Review by
Alessandro "Arca" Mattei
and Eugenio Amore.







I can safely say that this is a decidedly innovative craft and breaks the usual mould of "boats" thus far designed to meet our demands for transportability and small size. When packed away in its case, it takes up little more room than a folded bed. At first glance, assembly can seem more complicated than expected due to the combination of a series of aluminium sections to be pre-positioned together with the floor and the covering, but when you repeat the procedure at least a couple of times, following the instructions - even better if there's two of you - it will all prove rather straightforward, automatic and quite speedy.

Broadly speaking, the craft is made up as follows: a thick rubber covering reinforced inside with nylon filaments, an aeronautic aluminium framework that acts as the perimeter and keel and, lastly, a floor made from a wood-based material with a floating core.
We will now set about explaining the assembly procedure: you lay the covering on the ground, place the keel on top and then the floor, and this forms the generously sized surface for standing on; following the instructions, you then fit together the tubular aluminium segments, which produce the boat's rigid frame.
That's practically all there is to it: the only thing left to do is lift the sides of the boat to form the stern, bow and sides; lastly, attach the covering to the rigid frame using the relevant straps provided.



Let's now take a look at the Pros and Cons and possible improvements.

Pros:

    - The overall size when folded away is unquestionably a strength and is little bigger than a folded bed; - The height of the sides and space inside are truly generous!
    - Stability/comfort are superb thanks to the slightly V-shape keel. This has been tested and proved with very windy conditions and a slight chop, under which the boat performed very well.
    - Another highly positive aspect is safety: the boat is practically unsinkable thanks to the foam core inside the floor and because it has 2 cushions located at the stern and built into the structure. Since there are no inflatable tubes, should the covering be ripped or cut, this would have absolutely no effect on its ability to float.
    - The boat can be put away in a single holdall or, if preferred, in 3 separate bags.
    - Lastly, but no less importantly, it is easy to repair cuts and rips (which are unlikely to happen) using the kit provided and without applying heat.
Possible improvements:
    - The bow corner that is formed where the floor and covering meet (Photo 1) is definitely in danger of being damaged due to the continuous abrasion that inevitably occurs when approaching the bank or shore, which is often littered with stones and filling sediment; it would certainly be advisable to add some reinforcement on the whole outside corner where the floor and covering meet (moreover, the designer has already confirmed that this change is in the pipeline).
    - Assembly certainly requires practice and familiarity before it can qualify as quick and simple.
    - The tensioning straps that keep the rubber-coated covering folded and taut over the various corners (Photo 2) should be doubled in number or made thicker to keep the boat watertight in any case should one of them break. Nonetheless, they are merely there for improved appearance, i.e. their purpose is to give the boat a cleaner line.
    - In the last analysis, the floor could do with a non-slip surface.


Technical features and models:
The boat is approved as a category "D" craft and can take outboard internal combustion engines up to 3kw and weighing up to 25 kg.
It comes in three sizes - 250, 300 and 350 cm, with a capacity to carry 3, 4 and 5 people - and in various fabric colours and designs, with the option of ordering an entirely custom covering.

Without a doubt, this product sits at the top of its category, mainly by virtue of its stability, comfort and versatility; care should be exercised when loading equipment; and it takes up the same amount of room as almost 2 folding boats.

Our thanks to GPS EASYBOAT for giving us free use of their boat, for accepting our suggestions and proposals, and for even inviting us to fill out a questionnaire to assess the product.
All this demonstrates professionalism, willingness and a desire to improve.





IMPROVEMENTS ALREADY MADE (Editor's Note)

We've replaced the belts in favour of a direct connection between the parts of the frame and between the sides, stern and bow.

As far as the features are concerned, we can confirm that:

A) It can be used to sail on lakes as well as on the sea without fear of freak waves, as can be seen in the video presented, based on its approval as a category D craft;
B) It has a flat floor free of obstacles that, where so required, can also double as a bed for the night or as a base for an airbed for sunbathing, etc.. Benches can be added when required and you sit facing in the direction you are sailing instead of crosswise, which is instead the case with small inflatable dinghies;
C) The floor is made from marine-grade wood, and is spacious and rigid, meaning it is just like walking on the floor at home;
D) The keel has a wide V shape with a rigid aluminium keel, meaning you can tackle waves without the boat bending any differently to other boats on the market;
E) It is stable and has high sides, allowing it to safely tackle waves up to 50 cm high;
F) It is unsinkable because it has expanded polyurethane foam cushions incorporated in the actual structure;
G) It takes just a few minutes to assemble without the aid of tools;
H) When folded away it takes up the same amount of space as a suitcase, making it the only one of its kind in the world and meaning if you are travelling in a car or campervan, it can be stowed in the passenger compartment without the risk of it being stolen, without having to add chains and padlocks, and without having anything attached to the outside of the vehicle during the trip;
I) It can be compared to inflatable dinghies with a rigid fibreglass keel, although they do not have the same advantage of being "collapsible". Other boats are without a doubt less usable and less versatile;
J) The fabric covering is the same used for inflatable dinghies, i.e. reinforced tear-resistant solid PVC;
K) It can be used for boat camping, for night fishing and for pleasure boating along the coast since it is comfortable and strong...

Now who can give you more than that?