Question about a BOAT -

[singnpray]

Hey all!
I just got back from your wonderful paradise to the real world of Kentucky.....hated to come back even tho I love it in KY but SoWal is just.....well....paradise.

My question is, while we were there (we stayed at Seacrest Beach) there was a large, loud, weird looking watercraft that kept going back and forth on the water...stayed kinda far out but threw up LOTS of water in its' wake and was just...weird looking. I've posted a picture of it below. Anybody know what it is??

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/singnpray/seacrestbeach039.jpg

[NoHall]

Gulf Zamboni?

[Smiling JOe]

The US military calls them Landing Craft, Air Cushion (http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=1500&ct=4) (LCAC). They're high-speed, fully amphibious hovercraft capable of carrying a 60-ton payload (75 tons in overload) over water and land at speeds in excess of 40 knots and a nominal range of up to 200 nautical miles. Carrying equipment, troops, and/or supplies, the LCAC launches from inside the well deck of an amphibious warship, then travels the waves at high speed, runs right through the surf zone near the beach, and stops at a suitable place on land.

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/NAVY_LCAC_lg.jpg

http://navysite.de/ships/lcac_12.jpg

[yippie]

The US military calls them Landing Craft, Air Cushion (http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=1500&ct=4) (LCAC). They're high-speed, fully amphibious hovercraft capable of carrying a 60-ton payload (75 tons in overload) over water and land at speeds in excess of 40 knots and a nominal range of up to 200 nautical miles. Carrying equipment, troops, and/or supplies, the LCAC launches from inside the well deck of an amphibious warship, then travels the waves at high speed, runs right through the surf zone near the beach, and stops at a suitable place on land.



WOW Smiling Joe. This was very educational. I have been here 14 years and have never seen one of these. Are they used ofter for excercises in the Gulf??

How facinating.!!

[RiverOtter]

1st of all, one day I have got to drive one of those. 2nd, Way cool. Can't believe one came by Seacrest. All I ever see are the chopper pilots buzzin the beach looking for hot moms :biggrin:

[Beach Bimmer]

They are based out of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Coastal Systems Station, at Panama City Beach.

[kurt]

They are a spectacular sight. Especially when one comes by you at high speed in the intracoastal when you're in a small boat. :eek:

[Smiling JOe]

They are a spectacular sight. Especially when one comes by you at high speed in the intracoastal when you're in a small boat. :eek:
:yikes: They better not tip over my canoe.

[singinchicken]

:yikes: They better not tip over my canoe.


Best thing about a hovercraft? No wake! Paddle on!

[Smiling JOe]

Best thing about a hovercraft? No wake! Paddle on!Maybe, but the wind from those directional fans would surely blow my canoe onto land. I cannot imagine one of those coming down the IC.

[singnpray]

Hey thanks, Joe for the info. I knew one of you guys knew what that thing was! It was really awesome to see. It was VERY LOUD and really scared my 5 year old daughter. It didn't come really close, maybe 1/4 mile from the beach. We saw it a couple of different days. Glad I got the scoop from you!

[Miss Kitty]

I saw one when I was down in May. It was coming from Grayton and I thought I was seeing something, like an alien watercraft! It was LOUD!!! Thanks for the education!

[Bob]

I saw one come ashore at Camp Pendleton in SoCal '02. What was spectacular was the wake it left in the calm ocean and the view I had of it sitting well above sea level. Wish I had thought about grabbing the camera then.

[ShallowsNole]

We saw one in the intercoastal a couple of months ago. I thought I was hallucinating from heat exposure until Fuzz exclaimed "WTH IS THAT?!?"