Marine

The world's first practical submarine was built in 1620 by Dutch engineer Cornelis Jacobszoon Drebbel, under the patronage of James 1 of England. Drebbel built three submarines according to the sketchy information available from that time, each larger than the last and the third being capable of carrying 16 people, of which 12 were the oarsmen. The oarsmen rowed one oar each, with the oars protruding from the side of the boat through waterproofed leather seals. Air was supplied by snorkel-like tubes that were held above the water's surface by floatation devices, enabling the submarine to be underwater for long periods. Accounts suggest the boat could travel from Westminster to Greewich and back under water, completing the return journey in three hours at a depth around 15 feet below the surface.  Read More

Surf's up anywhere with the ULI (Ultra Lite Inflatable) range of surf and bodyboards from the ULI Corp of San Diego. Created by Jim Weir, an avid surfer for over 50 years, the ULI (pronounced ooo-lee) solves key problems faced by professional and amateur surfers alike. Many hard flotation devices can be a hassle to transport and aren't allowed in swimming beaches for fear of injury. The ULI board is fully functional, lightweight, perfectly safe for all ages and, best of all - it simply deflates and rolls up into your backpack when the surfing is done!  Read More

An Australian defence scientist has created the design for a revolutionary sail craft, based on a wing-borne hydrofoil concept, which he believes will break the world sailing speed record. Appearing to gain its influence more from flight design rather than sailing the craft looks like a cross between an aeroplane and a sailing boat; imagine a catamaran with a beam and no trampoline and a much smaller second hull. Underneath this smaller second hull is a scythe-like hydrofoil and is the only part of the craft that doesn't lift out of the water.  Read More

If the Seven Wonders of the World was updated for the 21 st century, the Wartsila-Sulzer RTA96-C turbocharged two-stroke diesel engine could be a contender. If you are a student of the internal combustion engine in all its wonderous configurations, then feast your eyes on this set of numbers which outline the truly astounding engineering feat. It is the most powerful and most efficient engine in the world today.  Read More

Organisers of the Concept Boat competition recently revealed the 16 finalists that are a step closer to receiving the coveted crown of Concept Boat winner 2004. The shortlisted designs were displayed at the Southampton (UK) Boat Show from 10-19 September 2004. Concept Boat is the annual competition to design a boat of the future run by the British Marine Federation and supported by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects. This year, sponsored by the Environment Agency, judges challenged entrants from around the world to design a recreational or commercial craft that either makes increased use of renewable resources, are energy efficient or are of a low emission or non-polluting design.  Read More

Kiwi entrepreneur Alan Gibbs, the man behind the Aquada amphibious sports car, has unveiled an SUV/4WD amphibious vehicle concept designed specifically to access remote and hostile terrain. The 5-seater ‘Humdinga’ concept vehicle is a full-time 4WD powered by a 350 BHP V8 engine, capable of 160 kmh on land and on water at 65 kmh. Although the new application utilises the same patented HSA technological platform as the Gibbs Aquada, it shares no common component parts or systems with its predecessor. The Gibbs Humdinga can comfortably transport 5 people complete with luggage/supplies almost anywhere on the earth.  Read More

With vast numbers of people living in coastal areas and on waterways, it was only a matter of time before a car and a watercraft were combined. Four companies have tackled the challenge in four entirely different ways. The Gibbs Aquada is a high-speed amphibian, can top 160 kmh on land and 50 kmh on water, and takes six seconds to transform from sportscar to jetboat. Conceived for a waterside lifestyle such as Sydney, Cannes or Miami, the British-built Aquada is powered by a 175hp V6 engine with an auto transmission linked to the fully-enclosed jet propulsion system. Getting into the water is as simple as driving down a boatramp and pushing the button - the accelerator becomes the throttle and the jet propulsion takes over.  Read More

The need for cleaner marine engines is imperative - two stroke motors have powered the marine industry for the last 50 years because they produce more power than four-strokes, have a gruntier, more usable power spread and a better power-to-weight ratio, but they are obviously less environmentally friendly and can do enormous damage to the delicate eco-cultures they (by definition) give access to.  Read More

The Lockheed Martin-led Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) team has unveiled the latest version of its semi-planing monohull design - the ship is faster, more agile and more manoeuvrable than originally envisioned and maintains its advantages as a low-cost, low-risk design.  Read More