Interesting boats

[Art]

Well, this one about takes the cake for me as it just popped up on yacht world today. Chime in if you have ever dined here: Forbes Island. While not technically a boat, it does float and can be moved. Thing I remember about it was that I think in the dinning room there were underwater portholes that were off a battle ship. Very cool, and Forbes confirmed to me that there were a number of porno films shot in the bedroom back in the day. Ohhhh..the glory days of San Francisco when it was a great city....I was there many times in a former world many moons ago. Those were good times. The insurance company rep we had sure knew what the guys liked to do in the city, great food and wine at Masa's, and Mitchell Brothers Theater for desert lol. For sale, asking 1.5mm

Designed and built by the well known ship creator of the many prestigious floating homes today in Sausalito, CA - Forbes Kiddoo. Forbes’s experience and consummate skills as an engineer, builder and craftsman were all called into play during the construction of this island retreat. Five years were invested making the 75’ x 42’ long submersible shell buoyant with reinforced concrete. It has a 25,000 gallon water storage tank, multiple fireplaces a 19 foot bar of Honduran mahogany.

The island has 17 handcrafted doors and 55 antique portholes. In addition to its many rooms it boasts a 600 square-foot salon capable of seating 100 people. A wine cellar maintains a constant temperature of 58° and can hold 1200 bottles and three oak barrels. Complete with an arched chain and brick doorway the cellar is eerily reminiscent of Poe’s “Cask of the Amontillado” or Jules Verne’s version of “20,000 Leagues under the Sea”

There is an airlock within the wine cellar with a massive door to withstand changes in pressure and is completely functional as an underwater entry or exit route and decompression chamber.

It has been meticulously maintained by its current owners and Forbes Kiddo himself has offered to share additional information about its history which includes hosting guests such as Tony Bennett and John Wayne. See more about its history on You Tube at the link below.

Enjoy dining next to its underwater portholes while watching the fish swim past, escape via an underwater diving hatch, or retire to the grand bedroom suite fit for a captain of his or her own private world and so much more. In the 90’s Forbes added a 40 foot lighthouse which offers outstanding views.

Check out our gallery of Forbes Island as it looks today.

Unfortunately, Forbes Island has been setting for-sale in a less lustrous location for some years... Holland Riverside Marina, Brentwood. At least that's the last place I've seen it. Mid to late 1980's I occasionally tipped a few in Sausalito restaurant/tavern while chatting with Forbes and his pals.

 

[darkside]

A nice boat from my home town.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/boats-marine/motorboats/listing/3717253783?bof=VCCM3YEd

 

[Nick14]

A nice boat from my home town.

A beautiful boat, but the price seems steep to me for wood construction.

 

[backinblue]

I didn't see a price, but at least it's not that old. Cabins look pretty sparse for my tastes.

 

[darkside]

Miller and Tunnage predominantly build fishing boats and it shows in the accommodation. It would have cost a lot to build in carvel plank timber no doubt. I assume the glassed double diagonal kauri is the deck and cabin.

 

[HTurner]

I find her interesting:

 

[Kit_L]

So do I. That could be my 'forever' boat. My only surprise is that although the crane is hydraulic, the anchor winch is electric.

 

[Nick14]

I find her interesting:

I love it!! Unfortunately it is way out of my budget.

 

[Art]

I find her interesting:

Very nice. However hull design's bow pushes a lot of water!

 

[socalrider]

Very nice. However hull design's bow pushes a lot of water!

That was my first thought as well. That ship looks like it really irritates the water it's moving through.

 

[OldDan1943]

That was my first thought as well. That ship looks like it really irritates the water it's moving through.

To me, it looks like a tug designed and never intended to plane.

 

[Art]

I haven't been into sail boats for decades.

But! - Today I saw this sailer go cruising by at a really good clip. Definitely no engine assist. That is a well designed sail boat hull... and a good captain.

Photo straightens when I punch it up. Good luck!

 

[Nomad Willy]

Very nice. However hull design's bow pushes a lot of water!

Art good eye but how could one miss it??

Like Mark (w the Coot) says …. A pusher or smasher my mistake. I think it was a slicer or a smasher. (this one’s a smasher) in the form of the MMS 55. No lazy curling bow wave or turbulence free stern wash. Must have lots more hp per ton than a typical FD boat. That would be about 2.5 hp per ton. Smaller boats tend to have higher numbers.

This is however typical of tug boats. I submit the MMS 55 has a historical link to tug boats. Like my old Willard had a link to sailboats.

 

[Hippocampus]

The other end of the spectrum

https://www.marinelog.com/news/metal-shark-building-new-55-foot-pilot-boat/

 

[Nomad Willy]

This boat does something I had sometimes thought of but thought it would be too ugly. That is to have the boat cabin sloped down so while underway the cabin would be horizontal and easy to see out of.

