If you are thirsty for a thrilling and new experience at sea, the revolutionary Dolphin Boat might just satisfy your desire, says Francesca Falzon.
The Dolphin Boat was first developed 10 years ago by partners Rob Innes and Dan Piazza. Having gained several years of experience from boat building and both being engineering graduates, they kicked off their business in 1997. Their aspiration for innovative designs at sea gave birth to the first Dolphin Boat.
The new model bears striking resemblance to the killer whale- Francesca Falzon
Incorporation of several concepts in engineering made the Dolphin Boat the first enclosed submersible watercraft ever to be designed. Thus, this creation was a new eye-opener for further research and development in such a field. The Dolphin Boat has since then been used for live demonstrations and commercials.
Furthermore, it was the inspiration behind the manufacture of similar watercraft. The original conceptual model was not discarded and improvements were made in its performance and design.
The duo’s next release was the Seabreacher J, which was introduced to the boat market for recreational use. In fact, it was approved by the US coastguard but also in several other countries.
This model was even more attractive, as it allowed the J model to be custom-built and thus suit the buyer’s desires. The J model includes a jet drive for in-creased safety and better surface performance.
Moreover, it is powered by an engine which is available in both 155hp or 215hp supercharged variants. Even though all this might sound too sophisticated for personal use, think again. Both the engine and jet drive have been designed to meet any personal watercraft dealership. Therefore, it proves to be a basic and feasible water vehicle to operate.
The Seabreacher J was followed by a similar but more sophisticated model – Seabreacher X. When it was first released, the Seabreacher X was the most advanced submersible watercraft Innes and Piazza had ever built.
Its design remarkably resembles that of preceding models – the Dolphin Boat and Seabreacher J. However, this time round the team re-innovated their original sleek model and gave it a more aggressive look. In fact, the X model has a shark-style appearance.
Accompanying such a facelift was an upgrade to the performance of the boat. Integrated within this exciting model is a 260hp supercharged engine. Thus, the vessel can propel to a top speed of 50mph on the surface and 25mph under water.
Additionally, the Seabreacher X can withstand incredible high-speed dives, allowing it to breach out of the water and launch itself entirely out of the water.
On the other hand, a very interesting concept was the ability of this model to mimic the tail articulation of real water creatures, such as a dolphin or shark. The exhaust system can also be custom-tuned, giving the vessel a more throaty growl as it propels itself out of the water.
Another attractive feature is a snorkel-mounted video camera capable of transmitting live videos to an LCD screen for pilots and passengers to use during dives. Other concepts which were introduced on this model include GPS navigation together with an on-board stereo system.
The company did not fail to surprise the boat market with its latest model – the Seabreacher Y. Yet again the design was altered and this time the killer whale was the aquatic animal that provided the necessary inspiration.
The new model bears striking resemblance to the killer whale. In fact, the boat has a more rounded nose, a large whale tail, new pectoral fins and a higher dorsal fin. The latter allows the Seabreacher Y to attain a full 180˚ back flip.
The Seabreacher Y includes the same 255hp supercharged engine of the X model, providing the same level of performance capabilities. Moreover, it also incorporates the panoramic bubbletop canopy found in the J model.
This killer whale-inspired model is ideal for live shows and as an attraction. The company also offers rides and a handlebar attachment to enable a stuntman to ride it and perform gimmicks.
Ultimately, the lifelike appearance of a real whale leaves us wondering whether Innes and Piazza will ever come up with an even more captivating model.
These creations have put the company in the spotlight for many years and public interest in these models is on the increase. The boats have also sparked an interest among boat racing enthusiasts.