On the Water
Yamaha builds a giant fishtank on wheels
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January 24, 2008 Intent on driving the marine market size and retaining its share, Yamaha Australia has created two of these massive, 15 metre long, three metres tall, and 2.5 metres wide fishtanks on wheels to tour dealerships and boat shows. Part portable fishing show, part mobile fish tank and part educational program, the 13,000 litre Yamaha SupaTanks are designed to give the public a fish-eye-view on the world of angling. Read More
Maiden voyage for SkySails towing kite system
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January 23, 2008 Hamburg-based SkySails has announced the first test of its towing kite propulsion system during regular shipping operations. The 132m long Multi Purpose Heavy Lift Carrier MS "Beluga SkySails" will set sail from Bremen to Venezuela this week equipped with 160m2 SkySails supporting the main engine with around five tons tractive force at low wind. Read More
Yamaha’s 1800cc Supercharged Super High Output PWCs
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As we mentioned a few weeks back, the Personal Watercraft market is currently in the grips of a horsepower war which was started last year when Kawasaki introduced a turbocharged, 1500cc, 250 horsepower PWC that’ll run 68 mph (60 knots) on water. Not surprisingly, all the other manufacturers have responded in kind, with Yamaha creating an all-new purpose-built craft of astounding technological prowess. The power plant for the new top-of-the-range SHO (Super High Output) WaveRunner models is a compact 1812cc, fuel-injected, supercharged, intercooled, four-cylinder engine. Perhaps even more importantly, the entire hull uses Nanotechnology to achieve a hull 25% lighter than the previous model, yet even stronger. Check out how the new SHO compares here. Read More
The 400 horsepower PWC cometh
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UPDATED IMAGE LIBRARY - The Personal Watercraft (PWC) market is in the grip of a horsepower “arms race” with a rash of new machinery announcements including a 342 bhp 2.2 litre V6-engined PWC from Austrian company HSR-Benelli and a 308 bhp 2.2 litre V8-engined PWC from the famous Italian MV Agusta motorcycle company. It all appears to have been catalyzed late last year when Kawasaki announced its 250 bhp Ultra 250X into a market where Seadoo’s 215 bhp RXP was previously the fastest of the bunch. Subsequently, SeaDoo has announced 255 bhp RXP-X and RXT-X models, Honda has announced a turbocharged 1500cc Aquatrax and Yamaha has announced a new lightweight purpose-built, turbocharged and intercooled 1812cc Super High Output (SHO) motor in its 2008 range. Given the radical upsurge in power outputs, one wonders what might be available a year or two from now. Read on … Read More
Aqua-car: Rinspeed preview sQuba diving concept vehicle
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Never shy of venturing into unchartered territory, Swiss automotive design company Rinspeed’s latest Concept takes the aquatic theme showcased in its 2004 Splash Amphibious Hydrofoil Sportscar to the next level with its latest creation - the sQuba diving Concept Car. Thirty years after the release of the film The Spy Who Loved Me, where James Bond took to the deep in a subaquatic Lotus Espirit, Rinspeed aim to turn the famous cinematic sequence into reality with an amphibious, zero-emission Concept designed to dive to depths of up to 33 feet (10 meters) using two propellers in the stern and two jet drives in the bow. Read More
Sealegs breaks amphibious on-water record
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December 7, 2007 Earlier this week we reported on a planned record attempt by Sealegs to become the fastest amphibious vehicle in the World on water - a goal which the company achieved earlier today at speeds of more than 100kmh (62mph). Read More
Sealegs amphibious vehicle sets sights on speed record
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December 5, 2007 Sealegs International is gearing up for a world record attempt as the fastest amphibious vehicle over 500m on-water. Read More
Nahema to commence construction of H2X’s luxury 120 and 150-foot catamaran range
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November 1, 2007 “Luxury means space,” says Franck Darnet, the interior designer behind the Nahema series of catamarans – and if you agree with him, one of these well-appointed customs might be right up your alley. Using a catamaran design lets you more than triple the interior and deck space of the vessel compared to the same length monohull yacht – making this new series from H2X an ideal party boat for entertaining while also making for a fast and stable craft on the water. Read More
Hawley F140 “supercar of yachts” seeks investors
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October 23, 2007 If you liked the sleek speedster looks of the Hawley F140 concept yacht we wrote about in September – and it seems a lot of people did – you’ll be interested to know that our feature on the stylish yacht design helped put Hawley in touch with a top-rate marine construction crew, and the rights to build the stunning boat are currently up for auction. Read More
Cayago Magnum: turning Navy Seals into dolphins?
