Bermuda Trip Begins

The two Brown brothers began their first leg of the perilous journey to Bermuda and back to New York Harbor, 1400 miles of open ocean. Bob Brown is accompanying his brother Ralph Brown... At 6:00 am Monday morning, the continued preparation began. At around 7:00 am, Ralph and Bob went to fill up four gas tanks totalling nearly 300 gallons of gas. That's 2000 pounds of fuel. An hour and a half later they were at the dock and ready to go. After meeting with the Mayor of Atlantic Beach and making some final arrangements, the Intruder 21 was in the water and all systems were go. A chase boat followed Ralph and Bob out for almost 10 miles, to allow for some photographs and media video. And then just like that, the were off in the horizon. We later received our first satellite phone call from Ralph with a report that everything was going as planned. Due to the extreme weight of the fuel, they were travelling at a slower speed then originally intended. Ralph hopes this will change when they burn off some fuel. More updates to come when we next hear from Ralph. Leave Ralph a comment to encourage him on his journey.

Suicide or proof

We are attempting to set what we believe will be a new world record for the longest unescorted oceanic crossing in a flats boat. We will be leaving from Atlantic Beach, North Carolina crossing over to Bermuda, then continuing on to New York Harbor, over 1,400 miles of open ocean. The Intruder 21 boat can be viewed in detail at http://www.dreamboats.net/. This is a super shallow running boat that can be configured as a deck boat, or as a fishing boat often referred to as a flats boat. The Intruder 21 is produced by Dream Boats, Inc. Dream Boats, Inc. claims that this boat is the World's most seaworthy flats boat and is seeking to prove it by this trip.We are planning to leave Atlantic Beach, N.C., at 8:30 a.m., April 30, 2007, from the Day's Inn Boat Ramp, 602 W. Ft. Macon Rd, Atlantic Beach, N.C. There will be a chase boat for media to run out for 5 - 10 miles. After going to Bermuda we will continue on to New York Harbor, and dock at the Liberty State Park, (Statue of Liberty State Park), in Jersey City, New Jersey at approximately 8:30 a.m., Friday May 4, 2007. Ralph Brown, can be reached for comment at 352-346-2365 or you may go to http://www.dreamboats.net/ There will be downloadable broadcast quality video after 1:pm April 30 at that website.

Dream Boats, Bermuda Run

Some call it suicidal, others call it proof.On April 30, 2007, two Tampa Bay men, Ralph Brown and Patrick McMunn will depart the coast of North Carolina in a 21 ft flats boat, headed for Bermuda, and then to New York Harbor, 1,400 miles of perilous ocean to prove the seaworthiness of this unique boat that is also comfortable operating in less than six inches of extremely shallow water, and by God's Grace hopefully set a new world record for unescorted oceanic crossing in a flats boat.

Thanksgiving weekend seven years ago, Ralph and his two boys were boating with Larry Strong and his kids. They hit a rock and broke the lower unit of the motor. A few months later, Ralph’s wife Anne was in a car wreck and had to have extensive hospitalization. His income went down considerably as he had to take many days off work, taking her to doctors. His best friends became bill collectors. Ralph found himself hiding from his problems in a boat design. He gradually became consumed with the concept of making boats that would be able to go over the rocks in shallow water without damage and still be very seaworthy.

After two and a half years, his wife had all she could take. You could not talk to Ralph about anything else. She demanded that he either do it or “shut up.” She thought he was going to shut up. Little, did she know? That night he incorporated as Dream Boats, Inc. He was broke, actually closer to bankrupt, with nothing more than a dream, and by God's Grace a boat load of sheer determination. His first plans did not work well.

He spent four and a half years chasing investors, developing, testing, and rebuilding boats. Over one million dollars later, the finished product is unbelievable; a small extremely seaworthy boat with a simply magical ride. Proving that it runs in shallow water is easy, just ride in it. People who have never ridden in it find it hard to believe how seaworthy this boat is. Now he is putting his life where his mouth is and taking one to Bermuda and back. Some call it suicidal; Ralph calls it proof.