eBay Find of the Day: Dobbertin HydroCar w/video

Source: Gizmag

Some things you just have to see to believe; like this eBay gem, the Dobbertin HydroCar.  Designed and built by Rick Dobbertin.  Rick is no stranger to amphibious vehicles, his first amphibious vehicle was the The Dobbertin Surface Orbiter completed nearly 30,000 miles on land and 3,000 miles at sea.

Reading the ad, it seems there is still some tweaking yet to be done to get the prop for the Arneson surface drive dialed in.  Yes, this thing is propelled by an Arneson while in water.  And why not, the Chevy engine has 762 hp and 712 lb-ft of torque, more than enough grunt to turn that meat-cleaver like propeller.  But again, the HydroCar has yet to get on plane.  To some, bidding may sound like an adventure; to others, bidding may sound like a money pit.  I say YOBO (You Only Boat Once), maybe you should boat in a Dobbertin?

Click past the jump for more photos and a video of the HydroCar being water tested.  And don’t forget to check out the eBay listing, there is a ton of info on the car boat.

eBay Find of the Day: A Pirate Ship – The Brown Pearl

Source: eBay

That’s right, get out your swash buckles and eye patches because your ship has just come in.  The item up for bid was a 24 foot center console that has been creatively transformed into the vessel you see above.  The “scourge of the lower Potomac” comes complete with an undead skeleton crew, an aarrrrsenal of cannons, and a head.  

If you have a strong desire to pillage at sea, trade in your current dingy and weigh anchor with the Brown Pearl.  At the time of this writing the current bid of $1,225 was not enough to meet the reserve.  You may need to dig a bit deeper in your coffers if you want to come aboard.   Click past the jump for more pictures of the Brown Pearl.

eBay Find of the Day: WTF is a Sonic Jet Boat w/video

Ever heard of a Sonic Jet Performance Boats?  Probably not, and it doesn’t matter because the company no longer exists.  The hull shown here is possibly the last production model that was liquidated when the company was dissolved.  The hull is incomplete but does have most of the major components.  The bidding is currently at $2,650 but the reserve has not been met.  There is a “buyit now” price of $9,500 if you’re willing to put in a little elbow grease to get this oversized waverunner up and running.  Check out more photos of the Sonic Jet and a promotional video after the jump.

eBay Find of the Day: Custom Built 20ft Scale Battleship New Jersey Replica w/video

Source: eBay

While I was off studying in college, my brother-in-law was serving this country in the Navy.  While my wife and I seldom pass any opportunity to brag about his service to our country, one of my favorite memories was joining him on his ship for what is called a “Tiger Cruise.”  If you are unfamiliar with the term, a tiger cruise is when family goes aboard the ship for a day trip to experience what their sailor’s lived on for their latest deployment.  I’ll never forget that time on his ship the USS Ponce (LPD 15).

Speaking of the US Navy, check out this hand crafted 20ft scaled replica of the USS Battleship New Jersey.  The vessel was made by Gifford Marine, is powered by a 120hp SeaDoo jet drive, and has a 4kw generator to power an air compressor and high pressure water pump.  The main guns can fully articulate and fire streams of high pressure water.  This thing is seriously cool, who wouldn’t want to pilot their own battleship.  At the time of this writing you still have 13days left to liquidate enough assets to pay the $55,000 “buy it now” price.  Check out some more photos and a video of the vessel in action after the jump.

You can read a more detailed record of the build by clicking this link.

eBay Find of the Day: Nana, Nana, Nana, Nana … “BATBOAT”



Source: eBay Motors

Holy billet aluminum accessories Batman!  Growing up I am sure I ruined many of my mom’s good towels by tying them around my neck to play Batman in the back yard.  But there was so much more to being the “Caped Crusader”, all those wonderful toys.  Check out this one of a kind Batman themed boat.  This 2008 MTI 44ft cat-hull is powered by two Mercury Racing 1075s.  The two surface drives can propel the boat up to 150mph.  The seller claims more than 160mph with a light load.  The level of detail on this build is incredible, from the richly paint murals, to the billet aluminum accessories.  The detail in the ignition key alone makes me want to tie one of my good towels a cape around my neck while I bid away; but my bank, and wife, would just laugh at me.  With this eBay item up for bid you have a chance to relive your childhood fantasies.    The bid at the time of this writing is $200,100 (reserve not met), this is the second time I’ve seen this boat listed and the seller has lowered the reserve this time around.  Check out the additional pictures after the jump.

Check out the full listing here.

eBay Find of the Day: 1954 Storebro 24' Solö Ruff Express Cruiser

It’s winter; that means most of the country can only dream about that first day back on the water after the thaw.  Fortunately for those of us less imaginative, we have the internet to help us fuel our daydreams.  Imagine cruising in your next boat parade in this beauty, a true Scandinavian made Storebro Solö Ruff.  Of the 2800 boats made of this particular model, very few have ever made their way to U.S. waters.  What a great blend of form and function, with an elegantly crafted mahogany hull and spacious cockpit.  This particular model was reconditioned and repowered in 2003 would make for a great collectors classic.  The "buy it now" price is listed at $49,000, or you can try and make an offer.  Check out the pictures form the seller’s posting here.

Check out the listing here.

Source: eBay Motors, and Storebro