by Holly Tribe
With Boat and Caravan Show 2011 just around the corner, we’ve been scratching our heads wondering if there was any way to simultaneously combine the joy of touring with marine leisure pursuits?
Last month we ran a story on the Thansadet, a concept caravan that converts into a seafaring vessel , and while this was a fun idea, the logistics of building a seaworthy ‘van seemed highly improbable. However, on our virtual travels this week, we came across some marvellous old footage in the British Pathé film archives.
Make way for the ‘Caraboat’ – a genuine amphibious caravan.
The stock footage follows a touring caravan as it is towed through the streets of Henley-on-Thames and then parked up alongside the banks of the river. The driver steps out of his car and attaches an outboard motor and some fenders to the caravan hitched behind before launching it into the river.
The film then cuts to his companion who is comfortably ensconced aboard the good ship, busying herself in the kitchen making ‘a cup of the steaming’. And as the ‘Creighton Gull’ sails on, you can just make out the wheel arches peeking above the water line.
Click on the image below to view the full clip in the Pathé archives.