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October 10, 2007 The Seabob electric underwater propulsion device captured our imagination earlier in the year, acting like a 20kmh powered bodyboard and allowing users to dart along coral reefs and the ocean floor like they were born with fins. We’ve since discovered that the company has now produced a souped up version called the Cayago Magnum with 2½ times the available power or endurance. With the existing Seabob models already setting a pretty thrilling pace for leisure use, the high performance Magnum will be pitched as a military and special forces tool that will enable operatives to move exceptionally quickly from point to point, underwater and in total silence. Read More
Headland’s innovative retractable helipads for yachts
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Increasingly, yacht buyers are demanding the ability to land a helicopter on deck – but not all yachts have sufficient clear deck space free for a designated helipad. France’s Headland Consulting are solving this issue Transformers-style with a range of very clever retractable landing pads that deploy mechanically to suit a wide range of different yacht and helicopter sizes. Read More
The CQ-2 twin seater personal submarine
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The 2-seater personal submarine was recently debuted by C-Quester at Monte Carlo after the success of their earlier single-seater. Fully electric, the CQ-2 keeps cabin pressure at one atmosphere, meaning you can travel up and down with no decompression issues. A charge will last you 2 1/2 hours underwater, and there’s a bunch of safety systems including enough air for 36 hours in the case of an emergency. A four-seater model is expected soon. Read More
Speedsailing records tumble at Walvis Bay
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September 21, 2007 Speedsailing competitors from all over the world flocked to Walvis Bay in Namibia recently where a combination of high winds and smooth seas saw several records tumble. The fastest run of the week was by Italian Patrick Diethelm, who completed the 500m pass at a blazing average of 43.02 knots – a ground speed of just under 80kmh and a new Italian men’s record. Read More
Convertible flippers eliminate duck waddle
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September 20, 2007 We’ve written before about high-tech swim fins designed to be as efficient as possible in the water – but the problem remains that they’re very awkward and restrictive on land. That’s why we can instantly see the value of these convertible fins from Omega Aquatics that fold up out of the way to allow full mobility out of the water and click down with your first kick once you’re in the water. Read More
XSR48: 1600hp supercar-inspired luxury powerboat
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September 19, 2007 It’s easy to see why it’s been labelled the ‘Bugatti Veyron’ of the sea – the stunning XSR48 is a luxury £1.2m powerboat that takes inspiration for both its performance and styling from the World’s finest supercars. Deriving 1600hp from its two bi-turbo 11.3L diesel engines, the 48ft XSR48 promises extraordinary handling and mid-range acceleration in achieving speeds of 75 knots. And the comparisons don’t end there – high-end supercar DNA is evident from the Kevlar and carbon-fibre hull/deck structure based on an F1 style monocoque right through to the cockpit and dashboard. The first production model is set to be unveiled today at the Monaco Yacht Show and Gizmag will be on the scene to bring you updates and further images – stay tuned. Read More
The Mangusta 165 - World's largest Open yacht
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September 19, 2007 One of the many first views at the first boat show of the European season, the Salon Nautique in Cannes, was the Mangusta 165’ (50 meters), the largest Open yacht in the world. Towering over just about everything in the resplendent harbour, and with invites aboard restricted to Greek Shipping magnates and the like, the EUR 20 million yacht is the new record holder for size in the open class. Besting the existing record held by with its Mangusta 130, the largest open super yacht is destined to remain in the near vicinity as the European home of Australian entrepreneur Jamie Packer, son of the Late Kerry and Grandson of Sir Frank, who has moved the family business out of publishing and into casinos and hence has a lot of business to do in Europe. Combining the recurrence and cost-effectiveness of a Semi-Custom, the Rodriguez Group hopes to deliver two Mangusta 165s a year from 2009. Read More
Unmanned jet-skis to take on harbour patrol missions
