On the Water
Alfa Romeo takes line honours in Europe
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The Australian/New Zealand built and crewed super maxi yacht, Alfa Romeo, has continued on from her win in the Sydney to Hobart earlier this year by taking line honours in four out of five races during the first major European regatta of the northern summer season. Read More
Deep Flight submarine
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Deep Flight is a radical new design approach to underwater vehicles that uses wings instead of a traditional ballast system to "fly" through the ocean depths. Read More
Floating apartment offers deep blue vista
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Sometimes architecture can create much more than a roof over your head and this five-level, floating dwelling for six people is a perfect example of how a living space can define a new kind of living. Read More
Exploring the ocean depths in the lap of luxury
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From two-man sport-subs to luxurious ocean-going monsters, the private submersible marketplace is opening up the World's last great bastion of exploration. Read More
SOLO Personal Ski Machine
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The SOLO Personal Ski Machine is electronically controlled by thumb-operated buttons on the tow handle enabling one person to become the skier, driver and the spotter. Read More
Steam propulsion set to make a comeback
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A new steam-based system that has applications in both pumping and marine propulsion is moving towards commercialisation. Known as PDX Technology, the system is cheap to manufacture, extremely robust, contains no moving parts and is virtually impossible to block. Read More
Alfa Romeo - the World's biggest, fastest Maxi Yacht
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September 16, 2002 Sporting identity Neville Crichton has set his sights firmly on line honours at this year's Rolex Sydney to Hobart having recently christened the most technologically advanced Super Maxi ever built: Alfa Romeo.The 90-foot long, 135-foot high super maxi is constructed almost entirely from carbon fibre and is odds-on favourite for a successful S2H campaign since clocking up a series of convincing wins and course records since its debut at Hamilton Island Race Week in August.
Owner/skipper Crichton spoke with Gizmo after Alpha Romeo completed her first overnight ocean race, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's 85 nautical mile race from Sydney to Bird Islet (south of Newcastle) and back. Crichton was understandably "very happy with the way the yacht performed", finishing outside the race record due to light winds but still 5 hours 41 minutes in front of her nearest rivals including 80-foot S2H challenger Brindabella. Read More
Trilobis 65 hybrid yacht offers a home under the sea
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Lying somewhere between a luxury houseboat and the Beatles' Yellow Submarine, the Trilobis 65 is a semi-submerged dwelling environment designed for habitation by six people at sea. Read More
Bamboo surfboard delivers cutting edge design
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A surfboard that relies on bamboo rather than plywood and fibreglass for its strength received the top Award in the ADA Products category for 2002. Bamboo Surfboards are hand shaped using non-toxic, eco-friendly materials to produce a board that is extremely light, flexible and more durable than conventional surfboards... Read More
Award winning surf-rescue vehicle
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Awarded 'Gold' at the Student Design Awards 2002, "Goldie" is a safe and inexpensive electric powered Surf Rescue Vehicle (SRV) concept designed to give life-saving organizations greater access to effective rescue equipment... Read More
Adding Jet Power to Surf Ski
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A high degree of engineering R&D lies behind the PowerSki Jetboard, a combination surfboard / JetSki incorporating a 25 x 43 x 16 cm high, two-stroke, water-cooled, 45hp engine and an axial flow jet pump... Read More
Wave blades offer Bodysurfing speed without compromise
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Designed to maximise speed in the water and improve your chances of getting on the wave without cramping your bodysurfing style, Wave Blades use a lightweight foam filled glove construction giving each finger control over the movement of the "board". Integrating the glove into the bodysurfing device also ensures that they can't come off as you paddle for a wave (or get dumped) and the foam padding acts to cushion the bumps as you slide down the face. Each pair of Wave Blades is hand-made in the US by Bob Davis, who first came up with the design in the summer of 1987 at Long Beach New York. Tired of being "left to eat alot of wakes" in the 8-10 ft waves, Davis was inspired to draw up plans for a body surfing aid that was easy to swim with, didn't get away from you and was able to hold a high line as well as delivering exceptional control and allowing you to "dolphin" into the wave. Read More
PowerDive
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PowerDive is a great example of Australian ingenuity that provides a viable alternative to expensive and maintenance intensive scuba diving systems... Read More
Waterwheeler Pedal Boats
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If you prefer soaking up the sun over shooting the rapids when relaxing on the water, the WaterWheeler ASL pedal boat may appeal. ASL stands for Adjustable Sun Lounger - both seats can be can be fully-reclined with a built in cool store compartment and drink holders adding to the focus on leisure... Read More
Hobie Pedal Kayak
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Hobie, a name normally associated with lightweight catamarans, have added pedal-driven flippers to their enclosed hull kayak design enabling hands-free propulsion or the option of using all four appendages to drive the craft through the water. Read More
Affordable Personal Hovercraft
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It can traverse land, sea, mud and snow at speeds of up to 70kmh, crash through one metre of surf and then double as a stable platform for fishing, diving or relaxing. The Slider Hovercraft is a fully amphibious vehicle seating two in-line with a steering and throttle set-up similar to a jet-ski.
Two aerofoil sectioned centrifugal fans provide the lift and a single 3-bladed axial fan the propulsion, with a skirt design that remains permanently inflated adding to buoyancy and stability, and allowing for tight turning without "ploughing-in". Read More
Rave Waterpark
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Take the local playground, inflate it, and put it on a lake and you're getting close to the potential of the Rave WaterPark. The central pontoon is a circular water trampoline up to 7.5 metres in diameter with an inflatable rim that can accommodate four adults bouncing or up to 8 adults or 16 children if just lounging around.
It takes around 20 minutes to inflate the Aqua Jump using an industrial strength blower and an aluminium ladder is provided for climbing back onto the 1.3 metre high platform. Read More
