Military Inflatable Boat

Here's a perfect example of how the military benefits others, asking for nothing in return. Many commercial fishermen around the world owe their lives to the US Navy whose Search & Rescue teams pull them from the ocean when accidents or storms try to send them to watery graves. There are many other examples where the military helps. See how many you can come up with to share with the rest of us.

Divers removing failed tire reef project
By BRIAN SKOLOFF, Associated Press Writer
Fri Jun 8, 9:15 AM ET

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - It took only days to create what was touted as the world's largest artificial reef in 1972, when a well-intentioned group dumped hundreds of thousands of old tires into the ocean. Now divers expect to spend years hauling them to the surface.
The tires turned out to be a reef killer, turning a swath of ocean floor the size of 31 football fields into a dead zone.

Military crews began retrieving the tires this week from about 70 feet underwater, where they had broken loose from bundles and wedged along a natural reef. As of Thursday, they had pulled up about 1,600 of the estimated 700,000 tires that must be hauled to the surface.

The tires are "a constantly killing coral-destruction machine," said William Nuckols, who is coordinating the cleanup. "They had to come up."

The dumping of nearly 2 million tires began in 1972 with much fanfare by a group called Broward Artificial Reef Inc., which had the approval of the Army Corps of Engineers, support from Goodyear and help from hordes of volunteer boaters.

The project was intended to attract a rich variety of marine life while disposing of tires that were clogging landfills.

But hurricanes, tropical storms and cold fronts created wave action that loosened the tires and moved them around, killing part of one of three coral reefs off Fort Lauderdale, said Broward County marine biologist Kenneth Banks. Hundreds of tires have also washed up on beaches over the years.

If left unchecked, the tires could kill acres of coral and eventually start destroying other nearby reefs.

Divers from the Army, Navy and Coast Guard are cleaning up the mess, which already has proven to be much trickier than making it. The teams have been hampered by thunderstorms, wind-whipped waves and a balky crane that brought operations to a halt Thursday.

Weather permitting, divers will spend the summer months for the next three years bringing up the 700,000 tires while leaving behind the ones that seem to have remained in place — at least for now.

The tires will be trucked to a Georgia facility where they will be burned to power a paper recycling plant at a cost to Florida of $2 million.

Broward County says it sees about $60 million in annual tourist revenue from marine and dive-related activities and it cannot afford to lose one of its most treasured natural resources.

The cleanup was organized by Coastal America, a Washington-based conglomeration of employees from government agencies who tackle marine problems. Banks said the cleanup project would have been nearly impossible if not for the cooperation of the various agencies, including the military, Broward County and the state.

Officials estimate the project would have cost nearly $30 million if done commercially, but the military is offering its services for free as part of training exercises for its divers.

"Any single government entity would bankrupt itself trying to do this," Banks said.

Using two-man teams, divers spend about 40 minutes at a time underwater, pulling the tires from the sand, stringing them together and raising them to the surface using inflatable bags. A crane aboard a 174-foot Army boat then hoists the tires from the water.

Army 1st Lt. Russell Destremps said the operation provides a rare opportunity for divers from three military outfits to hone their skills together.

Let's see...Honduras during the hurricane season, during that bad sunami, building houses, hospitals, schools in Iraq, we basically rebuilt germany after the war. Our military is deployed world wide helping other countries rebuild. Figure it out...war is the last thing that we want to do.

2007-06-08 13:41:11 by Knight Errant

www.teamxtremeinflatables.com

If we attack Iran, they can use low level technology to disrupt oil shipments through the Gulf. They have done it before. They have land and ship launched anti ship missiles. They have thousands of sea mines and many ways to distribute them, both low level and high level techniques. From inflatable rubber boats, to mine laying ships and planes. Including commercial oil tankers. The Gulf is narrow and limits our military capabilities. Do you believe they can cause enormous economic problems in Europe, Asia and America? And can they caiuse a world wide depression?

Sure, if we carry on the war for years like we have in Iraq.

The Iraq war should have been over in less than a year. But we disbanded the army and the governmental infrastructure, and are still trying to rebuild it from scratch.

