Post by: dolphin on December 10, 2006, 06:39:14 PM
?
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...
The crew would not say who they were or where they were from, and were not allowed to discuss the craft.
I checked SNOPES and could not find any info pro or con!
Post by: D76 on December 10, 2006, 07:17:13 PM
It looks like the drydock used in the TV Star Trek flop Enterprise.
Post by: RNKIII on December 10, 2006, 08:28:59 PM
Saw some larger closer up photos and the supports were fastened to the pontoons by very thick braided cables.
Don't know any more than that but it is an 'interesting' looking contraption??? Where does the 'rubber hit the road', so to speak?? What's the propulsion??
Bob K. rnkiii
Post by: D76 on December 10, 2006, 09:18:18 PM
QUOTE
It turns out that a California inventor named Ugo Conti holds a patent for such a vessel. Conti, who has nine other registered patents, owns a company called Marine Advanced Research, in El Cerrito, Calif. He could not be reached for comment, but Conti's wife, Isabella, acknowledged the craft was owned by Marine Advanced Research. She said everyone involved with the boat was operating under strict confidentiality agreements.
"We're planning a press conference in January, given that the boat is not yet finished," she said.
"We're planning a press conference in January, given that the boat is not yet finished," she said.
Post by: MamaMoose on December 11, 2006, 01:50:09 AM
It is also possible that D76 is rightand it is a new invention.
MamaMoose
Post by: dolphin on December 11, 2006, 06:06:59 AM
QUOTE(RNKIII @ Dec 10 2006, 09:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Seems strange that the 'bow' of the 'cabin' faces aft... If you consider the up-turned points of the pontoons to face forward???
Saw some larger closer up photos and the supports were fastened to the pontoons by very thick braided cables.
Don't know any more than that but it is an 'interesting' looking contraption??? Where does the 'rubber hit the road', so to speak?? What's the propulsion??
Bob K. rnkiii
Saw some larger closer up photos and the supports were fastened to the pontoons by very thick braided cables.
Don't know any more than that but it is an 'interesting' looking contraption??? Where does the 'rubber hit the road', so to speak?? What's the propulsion??
Bob K. rnkiii
Can't really see the prop, but it says each pontoon has one!
Post by: Jack W on December 11, 2006, 08:55:51 AM
Anyway, it's a neat contraption.
Post by: RNKIII on December 11, 2006, 10:04:44 AM
Oh, well.... like you say, neat machine..
Bob K. rnkiii
Post by: krissel on December 13, 2006, 09:58:51 AM
http://thrillingwonder.blogspot.com/2006/1...ars-out-of.html
http://www.lukeknipe.com/stories/strange_watercraft.asp]http://thrillingwonder.blogspot.com/2006/1..._watercraft.asp