Right in John’s back yard, he can use this to zip across the Bay from the palatial Dvorak Estate to The City for lunch in no time.
San Francisco Spider Ship on the Bay
[N]amed the Proteus, after a Greek god of the sea, and is the first of what might be a long line of wave adaptive modular vessels — WAM-V for short — developed by Ugo Conti, an engineer and inventor. Conti calls it “the prototype of a new class of vessel.”
Using technology developed by Conti’s El Cerrito Marine Advanced Research Inc., the WAM-V is “a new class of watercraft … that delivers a radically new seagoing experience.” It has twin hulls, like a catamaran, connected to each other and a control cabin by four metal legs. The legs ride on titanium springs — like shock absorbers — that allow the WAM-V to adjust to the surface of the water — to flex like knees.
Very nice and sleek design.
And a small target…
I’ve been seeing this boat and an older predecessor at the Marina Bay YC in Richmond for the last few years. Never could figure out what the idea behind it is, but it’s always been an interesting sight to behold and a frequent conversation starter.
Finally, some concrete information.
Right in John’s back yard, he can use this to zip across the Bay from the palatial Dvorak Estate to The City for lunch in no time.
You mean to to the Dvork Plaza or to Dvorak Towers. I understand that the Dvorak Expressway is too long, and crowded, all 20 lanes. But couldn’t Dvorak Airways just use one of their ‘copters to shuttle across?
Neat design, and I bet it’s a smooth ride. Is this an ocean going ship?
But will it ever be a mainstream working commercial vessel?
Only if the cost of ownership is lower then conventional ships. I would think, since it has a low draft it’s fuel consumption must be better then conventional ships.
How rough weather stable and fatigue immune will the legs (riding on titanium springs) hold up in 40+ foot tall ocean wave weather?
Not very battle ready either, take out one leg and your done.
Looks like a nice pleasure craft.
And next is the spider bike, the spider car, the spider plane 😉