(6300 B.C.) |
Dugouts and rafts make the scene. |
(4000 B.C.) |
Egyptian boats with bottoms, sides, etc. |
(2000 B.C.) |
Oars added for propulsion. |
(200 B.C.) |
Archimedean Screw, the propeller’s precursor. |
(100 A.D.) |
Roman Trieme—three tiers of synchronized galley slaves. |
(527) |
First paddle wheels. |
(1452) |
Birth year of Leonardo da Vinci, inventor of V-shaped boat bottom. |
(1729) |
Jet boat patented in England. |
(1759) |
Propulsion via giant mechanical duck’s feet. |
(1807) |
Robert Fulton’s steamboat Clermont. |
(1808) |
John Ericsson intro’s modern screw propeller. |
(1872) |
The Rev. C.M. Ramus invents the planing hull, with a flat bottom and an upturned bow. |
(1902) |
Internal-combustion inboards. |
(1903) |
First Harmsworth Cup motorboat race. |
(1909) |
Ole Evinrude invents the outboard motor. |
(1924) |
Baby Bootlegger wins Gold Cup race. |
(1942) |
Ray Greene builds first fiberglass boat in Toledo, Ohio. |
(1958) |
Jim Wynn’s stern drive. |
(1960) |
Fiberglass molding begins its ascendancy. |
(1970s) |
Loran C. |
(1980) |
Howard Arneson’s surfacing drive. |
(1990) |
Seeman Composites Resin Infusion Moulding Process |
(SCRIMP) |
resin-infusion process patented. |
(Mid-1990s) |
GPS operational with 24 satellites. |
(2004) |
Hydrogen fuel-cell boat propulsion. |
(2005/2006) |
Pod propulsion from Volvo Penta and Cummins. |
(2008) |
Reuben Trane’s Island Pilot DSe 12M with hybrid power. |
(2013) |
MakerBot 3D printer facilitates boatbuilding. |
(2015*) |
First self-docking recreational boat. |
(2016*) |
First commercially viable diesel hybrid. |
(2018*) |
Recreational boats printed directly with 3-D technology. |
(2020*) |
Runabouts with robotic skippers. |
(2033*) |
Advent of virtual boating—experience the high seas through your phone or tablet screen. |
(*estimates) |
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