When you drive down the road in a fast, flashy new sports car, you expect heads to turn your way to check out your new ride. If you go so far as to drive a Batmobile, or even a replica Bugatti Veyron, you not only expect to stand out, you crave the attention of passerby. And if we shift our focus to the boating world, you could drive a 100 mph hydroplane, which would certainly be an eye-catcher. But what would be the marine equivalent of a replica Bugatti? Today’s remarkable listing answers this question!
Up for sale is a 2011 Sea Doo Battleship Replica.
The boat (ship?) is a replica of the famous battleship New Jersey, designed and built by Bill Gifford at Gifford Marine Inc. Although you can’t tell from the picture, the replica is not 887 feet long and capable of carrying 1,921 people (like the original). This one measures only 20 feet, and holds two people.
The auction description provides further details about the boat:
“[The replica is] (p)owered by a 120 HP Sea Doo jet drive, (and) includes full instrumentation with 15 gal fuel cap. Two of the main guns are fully articulating and fire streams of high pressure water. The vessel also contains a 4000 watt generator, air compressor and high pressure stainless steel water pump.”
The replica also includes full safety equipment, a VHF radio, GPS plotter, and depth sounder. Other equipment includes a sound system, running lights, and retractable anchor light. The replica battleship will be delivered for free within 500 miles of its home port in Egg Harbor Township, NJ, and the sale includes a twin axle trailer so you’re able to move your boat from place to place.
On a press video Bill Gifford said that he built his “interpretation of the battleship New Jersey” because he still believes in free enterprise and in what the boat represents. He adds that the boat is very stable, as he was in the sea clam business and drew upon his experience in designing this replica. Finally, he says people are astounded when they see the boat, and that they even spin around and follow him. And he gets tons of thumbs-ups when he is out on the boat – he speculates that the reason for this is the vessel’s patriotic theme.
The battleship USS New Jersey (BB-62) was indeed a patriotic ship. It was the second ship of the US Navy to get the name New Jersey, and was one of four completed Iowa-class battleships. The battleship saw action in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Lebanese Civil War, and provided service in the Persian Gulf. The USS New Jersey is the US Navy’s most decorated battleship, with a total of 19 battle and campaign stars. The ship was decommissioned for good in 1999. The vessel now serves as a museum at the Camden, NJ waterfront.
Take a look at this video, which shows the replica New Jersey in action. To get an idea of the size of the boat, you’ll see (at about the 1:15 minute mark in the video) the replica being overtaken by someone on a Jet Ski.
We salute Bill for being so industrious, creative, and patriotic. Plus, we absolutely love the water cannons!
Related links:
Battleship New Jersey
Wikipedia: Battleship New JerseyPress of Atlantic City video
19 Battlestars—WOW!!!
This is awesomely patriotic. I is wonderful to see someone go so far to show his patriotism by going to all the effort to build this boat. I represents our heroes. The first heroes of WW2 fought and died on DEC.7 ,1941. The second set of heroes are the ones who joined our armed forces on DEC.8,1941, lying to their mothers as to where they were going on that Monday morning,lying about their age. I cant think of a more patriotic ,brave, soul. They and all others fought and died for the freedoms we have today.
I am 53 , In 1965 in 1st grade when learning the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, I felt patriotic and cried, I don’t know to this day why I had that instinctive feeling and choke when I think,talk about our GREAT veterans. I am tearing up now. We are Americans we pray say the pledge, have guns, and say in GOD we trust on our money. Whats so hard to understand about that. We are capitalistic, and we used to be the greatest nation on earth.
Wade
Member of the BATTLESHIP NEW JERSEY attended several of the reunions with Jim Shatzman from New Jersey. John PASSED AWAY AUGUST 2009
If I had an extra 80K laying around, I’d buy this in a heartbeat.
Maybe 80 of us should get together and buy it. It’d be cool using it even 3 or 4 days a year…
My grandfather, Frank Scott, was in the navy during WWII. According to the way my mom tells it, he was serving on a ship that was on its way to Pearl Harbor, and just a day out, when it was bombed. I never heard what ship(s) he served on, and my mom was too young to remember, but when he died, among his possessions and metals was an old original framed picture of the New Jersey. I have always wondered if that meant he served on it at least sometime during his navy career.
This toy sums up everything that is wrong with the world, imagine a world were our kids didn’t know what a war/battle ship was. Sad.
Looks like a great toy. The model looks like more a tug boat, vice the lines of the BB-62.
THAT IS AWESOME! I would love just to see it for real. Ten thumbs up for a good job! I,’ like Dave, if I had an 80K I’d buy the thing! Great job.
DRAGON LADY THANKS FOR SAVING OUR ASS, 1969
That looks great. In the right setting the actual size could be mistaken for the real thing. I guess that is great as long as no one opens fire on it.