Awesome boat?

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Proteus: Spider-Like Go-Fast Boat Zips Around the Bay in Dazzling Demo

We've been enamoured of boats named "Proteus" ever since that movie Fantastic Voyage decades ago. Now this Proteus is real, scooting around San Francisco Bay last week like some kind of water bug. The 100-foot catamaran was built by Silicon Valley big wigs, and has inflatable hulls that draft just a foot of water.

Powered by two 355hp diesel engines, it has a range of 5000 miles, and it qualifies as a go-fast boat with its top speed of 70mph. It's a smooth ride, too, where its cabin is suspended beneath titanium spring-loaded struts leading from hulls, absorbing the shock.

Proteus owners say the prototype cost less than $5 million to build, but much of the raw materials were donated. No word on retail price or when the boat might be available for the rest of us, although the Coast Guard was seen sniffing around the demo last Thursday.

– Charlie White
 
That is one of the dumbest looking things I have ever seen.

Where are the rod holders?
 
I wonder what happens when it hits debris and one of the pontoons pop!

With that kind of speed and that huge range it might have a shot being put into military usage.

Jonathan
 
Most think it is the shape of the future navy designed to battle China: fast, shallow draft, low target profile, trans Pacific range.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Robyns Nest

With that king of speed and that huge range it might have a shot being put into military usage.
Jonathan
Click to expand...

Whos do say the DOD doesn't have things like this now - or better [:-eyebrows]
 
Rather stealth-like. I bet it doesn't make a blip on a typical radar screen!
 
Are sure this is not a set of big windshield wipers for a much bigger boat? I looked at my wipers and they look just like these suspension and all.
John d
 
Up close it looks like it has alot of metal on it so it should Blip.
 
quote:
Originally posted by navman

Up close it looks like it has alot of metal on it so it should Blip.

Click to expand...


And I'd bet most of that metal could be replaced by carbon fiber in production.
 
I can hear it now..."Sir, since your pontoons are in two different slips...and they are 5 slips apart, you are responsible for those in between. However, we will let you sublet the middle ones if you like."
 
How do you get back up if you wanna swim? ...not to mention tubing!
 
If I see it out on the bay I'll take a look with the radar. It's too close at the launch ramp. There's another, smaller, much more spindly looking one around here someplace.
 
This is the only cabin area on the "whatcha ma call it"
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I wonder where they Pee
 
A quote from this news source - sfgate provides a brief description of the prototype that was tested:
quote:
The Proteus is 100 feet long, 50 feet between the outsides of the twin hulls, and is powered by two 355 horsepower Cummins marine diesels. It displaces 12 tons fully loaded. Fuel is stored in the flexible pontoons, and the vessel, Conti says, has a range of thousands of miles.

It can carry 2 tons of cargo, and can be operated by a crew of two.

The cabin, which sleeps four, can be lowered into the water -- "like a helicopter landing," Conti said -- and sail off on its own.

Click to expand...
 
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