Super Boats
Thursday, February 7, 2008 by PPV
Funneling Foam: M Ship M40 Sportfisher
What’s missing from the hulls makes the boats of M Ship of San Diego unique. Twin channels above the waterline mix air (in orange) with water displaced by the hull to create a foam (dark blue) that lessens resistance to the hull, reducing drag and increasing speed and mileage. The aerated water also stabilizes the boat during turns and narrows the craft’s wake. M Ship has implemented the concept in 8-ft.-long sailing dinghies, Venetian vaporetto ferries and even an 80-ft.-long stealth ship for the U.S. military. Latest to hit the market: the M40 Sportfisher, a 40-ft., $750,000 offshore-fishing boat. Cruising at 30 knots, the vessel can go 350 miles on a 300-gal. tank of fuel.
Shape Shifter: Proteus
It looks like a giant water-strider bug, and for good reason: The 100-ft.-long Proteus, launched in 2006 at a cost of $1.5 million, operates on a similar principle, gliding over the surface instead of pushing through it.
Over and Under: Seabreacher
Imagine a Jet Ski that can roll 360 degrees, plunge underwater and then leap nearly clear of the surface. That’s the idea behind the Innespace Seabreacher, a two-seat, 175-hp watertight speedster that’s capable of 35 knots on the surface and 17 knots below. “Certainly it’s the fastest submersible craft out there,” says Innespace co-founder Rob Innes.
The Hoverwing
$85,000 UH-18SPW Hoverwing, is obviously no ordinary watercraft. It’s not even a boat exactly. At low speeds it’s a hovercraft, skimming along like an air-hockey puck. But above a critical velocity of about 55 mph, its stubby wings generate enough lift to hoist it a few feet into the air.
Sailing on Stilts: Bladerider X8
Sailors need a rudder and centerboard to maneuver their vessels. But why does the rest of the boat have to be in the water? The T-shaped foils of the Australian-designed Bladerider X8 lift the boat several feet above the surface at about 6 to 10 knots, enabling it to reach downwind speeds of more than 25 knots by reducing wave resistance.
More here with video, also here.
