Projects is this a fiberglass belly tank or boat part or??? worth grabbing?

I know where I have seen one of these. One washed up on Gilligan's Island.

 

It allready has a pretty good size hole in it just looked hollow but it has mud and crap in it. Has a couple spots where it's been glassed over and patched up but the tip almost feels like aluminum with glass over it the back I know is all glass. My buddy's got a bigger utility trailer lined up for Thursday so hopefully we can get it with that and a come along my guess it weighs around 600-800 lbs was a bitch to roll uphill. I'm sure it'll be lighter empty

 

This thread is awesome. Can't wait to see this unfold.

 

Curious


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

First, apologies for not having posted in a long time - but been lurking.
Anyway, what you have found is an Oropesa Minesweeping Float.
Its one of a pair of torpedo-shaped floats towed one on each side by a minesweeper at a fixed distance to suspend the ends of the steel rope used to tear submerged mines from their moorings. The device derives its name from the British trawler on which it was developed, HMS Oropesa.
So there's the name to put on the side of your bellytank - "The Oropesa"
See photo – https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/Paravane_aboard_USS_Engage_(MSO-433).jpg

 

I would put fins on it with atomic warning decals and plant it in my front yard and tell my neighbors it fell from the sky. Hope you got it, it's very cool!

 

A new era in belly tanks, that's very cool.
I hope someone builds it.

 

It's Thursday, do you have it yet?

 

Curious to hear whats inside!

 

That's pretty cool, even if for yard art only. Nice that japchris was able to identify exactly what it is.

 

Not so much but either will make your nose burn if you snoot it.

I just loved that old thread boat and all, that was one resourceful HAMBer right there.

 

My buddy sent me a picture loaded on his little utility trailer so I'll get some more pics tomorrow thanks to japchris for the i.d. a quick Google came up with this these two were found just downstream from the dam from this one although they look to be in better shape.
Minesweepers Wash Up by Perryville Pier, Hatem Bridge | Patch http://patch.com/maryland/havredegrace/minesweepers-wash-up-by-perryville-pier-hatem-bridge

 

Linky no worky.

 

http://patch.com/maryland/havredegrace/minesweepers-wash-up-by-perryville-pier-hatem-bridge

 

My buddy and his friend getting it loaded. They were both off work today and I wasn't so unfortunately I missed this step. You can see the damage on it in this pic. Still cool I think

 

It must be built! It's got too good of a back story not to be.

 

Here is what my school did with one for a little inspiration! It was a submarine that supposedly worked well...

 

You could make a mold off it and cast your own body. If 1 side is good make a mold, cast 2 halves and put them together. Some belly tank style racers are like that. The top half lifts off for access to the machinery.

Then if the Men in Black come after you, you can give them back their torpedo and still keep your racer.

 

Interesting to hear what it really is. I agree, pull a mold off of it and make more .

 

Very cool. I read where Aberdeen Proving ground said it was not from them so I wonder where it came from.

 

Who's the guy in the background?

 

This guy approves.

 

You kinda have to build that thing up, it's the right thing to do!

 

So is yours one of the 2 in the article or are there 3 or maybe evrn more?

 

Repo man.

 

Don, what does a naked Larry King have to do with this?

 

You could even do without a mold. Cover the torpedo top half with plastic sheets, build up layers of fibreglass mat to a suitable thickness and there you are. Do it twice to make 2 halves.

If you did it this way you would have to smooth out the surface with bondo and block sand it but it would still be easier than making a mold. Ed Roth built his creations this way.

 

Mine is not one of the other two they found but i believe that had to come from the same source. The other 2 were found last year. mine was found about 3 or 4 miles upriver from them north of the conewingo dam. And I'm almost positive i saw one floating above the damn the week before my daughter was born a year ago so I'm thinking someone had a floating dock made of them or something. Or maybe the navy practiced with them upriver from the dam years ago? Who knows. Anyone that wants to come make a mold off it feel free me and fiberglass don't get along

 

Leave the tank on your trailer. Set off a couple smoke bombs and toss 'em into the hole in the tank. Hit the road and cruise thru the McDonalds drive thru window. And of course, post a video of the whole event.