Lazzarini Design Studio’s ‘Pagurus’ is a ‘crab-shaped’ amphibious catamaran

The unceasing amazement of the natural world, and the aquatic ecosystem in particular is a living, breathing source of design inspiration. Come to look at it, each one of the organisms that sustain life underwater is a natural design marvel. That ‘design’ is pushed further even the more in amphibians and crustaceans, and that is what informs the latest intervention by Lazzarini Design Studio in the realm of aquatic auto-mobility. The seventh in the series of nature inspired yachts that the studio is currently developing, following Avanguardia, the Swan and Prodigium, the Shark, Pagurus finds inspiration in its shape and form from a giant crab, named eponymously after its Latin translation.

Conceived initially as a military vehicle, Pagurus is an 82 ft. (25m) long amphibious catamaran, capable of operation in both water and on land. The duality of its ‘amphibious’ nature also stems in the way it is propelled: while being solar powered, it can also draw energy from the water it cuts through while sailing. Akin to a crab’s limbs positioned sideways, the yacht too subdivides the living spaces in two side hulls, connected to each other through a bridge tower deck station. A truss-like bridge steel structure connects the two sides to each other, stiffening and reinforcing the main body. The twin hulls can then be configured with up to three bedrooms, a kitchen and small toilet, housing up to eight passengers and four crew.

The Pagurus propels itself while sailing through dual propellers stern drive coupled with twin 890 hp diesel engines, capable of moving the catamaran at an estimated top speed of 24 knots. Pagurus also comes equipped with six packs of 360V batteries with a capacity of 40 kWh each that can be recharged through the solar array installed on its roof, or through the friction generated during sailing. The immersed parts of the hull on either side of the yacht are designed with a recess space that houses two steel cylinders each, with a helical spring flange, like the threads of a massive screw, measuring 6.5 m in length and 1.2 m in diameter. The rotating cylinders, through friction of collision with the water it sails through, generate enough energy to recharge the yacht batteries while sailing. The cylinders themselves are moved from an independent engine, with each one connected to a transfluid transmission, being able to generate motion and simultaneously energy, in water. Its estimated autonomy in full electric sailing, solar and hydro, is about six to seven hours when driven at five knots.

The vehicle’s amphibious conversion to be able to be driven on land is carried out by increasing its draft, by lowering down the cylinders by about 60 cm, enabling it to move on sand or mud terrains at up to 30 km/h. While on terrain, in order to prevent damages to the hulls, the yacht mount in the front part of each side is protected by a steel shield bumper. The central area then works as a helm station, while also designed to incorporate a crane platform connected through four electric winches to load and unload smaller boats or even off-road vehicles.

Pagurus, currently under development, can be built on demand from a starting price of € 6,580 (carbon version: twin jet drive, 32 knots, no screws) up to a maximum price of €24,000 for the Crabmaran version (amphibious, reinforced steel version).

Project Details

Material: 69% forged steel, 31% painted dry carbon fiber
Engines: 6 no.s, total power on board 3540 hp
Engines, water mode: 2X Caterpillar (890 each, total 1780 hp)
Engines, terrain mode: 4X Yanmar diesel (440hp each, total 1760 hp)
Hybrid propulsion: Transfluid transmission
Overall length: 25 meters (82 ft)
Beam: 9.2 meters (30 ft)
Height: 5.2 Meters (16.5 ft)
Draft/immersion: from 1600 mm to 1800 mm (screws out)
Dry displacement: 52000 KG ( 114.688 lb)
Weight: 52,999KG
Cruising speed (Water): 18 knots
Max speed (Water): 25 knots
Cruising speed (Terrain): 20 Km/h
Max speed (Terrain): 35 Km/h
Electric motion max speed (Water): 6 knots
Electric motion max speed (Terrain): 15 Km/h
Fuel: Diesel
Fuel tank capacity: 8000 Lt
Water capacity: 1000 Lt
Rooms: 5
Passengers: 12
Crew: 4
Construction time: 24 months  
Location: Italy