Boat houses" are on the upswing, as we saw at Boot Düsseldorf, where hall 4 housed many "boats" that looked more like mobile homes than boats. It must be said that these floating houses have several advantages for those who would like to live on the water without a licence: large spaces, low speed, manoeuvrability, no need for a boating licence
KayFlo, a houseboat for living on the water
This is what KayFlo offers, an "eco-friendly" houseboat (a contraction of the terms ecological and economic). Its designer, Jean-Marc Salpétrier, a civil engineering and urban planning engineer, wanted to invent a mobile, marine, ecological, comfortable and financially accessible place to live. "Initially, I wanted to create a mobile floating home to house my family and I called upon Gildas Plessis Yacht Designer who accompanied me on this initial project. When I saw the enthusiasm that this concept aroused, I pushed the thinking much further with Yacht Concept Laurent Da Rold and Franck Darnet Design to come up with an industrial project. I am also convinced that KayFlo is a housing solution of the future, in view of the rising water levels that will affect many countries in the decades to come" explains Jean-Marc.
Kay Flo is therefore a floating house, designed as a monohull for a large living volume - the total area is 107 m2 habitable - and with two side hulls for stability. With a length of 13 m and a width of 7 m, it will house two bedrooms - one of which is 12.6 m2 - a bathroom, a separate toilet, a fitted kitchen of 17 m2 and a raised saloon (to provide height on the lower deck) of 10.8 m. A large cockpit with a beautiful bathing platform allows you to enjoy the sea, while the flybridge hosts a jacuzzi and an outdoor saloon.
Cockpit
The KayFlo will be able to be moored at dockside or at anchor and will be able to navigate - since it remains a boat - at the low speed of 6 knots (11 km/h). However, don't expect to leave for a long-distance cruise as it can only go up to 2 miles (3.7 km) from a shelter.
Kitchen
But the advantage of this houseboat is its energy autonomy, thanks to its 20m2 of solar panels and its 2 wind turbines. A system of rainwater recovery and wastewater treatment also allows to provide for the needs of a family. As an option, the KayFlo can be motorized with an electric, hybrid or thermal outboard motor:
- Electric outboard motor for very short distances
- Outboard combustion engine for occasional travel
- Hybrid engine with outboard or inboard electric motor and diesel generator. For frequent trips over "long" distances
Salon
A project for individuals or professionals
The first boat has already been ordered by a private individual and will be launched in 2017. At the same time, KayFlo can be operated as a hotel or holiday rental. A floating hotel project with 15 KayFlo boats will be launched in 2018 in Martinique.
The KayFlo will be built in La Rochelle and completed in La Martinique for the Caribbean market and for the floating hotel project in the West Indies.
In terms of price, it is offered at 299,000 euros HT, or 2,800 euros per m2.
House
KayFlo Technical Specifications
Length 12.81 m
Width 6.87 m
Light displacement 10 t, deadweight 4 t
Wet surface: 70 m²
Draft: 45 cm
Air draught: 4.67 m to 7.30 m with wind turbines
Category C: 2m waves, gusts 35 knots
