ATVs and PWCs, when you think about it, are pretty damn similar. Both are extensions of the adrenalized philosophy that makes a motorcycle or scooter so enjoyable. The operator straddles a pulsating engine and becomes close to one with the machine. So what happens when someone out there had the same thought—quads and jet skis are kindred spirits—and combined the two?That experiment is the Gibbs Quadski, an amphibious ATV jet ski.
Enter the Gibbs Quadski. Gibbs’ specialty is vehicles that excel on both land and sea; their Aquada still holds the record for the fastest crossing of the English Channel by an amphibious car. They’re also responsible for the Humdinga, a truck that can use its aquatic abilities to reach remote areas in need of assistance. Production of the Quadski began in late 2012.
This all-terrain-and-then-some machine is a bit of an international potpourri. The Gibbs enterprise is the brainchild of a man from New Zealand, but the Quadski was built in the Detroit area. As for the motor, that’s German—a 1300cc unit from a BMW motorbike (Beamer for the IYKYK crowd). Sure, the Quadski looks bulkier than a more conventional ATV, but it’ll still gallop at up to 45 miles an hour with its wheels down. Once in the water, it’s a seamless transition into a craft that can hold its own with any jet ski.Few machines blur the line between quad and watercraft like the Gibbs Quadski.
There’s no better illustration of the Quadski’s prowess than a 2014 episode of Top Gear—the second of season 21. Jeremy Clarkson challenges Richard Hammond (in a sporty Alfa Romeo 4C) to a race versus his Quadski. The route? Right down Italy’s beguiling Lake Como. Of course, both start on land, and Clarkson acts as if he’s made a tragic mistake once the Quadski rolls off a beach. Ah, but once the wheels retract…game on.
The Alfa 4C does have a more exotic look than the dumpy Quadski at first. It’s only on the lake that the Gibbs curiosity adopts a purpose-built flair. You get the sense while watching that this is where the ATVPWC truly shines, not least because the full 140 horsepower is unleashed. (The Quadski’s power is restricted in ATV mode.) 140 horses is a lot of grunt, but the Quadski is portly compared to the jet skis you’ll see tourists commandeering, weighing in at over 1,300 lbs. Oh, and Gibbs also produced the Quadski XL, even larger and able to comfortably fit two riders. The XL tips the scale at nearly 1,450 lbs.
Sadly, Gibbs has discontinued Quadski production, with approximately 1,000 made during its four-year run. It’s doubtful that these machines would have been snapped up en masse by resorts and private owners had production continued. When new, they were more than a little pricey. As stated in the Top Gear film, they retailed for £26,000, which, at the time, equated to over $40,000.
For that money, Clarkson pointed out, you get a lot of warning stickers. He had some juvenile giggles while reading one to the studio audience: “Normal swimwear does not adequately protect against forceful water entry into rectum or vagina.” Yeah, yeah, not the classiest sequence, I know, and you might find a similar disclaimer on a WaveRunner. Then again, it’s a car show, and this is the only PWC Top Gear has tested to date. Does it have the wide appeal of a classic jet ski? Perhaps it doesn’t. But (in this author’s eyes) it’s cooler.
As the race reaches its conclusion, Clarkson emphasizes his desire to beat Hammond, but admits conflicted feelings: It’s wrong, he says, to win the day over an Alfa Romeo, the vessels for vehicular passion that they are. The 4C pulls up to the hotel, and there’s no sight of the Quadski. It seems the car has won. And yet, we see Clarkson stashing the Quadski inside a sheltered dock before the Alfa’s arrival. This four-wheeler with a split personality, this PWC with an identity crisis, has claimed victory.