Watercraft

Swedish designer Bo Zolland came up with this mock-up of a boat inspired by a 1963 Corvette Stingray. The boat features seating for 5, it could have 550hp, and would be expected to have a top speed of 55-70 Knots. Zolland is a designer for Strand-Craft, so if you really want one they can make you a one-off from this design. See more rendered pictures.

The XSR48 from XS Marine Group is dubbed the the world’s fastest production diesel powered boat. Powered by two bi-turbo diesel engines, the 2000hp monster is capable of speeds exceeding 100mph. The XSR48 features a ZF two-speed gearbox, a ZF Trimax surface-drive propulsion system, and STAB stabilization. The interior of the boat is very modern and is filled with luxuries like flat panel TVs. There is no word on the price, but you can charter it starting at €10,000 per day. Read the rest of this entry.

Yamaha might have outdone themselves (or at least Kawasaki) this time. The 2008 Yamaha FX Cruiser SHO is powered by an all new 1.8 liter, supercharged, super high output Marine Engine. This monster can accelerate 0 - 30 mph quicker than a Corvette Z06. The completely electronic throttle features a cruise control, and no wake mode. The best part is Yamaha’s new NanoXcel ultra-lightweight, high strength material that reduces the weight of the hull, deck, and liner by 25%. This nimble baby will set you back $12,799, but you know its worth the fun. Read more specs and see more photos.

Normally traveling at 60mph on water would require a boat with a fairly powerful engine but traveling at those speeds in open water using just the wind can be a very difficult task. All that has changed with the introduction of France’s new Hydroptere, at 60-ft long it is the worlds fastest racing ship. The ship itself uses “wings” to effortlessly ride over the waves rather than crashing through them allowing for almost no drag and much faster speeds. The ship itself can travel at over 50 knots (58mph) and can rise 15ft out of the water with the uses of it carbon fiber ailerons (the arms that prop the boat up in the air). Currently the ship holds the one-mile and 500-meter speed records but hopefully with more tweaks to the design faster speed could eventually be possible

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Since there aren’t exactly white-water rapids everywhere the new Surfango’s PowerKayak trades in the normal kayak paddles for a 9.5 hp engine to increase the excitement. The power plant itself is a 4-stroke engine putting out 9.5hp and features an electric start and a hand-held throttle and can power the kayak up to a top speed of 25mph. The Surfango PowerKayak even features waterproof storage compartments, fishing rod holders, on-board digital dashboard and a 2-gallon fuel tank for about 2 hours of fun at full throttle. The Surfango PowerKayak starts at $2899 and but the company also has several other models to choose from and even has a surfboard with the same engine, the PowerSurf FX that retails at $2699.

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While this might not be the most innovative product on the market, it is ironically one of my favorites. This product is a floating drink/serving tray that can be be controlled via remote control to bring drinks and snacks to the lazy people floating in the pool. Supposedly the tray is also incredible stable in the water to ensure that everything stays clear of the water. The remote-controlled serving tray has a range of about 25 ft (limited by the range of the remote control) and uses a small propeller to power the vessel. This allows the floating tray to move in every direction as well as the ability to rotate a full 360 degrees with the touch of a button. The tray has space for five of your favorite beverages as well as a bowl that holds 16oz of snacks and will set you back only $49.99

Designed by former F1 champion Eugenio Molinari. This speedboat uses a production engine from a Ferrari F430, displacing 4308cc, the mid-mounted engine develops 490bhp at 8,500rpm with max torque of 465Nm at 5,250rpm.. The boat broke the running kilometer world records in two categories on Lake Como, Italy. At 1,100 kg, he ran the kilo at 123.3 km/h, and at 1,450 kg, he did 122 km/h. At the end of the event, 71 year old Molinari dedicated the achievement to Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo and the brand’s 60th anniversary.Press Release and Photos - Read the rest of this entry.

Tom Perkins a incredibly successful businessman and recently he wanted to create the biggest, fastest, highest-tech, most self-indulgent sailboat ever built. He has succeeded by building the Maltese Falcon, a $130 million dollar high-tech sailing yacht. The yacht itself is nearly as long as a football field (289 feet) and is 42ft wide with three masts supporting the multiple sails. Each of the three masts are nearly twenty stories high, made out of carbon-fiber, and are entirely freestanding and rotate by computer. The Falcon is also one of the most luxurious yachts ever constructed with beautiful staterooms, plasma TV’s, and Jetskis. Also the computer system in the Falcon is one of the most advanced on the planet allowing for the fifteen huge sails to unfold with only the the touch of a button. The yacht has been such a huge success that Newsweek’s David A. Kaplan has even written a book on the entire project entitled Mine’s Bigger: Tom Perkins and the Making of the Greatest Sailing Machine Ever Built Photos - Read the rest of this entry.

The Everest is a proposal to build a 350 million euro personal cruise ship. Here is the listing from 4Yatch:

The 200-Meter “EVEREST” can have accommodations for 36 passengers and guests consisting of 17 apartments and an Owners private penthouse suite on the top deck. Every suite will have private terraces. In addition the yacht will have an outside swimming pool with a cinema arrangement, large gymnasium, sauna, steam rooms, indoor cinema, and a beach club with side folding platforms port and starboard, as well as a large drive-in docking facility at the aft end for boats and a small submarine.

[Source: WSJ]

First Kawasaki upped that ante in 2006 by making the fastest production bike, the ZX-14. Now Kawasaki Ultra 250X is one of the fastest production jet skis in the world! Powered by a supercharged 15,000cc engine this Jet Ski pumps out 250hp with a maximum boost of 11.4psi. All that power gives the 250X a top speed of 70mph. You may be thinking 70mph doesnt sound that fast for the huge supercharged engine on this beast. But remember all personal watercraft manufacturers must limit their top speed based on an agreement with the Coast Guard. So instead of trying to make a screaming death machine on water, Kawasaki opted to beef up acceleration rather than top speed.

[Source: Kawasaki Jet Ski® Ultra® 250X]

The light (25 lbs) AquaSkipper (Buy Now $500) allows you to bounce across the water. It has a wing that when you bounce on it, you move across the water in a bouncing motion - you can hop and skip across the water “like some sort of giant waterbug.” This human powered water transportation vehicle will make (and already has made) the surfers jealous - you do not have to pedal back to get on the next wave.

Pool beer pong anyone? Do you ever wish you could play it in the pool? This is what you have been waiting for, a water proof floatable table for ping pong ($70). I don’t know how the rules would work for this type of beer pong game, but it would be fun to try.

[Source: Brookstone]