Calling Boat Experts

[Deleted member 23692]

Can anyone help me identify this vessel? Spotted in St Katherine Docks this morning.
View attachment 60156

It's a HippopoThames

 

[Cuchilo]

My first thoughts where it was a Navy Pinnace that had been converted .
My friend has been doing one up for a few years and people tend to turn them into whatever they want .
My friend is Scottish btw and my girlfriend at the time wasn't impressed when he asked if we wanted to look at his pinnace

 

[Archie_tect]

Possibly - it might depend on what speed you are willing to settle for. But a container ship would be much longer than the Maltese Falcon so they could have more, shorter masts.
I'm sure I've seen modern sail concepts proposed for cargo ships - but in an industry where profit is the bottom line, taking a risk on innovative propulsion methods is not very likely to happen.

Makes sense on the trade routes to use as much sail as possible all connected up with PV sails, + use the unpowered propellers under wind powered sail, as turbine generators to store electricity in massive batteries as ballast to power the motors up to stop and manoeuvre...

 

[Bay Runner]

what's stopping me buying a yacht and sticking a custom marine sticker thingy off ebay saying Elizebeth or what ever on the side?
Cheers Ed

https://www.gov.uk/register-a-boat/the-uk-ship-register

 

[stephec]

Looking at it, it looks like a modern build based on an American design of the 1940's
The bulbous bow is a modern touch, they were not invented until the 1980's
That deck house looks like its made of aluminium, which was not used on ships before the 1990's
So it could be an old hull that has had a lot of work done, but normally on old hull you can see the VPL of the strakes, so I'm guessing its modern

I didn't know boats wore knickers?

 

[Brains]

I didn't know boats wore knickers?

Are you suggesting she a has a bare bottom ?

 

[Beebo]

Are you suggesting she a has a bare bottom ?

I would hope she has a copper bottom.

 

[Brains]

I would hope she has a copper bottom.

A police boat then ?

 

[Beebo]

Makes sense on the trade routes to use as much sail as possible all connected up with PV sails, + use the unpowered propellers under wind powered sail, as turbine generators to store electricity in massive batteries as ballast to power the motors up to stop and manoeuvre...

I remember seeing an article about tankers being fitted with huge kites, that pull the boat through the water. I dont think it was a 100% replacement for the engine, but acted as an extra aid to reduce fuel consumption.

 

[Brains]

T

I remember seeing an article about tankers being fitted with huge kites, that pull the boat through the water. I dont think it was a 100% replacement for the engine, but acted as an extra aid to reduce fuel consumption.

They are called Skysails, the idea has been around since the 1980's, the Germans rigged up a couple of test ships, but the idea has never caught on

 

[stephec]

Are you suggesting she a has a bare bottom ?

She's never been used by the commandos then?

 

[Piemaster]

Theres been a few different ideas tried for wind assisted propulsion on commercial vessels, none seem to have particularly successful and caught on. Things like bulk carriers and tankers are probably more suitable than container ships as they use every bit of space both horizontally and vertically to get as much cargo onboard as possible. It's all down to money, as always. How much will the wind system cost to develop, maintain and run against the potential fuel savings. Fuel costs are a massive part of running any vessel, the modest offshore supply vessel I'm on now uses 8-10,000 litres per day with engines running.

 

[subaqua]

When I win the euro millions and buy a big boat that I can use as a dive platform I am going to call it " gin palace" just to give all the other boat owners a giggle when I call the coastguard to let them know we are leaving harbour

 

[TVC]

When I win the euro millions and buy a big boat that I can use as a dive platform I am going to call it " gin palace" just to give all the other boat owners a giggle when I call the coastguard to let them know we are leaving harbour

Just to let you know, I have all my own dive gear, so wouldn't have to borrow anything

 

[subaqua]

Just to let you know, I have all my own dive gear, so wouldn't have to borrow anything

You are about 3500 in the queue LOL