Bubbly fun
With only hours to go before the arrival of Christmas Day, Italian studio Venetian Design has unveiled a special boat for those looking for last minute gift ideas.…
With only hours to go before the arrival of Christmas Day, Italian studio Venetian Design has unveiled a special boat for those looking for last minute gift ideas. Aimed at children aged up to 15-years-old, Bubbly 18 is a 1.7m electrically powered boat that can be used in a large pool, lake or in the sea.
“The idea behind the Bubbly came into being after my sister had a baby and I wanted to give them a small boat as a gift,” says designer Armin Koren. “But I couldn’t find anything suitable or built to the standard I was after and so I decided to design and build one.”
The Bubbly 18
After six months of development, Koren and his business partner finished a prototype of the Bubbly 18. Constructed from fiberglass with a rubber tube, the boat is based on a RIB and has been designed as a Bumper Car of the sea, built to take the impact of kids driving into each other.
Bubbly 18 prototype
“One of the key factors for this project was in ensuring that it could be easily transported and carried by a single adult, so weight was an important factor,” says Koren. With just an hour of charge, the boat can be used for up to five hours and can reach a top speed of five knots thanks to its single Motorguide T30, 12V engine. The Bubbly 18, which can be made to order and finished in any colour, will be available in two options. The basic model will cost approximately 3,000 euros, with a fully specified model with a price tag closer to 10,000 euros. Options include a teak deck, electronic horn, high quality material fittings and LED lighting. The first two units are planned for completion in January 2016, with an agreement for 50 units pending. Koren also revealed that he has plans for a second model. “We will build a two-metre model next year suitable for parents so that they can take part in all the fun as well,” he says. “It will look the same but will be fitted with a stronger electric engine.”
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