Large Scale Central

Ignoring activism, how does this boat rate as a design?

General Discussion
#1

Ignoring activism, politics, and causes, how does this boat rate as a design?

Is it a good design for its intended purpose?

(this time I’m not interested in whether its purpose is right, wrong, indifferent, illogical, or logical. that’s an issue of its own)

Does its form follow its function?

http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/22423/japanese+whalers+to+face+new+enemy+in+godzilla/

grindtv.com said:
Monday, November 29, 2010 10:19am PST Japanese whalers to face new enemy in 'Godzilla' By: Pete Thomas, GrindTV.com

A controversial animal-rights group preparing to embark on its annual harassment campaign against Japanese whalers has stepped up its effort this season by enlisting the aid of … Godzilla.

The swift and ominous-looking interceptor vessel has the moniker Gojira, named after the ferocious monster in the legendary Japanese film, which in English means Godzilla

#2

I’m no expert on boat design but it certainly looks cool. As for it’s purpose, I hope it sinks like a rock.

#3

From watching episodes of “Whale Wars” on Animal Planet and how the Sea Shepherd organization is intent on harassing the Japanese whale fleet, their new “craft” would appear to fit the bill. It’s design appears as an attempt to be somewhat menacing and the outriggers are probably designed to give the “craft” more stability as they try to run circles around the Japanese “factory ship”. The “Ady Gil” the Sea Shepherds used last year and which was scuttled after colliding with one of the Japanese ships, has somewhat the same outrigger pontoon design, although the new ship would appear to be significantly larger. It will be interesting to see if the new ship actually lasts longer than the “Ady Gil” did.

Mike Klein

#4

Being a navy man I don’t care for this design. The craft is a little frail for harassment duty.

Ray Dunakin said:
I'm no expert on boat design but it certainly _looks_ cool. As for it's purpose, I hope it sinks like a rock.
#5

Its not much different than the Ady Gil, the boat it replaced, a fast speedboat as such , I think its cool design. Personally I think its the wrong design for its use, something like this would be more effective for the stated purpose :wink:

(http://www.cityofart.net/bship/hms_polyphemus_ram.jpg)

#6

It is well documented where the whale meat finishes up - Japanese domestic market. Two Japanese researchers were recently jailed for stealing several kilograms of the meat from a research establishment and exposing the research sham for what it is. Supposedly, each crew member receives a supplement of whale meat for personal usage. How a person could consume 600 plus kilograms a season defies belief.

When one defines a terrorist one looks to the Middle East and yet one simply lacks the foresight to look elsewhere. These mammals were once slaughtered in the thousands to fuel industry. When one looks to their physical makeup they actually have many characteristics inherent in the human structure. The earth is no longer flat!!!

150 years ago the New Zealand Maoris were feared for their liking of human flesh. Should we not bow to cultural history and allow them to continue to indulge in this activity. New Guinea highlanders also had a penchant for human flesh until relatively recently. The Japanese also beheaded allied prisoners during WW2. Why not allow them to continue that practice or do we consider it too barbaric? Times and cultures change in civilised worlds.

If the rest of the world had cohones, then ships like Godzilla would not be needed as there would be warships in the Antarctic protecting our world and its resources.

#7

Hadn’t done any looking for it, forgot about the whole thing, came across that article today while looking around the news.
Here’s an article with a closer photo http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/29/3079655.htm

And just found this http://porterraceuemar.blogspot.com/

While it has a similar hull profile to Ady Gil its topsides are much more conventional. And much better fitted out with safety appliances.

will have to go back and check how it compares in size, that’ll wait, other things I want to do with my time at the moment.

#8
Tim Brien said:
When one defines a terrorist one looks to the Middle East and yet one simply lacks the foresight to look elsewhere.
Yeah, these econuts (along with ELF, Earth First, Greenpeace, etc) definitely deserve to be included in the definition! Just like Osama, these irrational, fanatical creeps commit criminal acts in an attempt to impose their will on the rest of us.
#9

Forrest,
That’s the trouble with topics such as these. People can’t seem to refrain from discussing the activism or politics and simply
discuss the boat.
Ralph

#10

I can’t reply w/o going down that road…so I will refrain.

cale

#11

The US Navy has developed hulls of much the same design for chasing pirates. Pretty fancy stuff.

http://unitedveteranshawaii.org/articles/us-navy-pirate-chaser.html

#12

I can understand protecting whales on an endangered species list… however, the whales Japan catches are on no such list… when they get tired of protecting the whales, what’s next??? Salmon, Cod, Flounder, Tuna, Crab…

Seems to me, it’s just another case of one person or more wanting to control what another person/people/country does…

After the water animals will come the land animals… when will it ever stop…

there are voices in my head… someone please, stop the madness… :slight_smile:

#13

AndyC says - “there are voices in my head…”

If you listen close you can hear them and every once in awhile AndyC talks back to them. Twice, I’ve seen him get in a fight with himself and it was hard to tell who won, but I knew to stay out of the middle of it.

#14

I love it… (crackin up)

Just wait till Saturday… :slight_smile:

#15

Any post like this will start a forum war.

<Ignoring activism, how does this boat rate as a design?>

It looks like a good design for harassment.
So does that USN boat.

What I think about whaling and Japan, I’ll save those comments.

#16

What on earth does this have to do with Obama for Pete’s Sake? The stated intent of this boat is to prevent smaller Japanese harpoon boats from being able to to bring their catchs to the whale processing ship, as such it has to be fast enough to out run the harpoon boats and agile enough to get close to the whaler and get out again fast when needed. As such its a fantastic design, BTW the original Ady Gil was originally called the “Earthrace” and was built for an attemted round the world speedboat record but was involved in a collision with a fishing boat and withdrew from the competition. It was then sold to the Sea Shepard Society. I guess they liked the Ady’s design enough to replicate it with the new boat. BTW the inquiry into the collision placed the blame 60% on the Japanese and 40% on the Ady Gil, so niether side was guilt free. If you want to stop whaling 100% you’ll need something more like this:

(http://www.raleightime.com/images/nemo_images/nautilus_sub_banner2.gif)

:wink:

#17

Aaaaaaaaand we’re done here. Ralph put it best:

“That’s the trouble with topics such as these. People can’t seem to refrain from discussing the activism or politics and simply discuss the boat.”

#18

for the use, it is meant for, the design seems very good.
apart from being speedy, it will be stable in rough sea and it can quickly turn, without capsizing.

#19

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwgaLSF03gk Korm here is the idea behind the design of the original Earthrace/Ady Gil boat, the design has less to do with agility and more to do with surviving the worst seas on the planet, the outrigger design gives greater stability but it was originally designed to “dive” thru waves. The new boat looks less like the Ady Gill at the bridge area, less designed for diving thru waves but for better visability for the crew. I doubt if the new boat is as fast as the old Ady was intended to be. Godzilla:

(http://static.grindtv.com/images/1/00/33/63/78/336378.jpg)

Ady Gill/Earthrace:

(http://blog.jamesellsworth.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/earthrace_ofb.jpg)

#20

Vic, i would choose the godzilla to sail on. the outriggers are more than double the distance from the rump. AND they are more or less midships, not near the stern.
(if you want to know, why - i love stability, since i once overturned a catamaran)

but if i compare the two pics… the grey one should have the name Godzilla (or Nessie).
it reminds very much of the head of a swimming monster.