IGUANA X100
TESTED
The RIB version of Iguana’s amphibious boat isn’t just cheaper, it’s also better
The original Iguana amphibious boat was a brilliant piece of design and a very capable craft both on and off the water. It’s only real weaknesses were that its looks and layout were more superyacht tender than rugged, go-anywhere machine and the price reflected that too.
This new X100 uses the same 10m hull and folding caterpillar tracks but with an inflatable RIB collar that not only protects the topsides and makes it a drier, more stable boat but also gives it a more utilitarian look. The same goes for the cockpit layout which boasts a more convivial seating arrangement, a better protected helm with optional twin suspension seats and a heads compartment under the console. We’re still talking Range Rover Sport rather than Land Rover Defender but it brings the Iguana concept and aesthetic much closer to the kind of versatile RIB or day boat that most people are looking for.
It even costs less than the original with prices now starting at €220,000 ex VAT – close enough to tempt owners of rival amphibious craft and even some high-end RIBS to take a closer look.
Having recently tested both the AMP 8.4 and Sealegs 9m Hydrasol, I was particularly interested to see how the X100 compared to these direct competitors. The first thing to note is that the X100 is an appreciably bigger boat than either of them. Despite its carbon fibre reinforced hull, it still weighs over a tonne more than either of its competitors and really needs twin engines to give it sufficient grunt. That said, the twin 300hp Verado V8s fitted to the test boat (a €45,000 upgrade) were verging on overkill, delivering searing mid-range acceleration and a top speed not far shy of 50 knots in flat water.
In the right conditions it’s a lot of fun and crucially the weight of the caterpillar tracks is close to the centre of gravity so you can drive it hard without having to worry about a big front wheel hanging off the bow.
However, the hull is not a particularly deep vee design and those broad chine flats can make for a fairly abrupt landing if you do fly off a wave. The good news is that the hull and track mechanism feel immensely tough while the inflatable collar does a good job of deflecting spray. It’s not really a true RIB as the tubes are mounted so high up the topsides that they rarely come into contact with the water but they do provide additional buoyancy in extremis as