Experimental Craft

Hello Darren,

I hope you get this message, as it's been quite some time since your post.

I've recently been researching this boat, due to the fact that my grand-father and father were involved in its development.  My grand-father was owner/president of the Eddy Shipbuilding Co., which later became the Huron-Eddy Co., who working with the Detroit Boat Basin and famed Naval Architect John Hacker developed one of two such boats.  My father, James W. Eddy, acted as Drafting Engineer, and according to the famous east coast  (US) boat designer, Ray Bolger, was also Program Mgr.

This was a bit larger that the 55' and 85' crash boats previously built.  Unfortunately, due to the end of the Korean War and helicopter development used in air/sea rescue work, the boat was never produced.

Our family has many blueprints from the work, and the John Hacker Collection at the Virginia Navel Archive Museum, has much information as well.

The 2nd boat was built in California- don't know a lot about it, but the Detroit boat does still exist!  It sits in dry dock at a New Jersey Marina, just off the Chesapeake Bay where she underwent much testing out of the Norfolk, Virginia naval base.  I can provide more information, if you're interested.  I do have a view other photos too.