12.1- Homemade Stealth - EXTRA photos

Cap'n John and crew take his home-built "Stealth" for a sunset run

Today I found Capt. John putting-in his fast and sleek home-built water rocket at the Wildlife Ramp on Midyette St. in Oriental just as the sun set.

John has spent the last six months building the un-named vessel... He told me the NC Wildlife Dept. (in charge of registering boats and classifying home-made vessels in the process) has deemed it a "2009 Stealth."

She is a mere 16 feet long, and John reports he has had her up to 95 m.p.h. so far... but the boat IS still under construction, as evidenced by her primer colored hull, so he may yet be able to get her up to a respectable velocity.

I figured I could google the boat design and find more about it... I found a speedboat manufacturer named "Stealth," but their models do not resemble this one...

I'm hoping John will see my post and drop me an e-mail so I can get a bit more info. We didn't have much daylight to burn chatting, and the Stealth was ready to go.

Here are some more shots of John and crew putting in and taking off:

(click on any image to enlarge:)

The proud builder

Nevermind the 5200 seeping out of the seam... a rubrail will soon cover up	200 HP on the transom
Always keep the painter secured until you're sure the engine will start up... especially if there is no room for oars on-board!	Capt. and crew go through final pre-launch checklist... wind goggles?...
Wind goggles check and check... begin launch sequence...
Warming up the engine heading up Smith's Creek...	engine warm, the Stealth well on her plane heading past Smith Creek Marker No. 3.

-30-