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September 17, 2007 UK-based defense contractor QinetiQ is preparing to demonstrate the Sentry – an unmanned watercraft the size of a jet-ski that’s set up to perform remote-controlled patrol, reconnaissance and damage assessment missions. Its six hour mission endurance and control range of up to 16 nautical miles will make this stealthy vehicle a very practical security tool. Read More
Hydraulically tilting keel the focus of new race yacht concept
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September 11, 2007 High speed and sleek style are the two main goals of this concept yacht from designer
Andrew Hawley. The Hawley F140 looks like a stingray with sails, its downward-sloping bow a clear sign this yacht’s for flat-water speed not wave-punching – but the key innovation is its 30-degree canting keel with a gimbaled bulb, providing turning stability at high lean angles. Read More
ClearPoint predictive weather service
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September 11, 2007 A new offering from ClearPoint provides boat owners, sailing clubs, marinas and weather-watchers with a comprehensive high-resolution weather information service. Available via the Internet, ClearPoint Premium Edition tracks marine craft as they sail to show prevailing weather conditions at any location. Read More
FishGillz floating sunglasses
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September 10, 2007 It’s a sinking feeling – literally. You’re busy pulling in the first catch of the day and your sunglasses get caught up in the action, hit the water and sink serenely to a watery grave - never to be seen again. This invention gives a far better chance of retrieval - specialty sunglasses that are designed to float. Read More
Electric inflatable watercraft - the Jetski for beginners
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August 21, 2007 Inflatable watercraft are now available for dozens of different recreational purposes, from basic loungers through to purpose-built inflatables that come in every imaginable size and shape. A new product from Icontech, the Electric Inflatable Watercraft, is a battery powered, sit-down jetski-like product, that has a maximum speed of 10kmh and is an affordable alternative for the beginner or novice water enthusiast. Read More
Largest ever Wally mega yacht sold
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August 9, 2007 The Wally 50m is the first mega yacht of this size completely built with advanced composites, and after the sale of the Wally 101 last April and the Wally 100.3 two weeks ago, the Wally 50m yacht (the largest Wally so far) has already been signed. A blue-water sloop combining all the comforts and amenities of a mega yacht with the Wally performance and ease of handling, the Wally 50m will feature PBO rigging and a lifting keel, increasing the draft to 6 m when sailing, from 4.2 meter when motoring, anchoring and entering ports. Read More
The 25mph Surfango PowerKayak
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August 2, 2008 Unless you happen to be shooting a raging white-water rapid the prospect of reaching speeds anywhere near 25mph is not something normally associated with kayaking – but swap paddle power for a 9.5hp engine and the whole game changes. We’ve covered a menagerie of fun watersports machines recently, from the amphibious Quadski to the Aquajet Jetbike, all aimed at injecting a serious dose of thrills into aquatic activities and the latest to catch our attention - Surfango’s PowerKayak - is no exception. The PowerKayak mates the body of a kayak with a fun little 4-stroke engine to deliver a 25mph top speed and the ability to explore lakes and rivers with no regard for what the wind and current are doing. Read More
Supercharger performance kit pulls 300+ horsepower from Kawasaki jet ski
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July 31, 2007 Any jet-ski boasting a stroked-out, 1500cc motor straight from the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R should be treated with extreme caution – but since the 250-horsepower Jet Ski Ultra 250X was released, owners of the STX-15F have been feeling a little left behind. Not to worry – nothing succeeds like excess in the petrol head world - and the aftermarket has stepped in with a bolt-on supercharger capable of turning the STX-15F into a 330-horsepower aquatic widow-maker that can launch you and a horrified passenger to 60mph nearly as fast as a road-going superbike, leaving your 250X-riding buddies gasping in your wake. Read More
Sealegs 7.1m amphibious boat commences production
