Over 600 years ago, Zheng He led a mighty armada on the first of seven voyages on a mission of diplomacy and trade. The armada included treasure boat (or Bao-Chuan), which is the largest wooden ship ever built (30 times larger than the Santa Maria.)

Dating from before the time of Christ and remaining in use for several centuries after, the merchant ships of the Roman Empire represented an important stage in the evolution of the cargo ship.  

The African Queen is a 1951 film stars Humphrey Bogart (who won the Academy Award for Best Actor) and Katharine Hepburn.  African Queen has been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry and multiple other countries around the world.

Calypso represents the fulfillment of a dream for her owner Jacques-Yves Cousteau, a French oceanographer whose numerous inventions and underwater techniques have been a significant factor in unravelling the secrets of the sea.  In 1950 Cousteau purchased an 8 year old American built minesweeper and modified it extensively to make a fully equipped ocean exploration vessel. The equipments include a bulbous observation chamber in the bow, a unique, saucer shaped diving bell, a Galezzi diving chamber, an inflatable boat for trips to shallow waters, a helicopter, and numerous underwater devices.  Available in Fall 2008.  Sign up for updates: wish list
 

The French barge LE CANOT IMPERIAL was built in 1811 for Napoleon's inspection of the fortifications of Antwerp. This barge, which is 17.21 m long and 3.35 m wide, was built in only 21 days, including all the decorations. A large team of carpenters and sculptors worked day and night. The magnificent sculptor work was done by van Petersen. On the bow Neptune rode a dolphin, with crown and trident. He is accompanied on each side by winged tritons, each followed by a dolphin. Neptune resembled here rather a young hero than an old sea god. The boat is now preserved at the Musée de la Marine, Paris.

The steam yacht Livadia was constructed for Emperor Alexander II of Russia. Plans for the vessel had been prepared by Admiral Popoff, of the Russian navy, and were said to represent the latest development of ideas that were "revolutionary and subversive of all established principles of shipbuilding". The hull was the shape of a broad and shallow oval. It was claimed that taking a flat fish as a model for the vessel would satisfy the exceptional design requirements, in combining speed and strength with spacious comfort and stability. It seems that the Emperor was prone to severe seasickness. The Livadia was 153 feet broad at its widest point, more than three fifths of the 235 feet length. It was capable of 14 knots per hour. A crew of 260 was required to sail her. The Emperor's apartments were sumptuously fitted out with "splendid decorative work." Sign up for updates: wish list or have it faster: commission it.
 

The Ross Winans was a "cigar boat" built by the Winans family, successful railroad engineers from Baltimore. In the early 1850’s, they conceived the ideal that the most advantageous shape for an ocean-traveling ship would be a spindle. The waves would wash easily over the decks, reducing rolling; the pointed hull would cut through the water with minimal resistance.  Ross Winans' hull was 256 feet long, but only 16 feet in diameter. A superstructure 130 feet long and 10 feet wide perched on top. She was driven by two nine-bladed propellers. The Ross Winans combined a number of ingenious patented mechanical inventions. She was the first vessel to use high-pressure steam engines, forced-air ventilation, self-centering drive shafts, and derricks for lowering her boats. Many of these inventions were subsequently used in other vessels. The original cost of the Ross Winans was about 60,000 pound sterling, or about $6.5 million in today’s money.  Sign up for updates: wish list or have it faster: commission it.
 

The opening sequence for the James Bond film 'The world is not enough' featured a water jet powered speed boat. In reality there were 15 boats, 4 of which were fully operational and the other 11 were full size models. The working bond boats were powered by a 5.7 litre V8 running through a jet drive - like a jet ski - this enables the bond boat to run in as little as three inches of water. These powerful little boats were capable of reaching 65mph, perhaps more impressive though are their 0-50 times of just 3.5 seconds.  Today only eight Q boat survive.  Sign up for updates: wish list or have it faster: commission it.
 

Built in 1961 at the Coast Guard shipyard in Curtis Bay, Maryland, the 44 foot Coast Guard is a very seaworthy lifeboat that carries out search and rescue assignments in hazardous weather and water conditions. US Coast Guard 44 is self stabilizing and can carry out the most demanding of rescue operations.   Sign up for updates: wish list or have it faster: commission it.
 

HMS Kite was a prototype British flatiron steam gunboat. She was designed during a period of invasion scares and were suitable for coastal and inshore defense. She was armed with a single 9-inch (229 mm) muzzle-loading, rifled gun which fired a 254-pound (115 kg) shell.  Sign up for updates: wish list or have it faster: commission it.
 

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