The people of Iran would love to see their government overthrown, so they can go back to being the westernized country the were prior to Jimmy Carter helping overthrow the Shah back in 1978, leading to what we have now.

The Shah wasn't a nice guy, but he was better for the people than anything that has followed.

2007-11-08 11:37:43 by Jack J

SIT ON A 1.5" CUSHION OF AIR
MAKES ALL HARD SURFACES COMFORTABLE
NEWER LARGER SIZE - 11x14"

Hey Everyone,
I'm in the military stationed in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia and have been doing a lot of pier fishing lately in the James River, but now I'd like to get out on a small boat of my own, but I'm not sure what the best time of small boat would be. A friend told me a jon boat would be a good choice. I looked up more information and liked the idea, except I don't own a truck or something to put it on, and I'm not sure how well putting a jon boat on top of an Infiniti G35 would work. Would something inflatable be a good idea? I'm flexible on price, would preferably like to stand at times, and would like some sort of portability or something I can easily put on top of a car or something. Not interested in fishing kayaks. Any ideas or suggestions would be great, thanks!

-Dave

Here's all the boats I can think of that might work for you. (I've included a "fisherman's " Kayak. Although you said no Kayaks, you should check out the one I'm including.....)

Hobie , Mirage Pro Angler- This is the "cadillac" of fishing Kayaks. It has a unique pedal propulsion system allowing you to troll or cast and slowly move. You can stand in it and it is totally "car-topable"- http://www.hobiecat.com/fishing/boats/pr o-angler/

Fold Boat/Porta-Bote- This is much better than an inflatable but takes a bit of time to set-up- http://www.porta-bote.com/index.htm

In my opinion, an inflatable boat is not safe or reliable enough to be called a "boat". However, you can purchase a really thick, expensive, inflatable and be fine. BUT, they have (next to) NO re-sale value. Do you really want to spend a lot of money on something you can't re-sale for at least half of what you bought it for?

A Jon boat would be nice, BUT, they aren't fun to put on the top of a car by yourself. And the "skinny" Jons are more "tippy" than a Kayak or Canoe. (The "wide" Jons are very stable, but tend to be heavier than the skinny's.) However, Weight is the major issue with a "wide" Jon boat. They are usually in the 100-150LB range. Putting a 150LB cumbersome boat on top of a car by yourself TWICE can ruin your fishing trip.....and one "mistake" can scratch the heck out of your car. Ask yourself, "Am I always going to have help putting this on top of my car?" If No is your answer, then think twice about Jon.....

Canoes are a compromise between a Kayak and a Jon. Most are under 80-100Lb's and aren't too cumbersome for a single man to maneuver onto the top of a car. You can add a trolling motor to a Canoe and comfortable seats. There are many modification you can do to a Canoe to make it more "fish-able" and comforting. Some Canoes are designed for fishing (and standing) and can easily be trailered if need be with a car. Also, you can usually find a very nice used one for under $400. Here's a nice fishing Canoe- http://www.oldtowncanoe.com/canoes/gener alFamily/discovery_sport_15.html

Add a cheap trailer (and get a hitch put on your car) and you've got a fishing MACHINE! Of all the boats I've owned over the years, my tricked-out Old Town was the boat that caught me the largest and most fish!

Why? I could go places no one else could go, (like small ponds and lakes). I added permanent swivel seating, a fish finder, and a Trolling motor (with a deep cycle battery). That canoe was awesome! Of course I had a trailer as well. And if your gonna get a trailer you might want to get a Jon Boat............

(lol)

Lotsa "angles" on this subject, hugh? (lol)

Anyway, hope this info helps ya?

2010-09-26 12:34:31 by David W

BE SURE you ordered the right size for your intended use!!
Simply peel and stick! Easy to remove and re-apply.
ALL orders CUSTOM printed. When you place an order, the image is made in the USA, just for you!