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July 19, 2007 Sealegs new 7.1 metre amphibious boat is about to commence volume production following successful sea trials. The NZ$98,000 (US$77,600) 7.1m Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) is the third and largest model released by the amphibious boat manufacturer and is expected to attract a lot of interest from tourism and water transportation operators. Its obvious strength is the additional space, which enables eight adults to be comfortably seated within its 700kg payload. It has a top land speed of 10 kph and with an 115hp motor can do up to 78 kph on water. Read More
Seakeeper Gyro: stability on the high-seas
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July 13, 2007 The experience of cruising the ocean waves is a joy for some, but as anyone who suffers from sea sickness can attest, it can also be completely unbearable. Boats pitch, roll and yaw much like aircraft and to counter the disorientation this causes to our bodies gyroscopic stability systems and trim tabs have been developed to combat the rolling seas. Seakeeper is one company addressing this issue through the research and development of stability devices for small boats under 100 feet that include products for both low and high speeds. The company has developed different systems depending on the size of their craft and how it is used. The first is a gyroscopic stability system designed to combat what’s considered the worst part of the boating experience - low speed boat roll - and the second is a stability system that makes use of sensor-adjusted small control surfaces (like a more advanced form of the traditional trim tabs) that adjusts the motion of a boat moving at speed and improves comfort, handling, and safety. Read More
Sealegs amphibious boats extend range with rugged new D-tube model
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July 12, 2007 Since the last time we caught up with the Kiwis behind Sealegs, the amphibious boat that can drive itself straight down into the water, worldwide sales have taken off. The eye-catching vehicle is a fully functional boat that drops "landing gear" much like a small plane to drive out of the water and overland at up to 6mph (10kph). Sealegs showcased their latest model in Australia recently at the Melbourne Boat Show - a 6.1 metre aluminium D-tube version that's essentially a ruggedized rigid inflatable - a bit heavier and around AUD$10K (US$8,600) more expensive than its predecessor, but it's a complete turnkey amphibious solution with extra armor for avid adventurers. A drive on trailer is now also available that adds high speed land transport to the equation. Read More
Floating Dry Dock provides protection on the water
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July 12, 2007 Boat owners who keep their boats moored know all too well what a hassle it can be to regularly remove accumulated plants, algae and sea-creatures from their hulls - a process known as antifouling. The conventional approach is to periodically use expensive and time consuming boat lifts and dry storage to clean the hull, but an alternative is available that achieves the same objective without removing the boat from the water. Known as the Floating Dry Dock, this solution uses an inflatable protective skin to keep the boat dry while moored, providing a fast, cost-effective, drive-in/drive-out way to by-pass the need for antifouling. Read More
Hobie Sailyak trimaran offers unique sail/pedal combination
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July 9, 2007 Hobie is a name that’s been associated with innovation in aquatic sports since Hobie Alter started creating boards for the fledgling sport of surfing in his father's garage more than half a century ago - and this latest creation is no exception. A true “best of both worlds” invention, this unique cross between a pedal powered kayak and a trimaran adds an entirely new dimension to sailing. The Hobie Mirage Adventure Island is a 16-foot, single-person “Sail/yak” that combines the Hobie MirageDrive pedal-propulsion system with a 5.38 square meter sail and two amas (outriggers) that provide stability on the water and fold back into the hull for docking and beaching. Read More
Alinghi wins the 32nd America's Cup
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July 3, 2007 Alinghi finally won the 32nd America's Cup Match 5-2 this afternoon, winning its fourth consecutive race in dramatic fashion. The final race of the America's Cup was befitting of what has been the closest, most exciting America's Cup since the Cup was won by Australia II in1983, ending the longest winning streak in the history of sport 131 years. The skipper of Australia II, John Bertrand, was quoted at the time as saying, “this puts yacht racing back on the map!” His words were prophetic indeed, as the Cup is now the most expensive and technology infused peacetime contest other than Formula One. Emirates Team New Zealand spent much of the race ahead on the advantage line, but with Alinghi in strong tactical position on the right hand side of the race course. The Kiwis were never able to get a big enough lead to cross ahead and switch sides, finally crossing the line just one second behind Alinghi. Read More
