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Gator General FAQ
Does the car come with right or left hand steering?
The Gator comes standard with left hand steering, but can be special ordered with right hand steering.
Do you have to register the car as both a car and a boat?
a. In the United Stated Amphibious cars need to be registered as both a car and boat. When driven on US highways it must have a car registration. When it is driven in the water it must have a marine registration. Amphibious vehicles in the United States typically have a license plate and marine stickers. Some countries only require one registration.
How do I register my Gator?
Each state within the United States and other countries have different requirements and laws with regards to registration of a specially constructed vehicle or kit car. For the last thirty years most states have recognized the original Volkswagen registration that was assigned to the Volkswagen Chassis as the registration number for kit cars. If the Volkswagen donor vehicle is currently licensed and registered then that license and registration can be used for the Gator. We suggest that you ask and verify all the requirements with your local authority or DMV.
Can you get insurance on the vehicle?
Amphibious car insurance can be purchased through specialty car insurance companies in the United States. Another way to insure an amphibious vehicle is to purchase two separate polices, one for the road coverage and a marine policy for water use.
Can you put it in the ocean or saltwater?
With proper maintenance the Gator can be used in saltwater. The Gator is designed with non-corrosive materials like fiberglass and corrosion resistant coatings everywhere possible, but like any boat used in saltwater it imperative that it be properly rinsed off with freshwater and all rotating assemblies be well maintained.
Is a top available?
They Gator is designed off a CJ 8 Jeep platform, most tops that fit a CJ 8 will fit the Gator.
Can you use the Gator in open water?
The Gator is capable of going in open water. As with any 15 foot boat it is limited to how rough of seas it can be safely navigated.
Is there more maintenance needed on an amphibious car than on a regular car or regular boat?
There is definitely more maintenance on amphibious vehicles then on typical cars due to the corrosive environment that amphibious vehicles are subjected too. There are more systems that need to be checked and maintained, since one vehicle is used in both environments. The maintenance is comparable to maintaining a boat and a car.
Do you need a special license to drive an amphibious car?
A special license is not required to drive an amphibious vehicle, though a driver’s license is required to drive a vehicle on land. In the US a license is not required to drive a boat and it is not required to drive an amphibious vehicle while in the water.
Who is qualified to work on an amphibious car?
Any good mechanic should be capable of working on the Gator, ideally a Volkswagen mechanic with marine experience. The Gator is built with off the shelf components that most mechanics would recognize.
How difficult is it to assemble a Gator kit vehicle?
Volkswagen based kit cars are by far the easiest to build and work on, but you still need a basic mechanical skill set to build a Gator.
Are there people or shops that I could pay to assemble my Gator?
Most mechanical or body shops should have the skills to assemble a Gator kit.
Can I install a larger engine then a Volkswagen four cylinder engine?
They Gator was designed for an air cooled Volkswagen engine, there are many different sizes available, from 75HP up to over 200HP. A logical alternative to the Volkswagen would be a four cylinder Subaru engine, which adds some complexity to the kit, due to the fact that Subaru is water cooled, but it can be done.
How much should I expect to spend to have a completed Gator?
Depending on how much work you can do yourself, and how much you spend on a donor car, you can expect to have between 40,000 to 50,000 dollars in your finished Gator.
Is the Gator designed to have seatbelts?
Seatbelts need to be installed on all Gator amphibious vehicles. Seatbelts are required for land use, but not recommended for water use.
Can I put aftermarket wheels on the car or different tires?
Any aftermarket wheels and tires can be used on the Gator as long as they are the same size as the original wheels and tires that were designed for the Gator
Are there special lights for both road and water operations?
The Gator has both nautical and highway lights. Headlights and turn signals are required for land use, while navigation lights are required for marine use.
Can you tow a wake boarder or pull a water-skier?
The Gator is not designed to go fast enough in the water required to pull a water skier or wake boarder.
How long is the transition from land to water mode?
The transition is immediate, once in the water simply put the transmission in neutral and engage the jet, then drive off like any other boat. When coming out of the water simply reverse the process.
Do I need a launch ramp to enter the water?
A launch ramp is recommended in most cases, but if the shoreline is stable and proper traction can be achieved driving in and out the water without a launch ramp is possible.
What colors does the Gator come in?
The Gator comes gel coated in 12 standard colors and most other colors can be custom ordered.
Does it come with automatic transmission?
Automatic transmissions are not offered at this time.
Can I install air-conditioning?
Air-conditioning could be installed but is not provided by WaterCar.
Do you ship outside USA?
All sales are FOB Irvine California. We are in the process of establishing International Distributors, see Partners, through whom you will be able to purchase for delivery outside the USA.
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