The birth of the Platypus Craft, a proto for sailing on and under water
Twelve years ago, François-Alexandre Bertrand filed a patent and developed a prototype of an electric catamaran for 2 people equipped with a kind of underwater pedal boat. After many architectural and technical improvements, the Platypus Blue Ocean was born in 2014.
"We learned a lot with the development of this prototype. It was a real floating laboratory. We faced difficult technical difficulties: total rigidity, aluminium frame on the floats, underwater stability, strength of the arms..." explains the founder of Platypus Craft.
Several years of development to reach the Platypus Blue Ocean in 2016
The Platypus Blue Ocean is signed VPLP Design and is approved as a pleasure boat. Its design is similar to that of an aluminium trimaran, 7 m long and 2.50 m wide. The central hull is floating and is equipped with ballasts to go underwater. With 2x50 HP, the boat can reach a speed of 22 knots and 7 knots underwater.
However, the recommended cruising speed is 14 knots and the underwater speed is 2-3 n?uds?; the engine has been limited to 1000 rpm so as not to be too fast.
"This first unit that we delivered in Noumea enabled us to show that the semi-submersible concept had a future and a tangible commercial application. We managed to have a good boat and a stable submarine, with the central part acting a bit like a keel in a submerged position, capable of handling 1 m waves and a small swell. It's a huge improvement over the basic version." explains François-Alexandre Bertrand.
While technical problems were quickly resolved, the homologation was a different matter. Because on the Platypus Blue Ocean, the pilot is underwater. But he must have a 360° visibility on his environment. It was therefore necessary to install a digital periscope and a small monitor allowing him to see what is happening on the sea surface. The boat thus obtains a C certification on the surface and a B certification in submarine.
Rebounding with the Covid-19 health crisis
While his 10 years of adventure are finally going to be concretized by an important order from a French tourism actor, François-Alexandre Bertrand is stopped dead in its tracks - like many actors of the nautical and tourism industry - by the health crisis linked to Covid-19.
He then met Alain Grandjean, founder of the French company L2concept, a specialist in the design and engineering of concept cars, based in Sophia-Antipolis. However, his latest project appealed to the founder of Platypus Craft. Indeed, the company has developed a luxury submarine called SeaMagine Aurora, worth 7 million dollars.
At the beginning, the two men had a lot of trial and error to find out what look to give to their new luxury version of the Platypus: car design, a very classic boat, a spaceship... They then opted for a compromise boat strongly inspired by car codes.
The Platypus Swordfish, a luxury tender for admiring the seabed
The Platypus Swordfish is a kind of 40-foot trimaran with a submersible central float. But this time, a Plexiglas bubble covers the float, thus avoiding the need to wear a mask and snorkel. The central hull will be ballasted and equipped with a hydraulic system to submerge at a depth of 3 m. Inside, comfortably installed in the bubble, the passengers will enjoy a large lounge with a table to admire the seabed. It will even be possible to spend the night on board.
"Unlike an airplane or a submarine where pressurization is needed, the Platypus Swordfish will be connected to the surface by ventilation grilles installed in the arms, which will bring air into the submerged area" details François-Alexandre Bertrand.
For architecture, the diving enthusiast is in discussion with a world-renowned French firm. "Today there are monohulls or motor catamarans for speed, but no trimarans. We are going to propose a boat with a unique architecture, with a planing hull, at the crossroads between a monohull and a trimaran" details the founder of Platypus Craft.
Thus, it will be possible to sail either in the pleasure boat version with a comfortable and pleasant boat to drive up to 40 knots, or in the semi-submersible version, at a speed of 5/6 knots.
The two partners are still studying building materials - carbon fibre or fibreglass with cork core. For the motorization, the boat will be equipped with a hybrid motorization with Torqueedo electric motors with a power of 500 kilowatts. Other propulsion systems are being studied, such as hydrogen.
Both men believe strongly in the concept of Platypus in the world of yachting, which even in these times of crisis, this sector continues to grow.
A strong concept in yachting
"In the yachting market, the toy and tender sector is a very strong market. Today, these boats are real extensions of superyachts and everyone is looking to distinguish themselves with tenders or differentiating toys. With its James Bond look, we immediately saw the potential that the Platypus could have" says François-Alexandre Bertrand.
This project, estimated to cost $4 million, is now waiting to find its owner to see the light of day. It will also be possible to opt for a simple version with a standard petrol engine and fibreglass hull at a cost of 2 million euros. François-Alexandre Bertrand hopes that the first Platypus Swordfish will hit the water in 2022.
"I'm convinced that the future of the boat will be under water. I guess my semi-submersible boat concept is the future. What happens underwater is beautiful, and I think it's a shame that a concept like the Platypus hasn't been thought of before." concludes François-Alexandre Bertrand.