High-tech sails to benefit commercial shipping
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July 5, 2007 UPDATED IMAGES For four hundred years majestic tall ships ruled the world’s oceans carrying cargo and migrants to far corners of the globe, but the advent of steam power in the late 19th century brought the golden age of sail to an end and rendered wind-powered vessels obsolete – but did it? Recent projects in both Europe and the U.S are seeking to breathe new life into this “old technology” and once again give sail-power a viable role in commercial shipping. The new era of sail-power wont see the return of square rigged barques or clipper ships, but rather the introduction of high-tech kite sails that generate greater propulsion power than conventional sails. These can be used to supplement the propulsion systems of all kinds of cargo vessels and in the process generate economic benefit, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and deliver emission reductions in a sector that has become one of the world’s biggest polluters. Read More
Alinghi moves within one race of America's Cup win
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June 30, 2007 Swiss boat Alinghi came from behind for the second consecutive day to beat Emirates Team New Zealand this afternoon, effectively snuffing out the challenge for the cup. The Swiss have won the last three races to grab a 4-2 lead in the best-of-nine series and the oh-so-close NZ team now needs to win the next three races to win the America's Cup. One more win for the Swiss will see Alinghi hoist the America's Cup again, its first defence a success. Alinghi led early in the race, but halfway up the first beat, Team NZ was able to squeeze up and force Alinghi to tack. When the boats next converged, it was NZL 92 which had gained on the left to lead around the first mark. The Kiwis held on for the run, but on the second upwind leg it was Alinghi's turn to find the shift, making a gain on the right side of the race course. The Kiwis tried to fend them off with lee bow tacks, but couldn't make the third one stick, and Alinghi grabbed a lead it would never relinquish, effectively ensuring the America’s Cup will remain in Europe. Read More
America’s Cup Race 5 of 9 - Advantage Alinghi
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June 29, 2007 Alinghi beat Emirates Team New Zealand on Friday afternoon in perfect 15 knot sea breeze conditions to take a 3-2 lead in the 32nd America’s Cup Match. It wasn’t a straightforward win. The Swiss trailed over the starting line and around the first top mark as Emirates Team New Zealand showed aggression in the pre-start, forcing the SUI 100 helmsman Ed Baird to attempt to shake them off by using the spectator fleet. The Kiwis converted the small advantage off the starting line into a 12 second lead around the first mark. Then a single moment could well have turned the tide as a burst spinnaker on NZL 92 (pictured) and a poor recovery by the crew, saw Alinghi slide past and grab a lead it would never relinquish, eventually finishing 19 seconds ahead of the Emirates squad. Race Six is scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Read More
Alinghi wins Race Four to tie the America's Cup Match 2-2
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June 27, 2007 America's Cup defender Alinghi beat Emirates Team New Zealand to square the match at two wins apiece here today in Valencia. The Swiss team led the entire race, on another day of tricky, shifty conditions, with the light 8 to 10 knot wind blowing out of the East. SUI 100 helmsman Ed Baird won the right hand side of the starting line and Alinghi was in a powerful position for the rest of the race. The scoreline reads 2-2 with Thursday a scheduled 'off' day, and racing set to resume on Friday. Read More
America's Cup Race 3 – another Emirates Team NZ victory
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June 26, 2007 Emirates Team New Zealand won its second consecutive race in the 32nd America's Cup Match here today, beating Alinghi by 25 seconds in a thrilling race that will go down in the books as one of the most exciting matches in Cup history. With difficult weather conditions which saw massive windshifts over much of the race course area, the Team NZ built a massive lead early, only to see it disappear during the middle portion of the race. The final run to the finish in a dying breeze gave them a second chance, and this time skipper Dean Barker and his afterguard were up to the task, finding more wind on the right side of the race course and streaking past Alinghi for the win just metres from the finishing line.
