A MAKE reader sent in this interesting boat, it seems to be a bit of a mystery, anyone know more? Just…eD writes – “Here is a boat photographed by someone near Ilwaco, WA. The crew was dressed as civilians but would not say a word about the boat or where they were from.” – Link.
Update: That was fast, MAKE reader Waykohler points to this page that has all the details – Link.
18 thoughts on “Mysterious boat – Update: Solved”
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Its a concept.
http://www.latitude38.com/LectronicLat/2006/1006/Oct06/Oct6.html#anchor1085433
I’m not sure what that… that… “thing” is either, but judging by crazy shape of the pontoons, the height of the “gondola”, and the massive suspension system, I’d say it’s being tested for rough water handling.
There’s no better place to test a vessel for rough-water readiness than Washington. The USCG trains and tests their Motor Life Boat coxswains right there in Ilwaco, at the National Motor Lifeboat School at Cape Disappointment.
And let’s go ahead and nip the comspiracy theorists in the bud before they get going: No, this is certainly not some kind of classifed government thing. (Take off the tin foil hat, you look silly!) They wouldn’t be doing this during the day, in a civilian harbor, nor would they let you take pictures.
Bah, waykohler posts the while I’m hunting for the link for the NMLBS! Cool linkage, waykohler.
I’d say Paul Allen is taking up gigantic scale whitewater rafting, he IS Mr. Superyacht in the area after all.
A little bit more info found at the creator’s website:
http://www.antrimdesign.com/powerboats/
It looks like the description of the research boat in Dan Brown’s Deception Point.
Maybe Steve Fossett has something in the works?
There was a similar looking boat that worked up and down the Gulf of Mexico in Florida as a salvage vessel. It sat as evidence for several years at a dock near Cape Coral in the early 90’s after it was found to be a relay vessel for speedboats moving drugs from the islands to the Florida coast. I don’t know where it is today.
Some more info, and another photo at http://www.latitude38.com/LectronicLat/2007/0107/Jan19/Jan19.html#anchor446919
and the official site is at http://www.wam-v.com/