The waterproof Tesla Cybertruck is able to cross calm waters
Ahoy, matey — Captain Elon Musk just recently announced on Twitter that the upcoming waterproof Tesla Cybertruck will be “waterproof enough” to serve as a boat so that it can cross rivers, lakes, and less choppy waters. The timing here might be a coincidence, as Musk’s tweet comes just about one week into the formation of Hurricane Ian.
In a follow up, Musk also stated the following in regards to the waterproof Tesla Cybertruck: “Needs be able to get from Starbase to South Padre Island, which requires crossing the channel.”
To clear that up, Musk’s goal for the Cybertruck is for it to cross the water between SpaceX’s Starbase and South Padre Island in Texas. That said, the distance between those two points is roughly 6.5 miles, which lies in the Brazos Santiago Pass and divides the island from where Starbase is located.
Depending on the conditions, the Cybertruck may travel between 5 and 10 knots. This amounts to 51 minutes to complete the 6.5-mile trip. For reference, average boat speeds with small propellers can sail between 10 and 15 knots.
Shockingly, this isn’t the first instance where Musk has hinted at the boat-like capabilities of the Tesla lineup. A couple years back, the Tesla CEO said the Model S could almost be utilized as a boat as it was seen driving through a flood, although Musk did state it was not recommended. Then according to a specific claim made in 2020, Musk states that people could turn the waterproof Tesla Cybertruck into a boat.
It’s not just Tesla who’s attempting to convert the Cybertruck into a boat either. One of the EV’s reservation holders presented a suggestion for an aftermarket component earlier this year that might be used to transform the pickup into a steerable catamaran. The attachment can be conveniently stored in the vehicle’s trunk once you’ve exited the water.