Keith E. Sayre
11-17-2006, 02:25 PM
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/1106boat9.jpg http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/1106boat28.jpg http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/1106boat5.jpg http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/1106boat6.jpg http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/1106boat_1.jpg http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/1106boat10.jpg
These pictures were taken in the Port of Ilwaco on the Washington State coast. The crew wore civilian clothes but guarded the boat closely and would not answer any questions.
It was suggested it may be something Boeing is working on. The pontoons appear to be made of very thick rubber and may be fuel cells. Note that each of the steel spider-like legs are jointed in three places. Perhaps the boat can be lowered in calm seas and raised when it is rough.
The boat had no name or number...
A friend who lives there said it arrived out of the fog the night before. The crew would not say who they were or where they were from, and were not allowed to discuss the craft.
One man stayed on the float at all times... none wore uniforms.
Notice how the rear of the hull has a very small prop. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Looks to be surface drives like the ones used on Unlimited Hydoplane Boats.
Then on October 6, in San Francisco Bay...
Today's photo of the day is of Marina Bay 's newest tenant. A number of readers alerted us to the arrival of this unique craft on Tuesday, so we did some research - or at least tried to. Precious little is publicly available about this craft, but we were able to dig up a few facts: It was designed by prolific Bay Area yacht designer Jim Antrim from Ugo Conti's original concept; it's 100 feet long and 50 feet wide; it's powered by twin diesel engines; the inflatable hulls were built by Arcata's Wing Inflatable's; the craft was assembled in Anacortes, WA (where it was spotted several times during apparent sea trials); and it's capable of crossing oceans with "as much, if not more, stability than a normal catamaran according to Jim Antrim.
Looking a bit like the bridge of a spacecraft, the mystery vessel's cockpit hangs about 15 feet above the water.
As we were snapping this shot a fellow gawker noted, "It looks like a windshield wiper." In reality, it's one of four gigantic shock absorbers.
It's all very hush-hush, but a press conference is forthcoming in the next few weeks that will hopefully answer the most pressing question: "What's it for?" We'll let you know as soon as we find out.
These pictures were taken in the Port of Ilwaco on the Washington State coast. The crew wore civilian clothes but guarded the boat closely and would not answer any questions.
It was suggested it may be something Boeing is working on. The pontoons appear to be made of very thick rubber and may be fuel cells. Note that each of the steel spider-like legs are jointed in three places. Perhaps the boat can be lowered in calm seas and raised when it is rough.
The boat had no name or number...
A friend who lives there said it arrived out of the fog the night before. The crew would not say who they were or where they were from, and were not allowed to discuss the craft.
One man stayed on the float at all times... none wore uniforms.
Notice how the rear of the hull has a very small prop. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Looks to be surface drives like the ones used on Unlimited Hydoplane Boats.
Then on October 6, in San Francisco Bay...
Today's photo of the day is of Marina Bay 's newest tenant. A number of readers alerted us to the arrival of this unique craft on Tuesday, so we did some research - or at least tried to. Precious little is publicly available about this craft, but we were able to dig up a few facts: It was designed by prolific Bay Area yacht designer Jim Antrim from Ugo Conti's original concept; it's 100 feet long and 50 feet wide; it's powered by twin diesel engines; the inflatable hulls were built by Arcata's Wing Inflatable's; the craft was assembled in Anacortes, WA (where it was spotted several times during apparent sea trials); and it's capable of crossing oceans with "as much, if not more, stability than a normal catamaran according to Jim Antrim.
Looking a bit like the bridge of a spacecraft, the mystery vessel's cockpit hangs about 15 feet above the water.
As we were snapping this shot a fellow gawker noted, "It looks like a windshield wiper." In reality, it's one of four gigantic shock absorbers.
It's all very hush-hush, but a press conference is forthcoming in the next few weeks that will hopefully answer the most pressing question: "What's it for?" We'll let you know as soon as we find out.