GIBBS QUADSKI: Awesome Amphibian ATV

Since the dawn of engine-powered machines, inventors have done their best to create the ultimate amphibious vehicle. Each decade since has brought big surprises with the developments of these machines, and the engineers at Gibbs have landed themselves a stable spot in the industry. They created the Quadski, a 1300cc jet ski that turns into an ATV with a push of a button.

POWER OF DESIGN
The Quadski is considered a high-speed amphibian. With its powerful, water-cooled, in-line, four-stroke, BMW Motorrad powerplant and transmission, you can utilize its 140 horsepower while on the water. On land, the computer automatically reduces the horsepower down to 40 to power the rear-wheel-drive machine. With a top speed of 45 mph, the push-button, manual-shifting machine has a decent amount of torque on land, but a form of GPS halts the vehicle from going any faster than the programmed top speed of 45 mph. The Quadski has a strong bottom-end push when you pull in the lever throttle. The power continues to pull strongly through the rest of the power range as well.

LAND HANDLING
Driving the Quadski out of water is an interesting sensation for the ATV rider. The amphibian is far longer and heavier than most any unmodified quad. The independent coil-spring suspension is smooth for the 1300-pound machine, but the best use of the Quadski on land is flatter terrain. Ground clearance from the bottom of the hull is only 8.6 inches off the ground. You cannot expect to be able to take it rock crawling or riding through deep mud holes. It simply isn’t designed to handle rougher trails with only rear-wheel-drive capabilities. The tires are a bit small for the amphibian at 25x8x12 inches front and rear.

The transmission in the Quadski is unique. You can manually change gears, without a clutch, up and down, but when you utilize the single brake lever, the transmission shifts down gears automatically so you will be in the right power range again when you pull in the lever-operated throttle. While shifting gears with the push-button changer is easy, the steering is tight and takes a bit more strength to turn the bars than most ATVs. The four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes do a decent job at stopping the heavy amphibian, but once in the water, they have no purpose.

WATER OPERATION
The Gibbs Quadski is mainly a jet ski in our opinion. It handles the best on water. Once you pilot this machine from land into the water, you can retract the wheels within 5 seconds. Once the water sensor located in the rear of the Quadski senses that it is submerged far enough, then you can fold the wheels up and rip through smooth and rough waters easily. The machine handles well in turns and has a lot of torque in the water with a specially designed propeller system. It comes with reverse as well, but it’s mainly used to reverse in a circular direction than straight back.

The Quadski also comes in an XL model with 140.2 inches of length, which has room for a passenger to ride with you. A two-seater Polaris Sportsman Touring 1000 weighs in at 886 pounds, which is 400 pounds lighter than the Quadski. It also has 4×4 capabilities, which we feel the amphibian could greatly benefit by. The dimensions are also smaller on the Sportsman at 86.5 inches long by 47.6 inches wide by 58.25 inches tall, while the Quadski is 128.3 inches long by 62.5 inches wide by 53.5 inches tall. When tight or rough terrain is involved, a big 4×4 ATV is a better option, but it does not have the ability to cross deep bodies of water.

When it comes to search-and-rescue operations having the ability to carry a passenger or pull gear behind, the Quadski is very beneficial. The amphibian abilities assist with getting into territory that a quad or a jet ski can’t get to alone. If someone is trapped between the search-and-rescue team and multiple bodies of water, the Quadski can drive across land and then through each body of water until the destination is reached. Lifeguards can pilot the Quadski right off the beach into the water, saving precious time to reach people in trouble.

CONCLUSION
At a hefty price tag of $40,000–$47,000, one could purchase a used truck, standard three-seater jet ski and an ATV that are designed for each use specifically. While the Quadski is one of the best amphibian vehicles out there, the average consumer may not feel the price tag is worth it.

The Quadski may keep the consumer in mind, but we feel it’s mainly designed as a machine for the military, police, lifeguards and search-and-rescue operations. The ability to drive the Gibbs Quadski from land into water is very beneficial to protecting and saving lives. For more information, go to www.gibbssports.com or call (877) 230-0888.

GIBBS QUADSKI XL
Engine……1293cc, 4-stroke, 4-cylinder
Transmission……5-speed push-button
shift w/ reverseand auto clutch
Bore x stroke……………….80.0 x 63.3mm
Fuel system…………………………………..EFI
Starting system……………………..Electric
Suspension:
Front………….Independent coil spring
Rear………….Independent coil spring
Tires:
Front…………………………………….25×8-12
Rear…………………………………….25×8-12
Brakes:
Front…………………………Hydraulic disc
Rear…………………………Hydraulic disc
Wheelbase…………………………………82.3”
Length/width/height.140.2”/62.5”/53.0”
Ground clearance……………………….8.6”
Curb weight…………………………1,437 lb.
Colors.Blue, red, yellow, silver, camo
Price……………………………………….$47,650