The Otter, by Sams Brothers Ltd

Qui connaît cette caravane, qui répond au nom de "Otter", ce qui signifie "loutre" en anglais. Elle a la particularité d'être amphibie. Une fois, c'est une caravane, une fois c'est un bateau. Pratique!

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Voici un article qui lui est consacré dans un magazine britannique "The Autocar" (numéro datant du 19 août 1955) :
«Land and Water: The Otter is Amphibious
A demonstration was given at Broxbourne recently of the Otter amphibious caravan, which is designed to give the combined advantages of a trailer caravan and a motor cruiser. It is, in effect, a boat-built caravan carried on a channel steel chassis, from which it can be launched into the water or retrieved-by the aid of a small winch- for towing on land.
The body is of marine resin-bonded plywood, reinforced with mahogany and oak, and is of extremely stiff construction. Accommodation provides for four berths- one double bed and two singles- wardrobe, kitchen unit and toilet. A 1 1/2 h.p. British Anzani demountable motor provides power while on the water, and the weight of the hull and chassis is claimed to be as low as 11 cwt. The roof is strengthened in order that it can be used as a sun deck. Presumably this feature must be used with discretion, since the draught is only 10 in and the height above water 6ft 3in.
Procedure for launching is to back the trailer down the slipway and remove two locking pins, so that the caravan-boat unit slides into the water, retaining ropes prevent it from getting out of reach. To retrieve it, the hull is pulled on to dry land by car and tow wire until it is in a position where the steel runners at the base can be placed in position for winching back on to the chassis, and the locking pins replaced.
At the demonstration the launching and retrieving were made without difficulty by two people and water trips were enjoyed with six people on board. Conditions at the time were of light wind and sluggish current and as a boat is answered the helm very well- in conditions of lively current and cross wind, control might not be so easy.
Dimensions: overall lenght 16ft 6in (14ft 4in), width 6ft 8in (6ft 8in), height 8ft (6ft 3in above water).
The Otter, designed by A. Eckford and buit by Sams Brothers, Ltd, is being marketed by Amphibian Ltd, Conduit, Lane, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. The price is £450, plus £34 for the outboard motor ».