Here it is and so ugly it needed camouflage in the face paint jog to cover the sins. Ha ha I can say freely what I think as this boat is surely not a TF’rs boat.

 

[rslifkin]

This boat does something I had sometimes thought of but thought it would be too ugly. That is to have the boat cabin sloped down so while underway the cabin would be horizontal and easy to see out of.

Here it is and so ugly it needed camouflage in the face paint jog to cover the sins. Ha ha I can say freely what I think as this boat is surely not a TF’rs boat.

Axopar slopes the cabins like that (although not quite as much) on some of their boats as well.

 

[mahal]

Guessing Game

Can you guess which "trawler" builder built this beautiful 1966 woody?

 

[healhustler]

Holy smokes. Is that an offset, single prop design? Cheoy Lee maybe?

 

[mahal]

Holy smokes. Is that an offset, single prop design? Cheoy Lee maybe?

I added the picture of the prop as it is so unique. Almost as if the engine (Lehman 80HP) was an afterthought.

The boat was built by American Marine (Grand Banks). Only 10 hulls produced. If looking closely, someone familiar with older GB's would be able to see the similarities.

 

[rslifkin]

Holy smokes. Is that an offset, single prop design? Cheoy Lee maybe?

It wouldn't be the only one. Sabre built plenty of sailboats with a similar offset (and slightly angled) prop design.

 

[Nomad Willy]

This motor sailer would make a very excellent alternative to electric boats IMO.

One could easily find a smaller more efficient engine than a Lehman.

Nice boat

 

[FlyWright]

The other end of the spectrum

https://www.marinelog.com/news/metal-shark-building-new-55-foot-pilot-boat/

That's one very cool looking boat but it looks like the fwd rails would obscure the viz from the helm.

This motor sailer would make a very excellent alternative to electric boats IMO.

One could easily find a smaller more efficient engine than a Lehman.

Nice boat

Who wants to hoist all those sails to get underway while listing?

No thanks!! As long as we continue to have access to diesel fuel, give me motors over fabric!

 

[garbler]

Mahal: that is a Hugh Angleman design builder unknown. Offset props common on vessels of this type

Rick

 

[Nomad Willy]

FlyWright wrote;
“give me motors over fabric!”

You mean engines? Could be confusing w all this EV talk.

I agree w garbler “Offset props common on vessels of this type”. Quite

 

[O C Diver]

There were several threads in the past about mounting outboards on swim platforms. This is an interesting twist. An older 27' inboard / outboard cutty cabin with a replacement aluminum platform with substantial brackets supporting it. Add a four stroke outboard that can share the same fuel tank for a nice get home / trolling setup. Close inspection of the fabrication reveals a well thought out and well engineered conversion.





Ted

 

[Nomad Willy]

OCD,
I should’a done that to Willy. But it’s barnyard ugly. Would be even worse on the rounded stern of a Willard. But better than Willard on the rocks of SE Alaska.

 

[mahal]

Mahal: that is a Hugh Angleman design builder unknown. Offset props common on vessels of this type

Rick

Yes. It’s called an Angleman Ketch built by American Marine, Hong Kong yard.

 

[Art]

That's one very cool looking boat but it looks like the fwd rails would obscure the viz from the helm.




Who wants to hoist all those sails to get underway while listing?

No thanks!! As long as we continue to have access to diesel fuel, give me motors over fabric!

Interesting video on Sharrow Props. You think they might provide a bit of improvement for our older twin inboards [and singles too]? "Boat Test" should run a comparison for our older boats' 3, 4 and 5 blade old-school design props to Sharrow. If the tests showed Sharrow Props nearly as much % improvement as this video shows... well... there's the answer, what's the question. Of course new prop price is a factor. However, when need does arise for replacement of props then Sharrow might be an interesting alternative.

Sharrow might be missing a big market in regard to us old boys' classic boatie play toys!!

https://www.sharrowmarine.com/perfo...ail&utm_term=0_ef39558cdc-aec94a2f7a-66058553

 

[OldDan1943]

Any time you buy a hybrid prop you pay a hybrid price and it can only be repaired at specific shops.
I vote No.

 

[rslifkin]

Any time you buy a hybrid prop you pay a hybrid price and it can only be repaired at specific shops.
I vote No.

Definitely expensive, but I'd expect if the design becomes more common, more shops will get the equipment to work on them. In the meantime, if using a prop like that I'd carry a more conventional spare, that way if there's an issue it's not a big deal if I can't get the fancy prop to someone that can fix it right away.