cargo bikes, family bikes, electric bikes and complete streets
Aqua-Xtracycle, the Amphibious Bicycle
biking mode: the bike carries the boat
The Aqua-Xtracycle is a do-it-yourself amphibious electric cargo bike. This video shows how it works, and the photo gallery below shows a bit of our development process. In a future post I’ll describe how you can make your own Aqua-Xtracycle.
This pontoon boat cost about $250.
The first prototype used a wooden dowel to support the pontoons.
Rear view of the first prototype.
Thea on the first prototype.
When I got on the first prototype the wooden dowels broke.
The bike got wet.
Testing tent poles.
Second prototype with 6061 aluminum poles.
Second prototype at our Stewart Park testing grounds.
For now just using paddles for propulsion.
Learning to weld and braze.
Clockwise from top: Xtracycle, pontoon frames, trolling motor and battery, front float, and pump.
Failed attempt to attach paddles to the rear wheel.
Seaweed was a problem.
A platform helps shape the front wheel float and keeps the front riding higher.
A Halkey-Roberts valve inflates and deflates more quickly than an inner tube valve.
Four BMX handlebar stems fit into the Xtracycle horizontal-rack tubes.
Two diagonal supports snap on from the pontoon frames to the Xtracycle vertical racks.
A cotter pin secures a $100 electric trolling motor to the rear of the bike frame.
