This Is IZIBoat, a Sailing Catamaran You Can Tow by Bike, Assemble by Hand in 15 Minutes

The IZIBoat is a relatively new arrival on the scene, but not because it's the kind of product someone designed and build in a one-nighter of brainstorming ideas. It's been in the works for the past 20 years and has been through 11 prototypes before it arrived at the design we see today, which is the production-ready version. The IZIBoat has come a long way, and we have a feeling the road here wasn't an izi one. Roll with the pun.

Built in France, it's the brainchild of Francois Tissier, a passionate sailor who spent 25 years on the islands in the South Pacific. It is here that he got the idea for a lightweight and hybrid watercraft that could be used for island-hopping even by the most inexperienced sailor, "combining the stability of a catamaran, the ease of transport of a windsurfer and the steering of a car." This was the premise for IZIBoat, a sailing catamaran that makes sailing "so IZI." It's a hilarious pun if you read it out loud with a French accent, but it underlines the main goal of the invention, which is to democratizing sailing.

The IZIBoat is a sailing catamaran with an electric motor, offering seating for as many as four people and the promise of a stable, comfortable, safe, and very fun experience out on the water. In keeping with its puntastic name, it's easy to tow, easy to assemble, and most importantly, easy to sail. In fact, Tissier claims that it can be operated just as well by someone who's never sailed any watercraft and by experienced sailors like himself. At the same time, it's accessible for people of all ages and physical conditions, including children and the elderly, and can be used by people with disabilities.

The IZIBoat packs tightly for transport on land. Tissier describes it as having the width of a bicycle and the length of a car, so it's 62 cm wide and 480 cm long (2 feet by 15.8 feet) and weighs just 156 kg (344 lbs). It can be transported whichever way is most convenient to you, so you can tow it with an electric bicycle, haul it by hand on its removable launch wheels, or put it on a trailer to tow it with your daily, just like you would any other boat.

When you arrive on the beach or at the dock, you can start putting the cat together.

The process takes less than 15 minutes if you work alone and requires zero tools, thanks to the innovative design. You secure the two hulls using an interlocking mechanism and manual tension, you pivot, unlock and mount the mast, you unfurl the sails from the mast, and you're ready to go. You're operational in under one minute from the moment you've finished assembly. The IZIBoat launches to water by means of a set of wheels, which can be removed and stored behind the seat.

IZIBoat moves by wind with assistance from an electric motor, and Tissier promises a top speed of 15 knots (17.2 mph/27.8 kph) even in a "nice breeze." He also says that operation is easy and intuitive, from the way you can reduce sail area (from 15.4 square meters/ 165.7 square feet to 8.8 square meters/94.7 square feet) by simply pulling on a line to using joystick controls to turn.

The cat offers seating for four people in XL comfortable seats and enough space to even do some sun lounging if you don't travel at maximum capacity. The maximum payload is 426 kg (939 lbs), a figure you will want to keep in mind when planning your outings.

Because of its compact size, the IZIBoat can be stored inside a garage or in the yard, occupying very little space. You can also leave it on the beach or docked at the marina because the hulls are coated with corundum bead, which is very tough and resistant to abrasion. This gives it the upper hand over other boats, which would require special storage, whether indoors or in a marina.

IZIBoat officially went into production last year and is available on a made-to-order basis. If it sounds like the perfect family boat for you, you're probably wondering what the catch might be. It's pricing, so wonder no more. This hybrid, foldable sailing cat is priced at €17,100 with taxes, which translates to approximately $19,200 at the current exchange rate. It's a lot of money if you think of it as a novelty from a little-known startup from France, but it's peanuts for a boat.