have you seen this strange craft?

[delmarrey]

If it's in Anacortes, WA it may have something to do with the petrolium processing plants just south of the marina. Maybe for moving tanks around?????

[mudnut]

All ya see in the cabin thingie is fancy chairs."Think outside the box"It's a rich arse dentist's surgery with a view.But those lashings are interesting.Mudnut.

Looks like the cat is out of the bag (or will be this month).

See Sailing Anarchy Home Page



"The revolutionary new class of Ocean Going Vessels introduced by Marine Advanced Research, Inc. is about to make it's debut in San Francisco later this month. SA will be there."

[Pura Vida]

Some interesting information from the patent application for this craft:
The hulls are flexibly mounted, allowing the shape of the hulls to change.

Uses
Fast rescue and patrol
Manned and unmanned military applications where a small radar signature is needed.
Pleasure craft
ROV launch and management

[henkmeuzelaar]

http://terrawatch.net/UUdiskusImages/LastTepuke.jpeg

Hard to believe how far "they" are willing to go to to keep these top secret projects from prying eyes!

Have fun

Flying Dutchman

[Lodesman]

It's a "Wave Adaptive Modular Vessel", whatever that is. According to the article: "The craft rides on metal and fabric pontoons that have hinges and shock absorbers to flex with the motion of the waves, which helps it to skim over the water at a maximum speed of 30 knots (34.5 mph)."
See here: CANOE -- CNEWS - Science: Vessel suited for ocean exploration, military missions

[delmarrey]

I told you is was a water spider

I designed something like that back in the 70's but it got laughs so I just dropped it.

[rossir]

It just came into New York Harbor.

[cooper]

gee a lot of effort for 30 knots.....the French sailing hydrofoil goes faster than that !!

[Prflyer1]

I can see the all the Cat people grinning....

[David M]

I have seen it. It came out of Richmond in the San Francisco Bay Area in the Fall of 2006. There was a lot of speculation here as to what it was before it arrived up in the Seattle Area. The craft is owned by an individual and not the military. It is powered by a couple Cummins B series diesels which does not make it a super fast craft. One of the pictures shows some drive units from an obviously very fast craft....these drive units are not from this craft.

There is a writeup about the boat in Latitude 38 if anyone wants to research it.

[maxingout]

It looks to me like the first catamaran that has ever been built that does not have a problem with bridge deck slamming.

[Tropic Cat]

Yeah...but the windage.......

[scotte]

We saw that in Richmond, CA last fall! In fact the picture delmarrey posted of it is exactly where we saw it. We couldn't figure out what it was either, but man the thing is just huge.

Here's the original Latitude 38 page on it: October 6, 2006
And the follow up: January 19, 2007

I like the answer that the craft is "whatever you want it to be".

And finally, the craft's official website: WAM-V: Marine Advanced Research, Inc.

Fun stuff!

[werawesum]

I read that it was built by a private party, the name I can't remember, for hauling payloads for pay. Its said to have a range of 2500 nm. Top speed was like 40 or 50 knots. The hulls supposedly adjust to the waves to keep the passenger area level.