Reports: Israeli ships attack aid flotilla, 2 dead
By TIA GOLDENBERG, Associated Press Writer – 37 minutes ago
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100531/ap_o n_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_palestinians

HAIFA, Israel – Israeli warships attacked at least one of six ships carrying pro-Palestinian activists and aid for the blockaded Gaza Strip, killing at least two and wounding an unknown number of people on board, an Arabic satellite news channel and a Turkish TV network reported early Monday.
The Israeli military spokesman's office denied that its forces attacked the boats but said they would enforce the decision to keep them away from Gaza.
However, other security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to report on the military operation, confirmed that activists were wounded, but did not give numbers.
They said the troops faced resistance and that soldiers were under orders only to use fire if their lives were in danger.
The al-Jazeera satellite channel reported by telephone from the Turkish ship leading the flotilla that Israeli navy forces fired at the ship and boarded it, wounding the captain. The Turkish NTV network also reported an Israeli takeover with gunfire, and that at least two people were killed.
The al-Jazeera broadcast ended with a voice shouting in Hebrew, "Everybody shut up!"
A Turkish website showed video of pandemonium on board one of the ships, with activists in orange life jackets running around as some tried to help an activist apparently unconscious on the deck. The site also showed video of an Israeli helicopter flying overhead and Israeli warships nearby.
The reports came just after daybreak, with the flotilla still well away from the Gaza shore. Israel had declared it would not allow the ships to reach Gaza.
Al-Jazeera footage showed soldiers descending from helicopters on ropes onto a ship and two men, apparently wounded, being carried away.
A violent takeover would deal yet another blow to Israel's international standing, already tarnished by war crimes accusations in Gaza and its three-year-old blockade of the impoverished Palestinian territory.
Greek activists said people on board one of the ships in the flotilla told them that Israeli forces boarded two other boats — one Greek, another Turkish — from helicopters and inflatable speedboats and took them over.
They said the attack took place in international waters 80 miles (128 kilometers) from the Gaza coast and that the boat had refused to obey the Israeli navy's orders to halt.
Shortly after, activists on board the ship told them that Israeli commandos had boarded the Greek boat and that the last words they heard before the connection was cut were, "They're boarding the ship using hooks, we're under arrest."
The report continues .. then says;
Some 700 pro-Palestinian activists are on the boats, including 1976 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire of Northern Ireland, European legislators and an elderly Holocaust survivor.
The First Dragon; You are right; the enemies of Israel are the Civilian Natives of Palestine from whom they stole the land and built Israel. They should n't be allowed to rebuild their homes that were destroyed by the Israeli army
WhatBrain, The Israeli armi has attacked the ship 60 KM away from their shore. They have no right to stop anybody that far from their waters.
Some people compare the Civilians of Gaza to the Nazi army, or Al-Qaida. OMG, what a sick comparison. These are civilians dumb heads!!
Some people compare the Civilians of Gaza to the Nazi army, or Al-Qaida. OMG, what a sick comparison. These are civilians dumb heads!!

Its simply a criminal country having no problem in doing a crime while the world watches .. (Silence of the lambs)

2010-05-30 22:31:39 by f_k_alkhalili

Hey Everyone,
I'm in the military stationed in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia and have been doing a lot of pier fishing lately in the James River, but now I'd like to get out on a small boat of my own, but I'm not sure what the best time of small boat would be. A friend told me a jon boat would be a good choice. I looked up more information and liked the idea, except I don't own a truck or something to put it on, and I'm not sure how well putting a jon boat on top of an Infiniti G35 would work. Would something inflatable be a good idea? I'm flexible on price, would preferably like to stand at times, and would like some sort of portability or something I can easily put on top of a car or something. Not interested in fishing kayaks. Any ideas or suggestions would be great, thanks!

-Dave

i have seen pictures of modular boats. its three tubs that fit inside of each other to go on top of the car. when you get there you slide them together and it makes a 12 foot jon boat. i would stay away from inflatables. they are great for drinking beer and drifting, but difficult to fish out of and almost impossible to stand up in. there are also folding boats, that fold down to the size of a surf board. when you get there, you unfold it and put a few braces in. these options are great for the slow shallow sandy rivers around here. i dont know anything about yours, but if its fast and deep then any of these choices would feel a little scary. whatever you do take a life jacket.

2010-09-26 12:34:30 by David W