Ft. Lauderdale: Cars at a Boat Show

Ferrari 458 Italia

All boat shows aren’t created equal, especially when it comes to the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show.  The show caters to exclusivity and affluence, yet it is completely (well, almost completely) accessible to anyone willing to pay admission to the show.  The exotic car village at the show is no different.  Honestly, it was refreshing to look at something a little different with so many boats around; like a little palate cleanser during a wine tasting or that cigarette in between beers, depending on your preference.  Check out the boat show’s car gallery after the jump.

Photo Credit: Todd Kristenson

Happy Haloween from Boatieblog

It’s Halloween and you’ve already carved your pumpkin and taken the kids out to get all jacked up on sugar, what now?  Don’t forget that scary story.  But don’t just go for the boring old story about the camp counselor and the hook handed mad man; let’s go with a boatie classic, something by Edgar Allen Poe.  I bet you didn’t know Poe was an old boatie.  Here is a link to his “Descent into the Maelstrom.”  It’s a frightening tale of what happens to three fishermen who try to cheat mother nature and suffer the consequences.  This is definitely one of my favorite short stories, enjoy.

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Source: online-literature.com

Mini Cooper goes Boatie

Source: Autoblog

While I am an unabashed fan of amphibious vehicles, I can also be convinced to appreciate the occasional automotive themed boat.  BMW’s Mini Cooper has commissioned a one off, convertible Cooper-Craft.  OK, it’s not actually called the Cooper-Craft, the official name is the Mini Convertible boat (not very inspiring, maybe it’s a British thing).  What is inspiring, though, is seeing a Mini take to the water.  I’m a big fan of the vehicle on land, and I think it looks just as charming on the water.  The aquatic Mini utilizes an all fiberglass construction of a 2004 Mini convertible body that has been attached to a boat hull.  The whole craft is powered by a 6hp outboard, not very impressive; but at least she has a substantial freeboard.  Unlike mini’s latest april fools, the Mini Yachtsman, this little Cooper will actually take to the water.

The mini’s first public relations stop is at the Head of the Charles Regatta two-day rowing event being held this weekend in Cambridge, Mass.  Be sure to keep an eye out for her in your local marina, and check out some more photos of the Cooper-Craft in action after the jump (I am hoping if I say Cooper-Craft enough times it will stick).

Another History Lesson: Miss Britain III w/video

Source: National Maritime Museum

Quick, name the first boat to pass the 100mph mark on salt water?  If you said the Miss Britain III, you are either a boat history buff or an observant guesser based on the title of this post.  The Miss Britain III was designed, built, and piloted by Hubert Scott-Paine. Mr Paine’s boat was a stepped hydroplane hull that was constructed using aluminium sheeting over an aluminium and wooden frame.  Paine then shoehorned a 12 cylinder aircraft engine into the death machine hydroplane to produce an impressive 110.1mph speed record in 1934.  It didn’t hurt that the engine Paine used, the Napier Lion series VII B, was also the air speed record holder.  If you ever make it across the pond (or if you already live there), you can check out this historic watercraft at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England.

Click past the jump for a quick film on the Paine and the Miss Britain and some more photos of his record setting hydroplane.

The History of the Battlewagon

Source: Yachting

School is officially back in session; and in that spirit, the good writers at Yachting magazine have prepared a little boating history lesson.  While entire volumes on the history of the sportfishing boat could be written, Yachting magazine chose to stick with three of the most historied manufacturers in the business.  Rybovich, Whiticar, and Merritt were there at the beginning and are still around making some most sought after battlewagons today.

I would have paid way more attention in school if more history lessons were about boats.  Click this link for the brief history lesson and don’t forget to check out the photo gallery to go along with it.

Source: Yachting Magazine

Killer Boathouses

Source: MSN Real Estate

If you have spent any time on the water chances are you have seen some killer boathouses.  If you’re like me, you could instantly see yourself pulling your craft into the slip at such a place.  MSN Real Estate has compiled a list of 10 such boathouses.  They range the gamut from a stylishly simple dock to a full on houses with a boat garages.  Click past the jump for some inspiration and leave a comment about your ultimate boathouse: man-cave, party house, I’ll take anything on the water...

If you’d like to know more about the properties, click the link here for the full MSN feature.