Le Boat, the European self-drive boating company, is making its newest boat model, the Vision, available in four new countries in Europe for 2013.
The Vision3 (a three-cabin self-drive model) and the Vision4 (a four-cabin self-drive model) will be available to cruise the River Thames in England as well as in Belgium, the Netherlands and Ireland next year. Currently, the models are available only in France and Germany.
Both the Vision3 and Vision4 are available in either hybrid (diesel and electric) or nonhybrid (diesel only) models. The hybrid design incorporates solar-generated electric power.
The boats are outfitted with cabins with en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning and flat-screen TVs. The Vison3 can accommodate six in the cabins and four more passengers between an optional fold-down bed and the saloon for a max of 10 passengers. The Vision4 can accommodate eight in the cabins and one more in the saloon for a maximum of nine.
The boats’ common room includes a kitchen with gas range and a refrigerator and a dining area. There is also a sun deck with an outdoor dining table, barbecue, bar fridge and a collapsible sun canopy.
In 2012, Le Boat also added a new service, giving customers the option to hire a crew (a captain and a chef) to accompany passengers on their cruise.
The company’s boats sail along the smaller canals and inland waterways of Europe.