VIDEO: WaterBlob Offered by Superyacht Tenders & Toys

WaterBlob
Who knew that Army Surplus fuel bladders could be turned into one of the hottest watertoys? That’s the background behind the WaterBlob, and it’s now offered to the megayacht set by Superyacht Tenders & Toys.

If you’ve ever watched the TV program “Wipeout,” in which contestants go head to head on wild and wacky obstacle courses, you’ve seen the WaterBlob in action. It’s a giant, pillow-shaped inflatable toy that makes you bounce—and bounce really high—when you land on it. The WaterBlob, manufactured in the United States, is made of rubber and has an additional layer of vinyl to make it more durable and thereby prevent rupture. It further has four anchor points and comes with eight shock cords measuring eight feet long to anchor it down. When you’re done for the day, the WaterBlob gets folded and rolled up and then stowed in its own shell cover.

The WaterBlob carries a one-year warranty on materials and labor; the manufacturer claims the watertoys lasts on average five to seven years. It comes in a variety of colors, too.

Shipping costs vary, as do overall costs for the WaterBlob (depending on options selected), so contact Superyacht Tenders & Toys for pricing.

In the meantime, here’s some fun footage of just how high you can be launched from a WaterBlob.

 

Hodgdon Yachts Delivers 2 Tenders Designed by Andrew Winch

PHOTO: Onne Van der Wal

PHOTO: Onne Van der Wal

The latest custom megayacht tenders to be handed over by Hodgdon Yachts are from the drawing boards of Andrew Winch Designs, destined for an unnamed megayacht being built in Europe. While each tender measures 27’9” (8.5 meters), that’s where the similarities end. One is a limo tender, while the other is a far sportier T-top.

The limo tender features the luxe looks you’d expect of such a craft, with leather seating (for eight people) and raised-panel teak joinery in the cabin. Other niceties inside include a head, a retracting sunroof/moonroof, a retracting aft glass bulkhead, and an iPad that displays the variety of navigation information at the helm, should guests be curious.

PHOTO: Onne Van der Wal

PHOTO: Onne Van der Wal

As for the T-top tender (pictured above), open-air seating is the emphasis, though there’s also a nice swim step aft. This seems to suggest that the guests of the megayacht toting it can use it for watersports. If the winds and/or waves kick up, the T-top tender can be fitted with a small bimini forward, to protect anyone seated toward the bow. Speaking of the bow, a boarding/disembarking ramp flips down from here when the tender is in super-shallow water.

Both Andrew Winch megayacht tenders have teak transoms and teak exterior detailing, too.

For more photos of the two megayacht tenders, visit the Megayacht News Facebook page.

HeliCat, 2-Person Catamaran for Fast Fun

HeliCat

Visitors to the Newport Boat Show this week will be among the first to see this new high-speed toy. It’s called a HeliCat, and having originated in Argentina, it’s now being made in the United States.

The HeliCat is a 22-foot-long (6.5-meter-long), two-seater catamaran said to be capable of operating even in somewhat choppy conditions. Beam is 10 feet (3.05 meters), and draft is a mere one foot (39 centimeters). The all-fiberglass HeliCat is intended for zipping around on the water. The prototypes that were built in Argentina reportedly hit 30 to 40 mph, with twin Mercury outboards providing propulsion. HeliCat says twin 70-hp Yamahas are being used now and should permit speeds to 50 mph. The company further says fuel consumption is 4 to 10 gph at 20 to 40 mph.

Since total weight with engines is 1,600 pounds, it’s possible to stow the catamaran aboard a megayacht. If you’d rather keep it closer to home, you can also tow it, since the HeliCat can be ordered with its own trailer. Either way, the cat comes equipped with a VHF and navigation lights, plus a stereo.

Those of you who like wakeboarding or waterskiing should note that the HeliCat allows for the attachment of a tow rope. You can also customize the look of the HeliCat with graphics and opt for colors (red, blue, and yellow) rather than the standard white.

The first American-built HeliCat catamarans should be available this summer. Pricing was not available as of press time.

A four-seater HeliCat is also in development for this fall.