The Portless Catamaran offers 97 sq ft (9 sq m) of space on the main deck, which benefits from the shade of the upper deck, and 32 sq ft (3 sq m) of upper deck space for sunbathing, observation and leaping into the water. The upper deck can hold up to 350 lb (160 kg) and is accessed via ladder-like steps built into the inner side wall.
The Portless Catamaran comes powered by a 1-kW Epropulsion Spirit 1.0 Plus electric outboard motor with 1.3-kWh lithium-polymer battery. DDD estimates range at 16 nautical miles (30 km) but says that with enough sunshine the 200-W solar panel can keep the vessel moving for an entire day at about 4 knots (7 km/h). Either way, the Portless Catamaran seems far better suited to hanging out in one place atop the water than it does to motoring over any kind of distance. An integrated display shows remaining battery power and other key info.
The Portless Catamaran is available in two versions. The standard version features a single-piece body designed for the easiest, quickest inflation, while the second breaks down into four individual pieces that zip together. The latter takes an extra five to 10 minutes of estimated setup time but cuts the weight of each piece down to approximately 66 lb (30 kg), making it easier to carry and manage.
Prices start at €11,920 (approx. US$12,375) for the single-piece Portless Catamaran and €12,620 (US$13,100) for the four-piece version. Those prices include an electric pump and swimming ladder. Buyers can upgrade with a few available options, such as a more powerful 3-kW e-drive and a steering wheel.
Portless also offers the 19.7-foot (6-m) Catamaran Deluxe, the striped eight-person model pictured in some of the photos, for €22,900 ($23,750). The Deluxe includes a standard steering wheel with two seats. Portless makes no mention of that one fitting in a car, and at 772 lb (350 kg), it'll be considerably more difficult to transport and handle.
The first sub-minute video below shows a quiet family outing in the six-person Portless Catamaran, and the second makes good on the promise of roof-diving, bikini-clad six- and eight-person cat adventure made by some of the photos.
Source: DDD Manufaktúra (German)