Ducks practicing wet/dry runs

Florida Keys News

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Ducks practicing wet/dry runs

BY TIMOTHY O'HARA Citizen Staff
tohara@keysnews.com

It will be another month before an amphibious tour in Key West starts accepting passengers, but the operators have already started test runs on Old Town streets -- including the town's main tourism drag of Duval Street.

"We haven't started operations yet," said Piper Smith, marketing director for Historic Tours of America, which operates the Southernmost Ducks,...

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Here's 1 way...

Submitted on Mon, 10/08/2012 - 4:37pm by spkev

Since you have denied, then admitted to 'sometimes' (never) hanging on Duval, I'd say it could get worse if you always (sometimes) hung out there...maybe you do actually live downtown, in which case I hope you are the first to be run over by a Duck. Oh, wait. That would make it better

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Tsk Tsk

Submitted on Mon, 10/08/2012 - 9:36pm by Bad Dog

Why is it all you do is hurl insulting responses instead of addressing the real issues?

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No Thanks

Submitted on Tue, 10/02/2012 - 12:10pm by Cruz

I have seen these Ducks operating in Key West Harbor. I've seen how they ride in the water and I've seen how they take wakes. There is no way in hell I am going on one of these, and I will NEVER recommend them to people visiting Key West. This is a disaster in the making.

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I hope their lawyers are

Submitted on Tue, 10/02/2012 - 9:28am by george

I hope their lawyers are practicing too. Between the construction, badly trained drivers and the stupid size of these idiot machines it is a matter of time before a bicyclist gets hit.

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These things are dangerous

Submitted on Tue, 10/02/2012 - 7:38pm by 666

These things are dangerous and have poor sight lines, especially if you are directly in front of the vehicle. A bike passing on the right at a stoplight could be crushed when the light changes. The City seems intent on destroying any traffic flow in Old Town. It can already take more then 20 minutes to go the one mile across Whitehead Street. Imagine when there are 6-8 of these added to the mix. I really don't understand our Commission. They just must not spend any meaningful amount of time in Old Town or they would see we are at a choke point.

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I have seen these "ducks" on the water practicing

Submitted on Tue, 10/02/2012 - 7:59am by trapper

there is a reason so many sank in WWII. Ungainly and slow , top heavy and hard to steer, the first big wake from a sportfisherman will roll the hulks over or swamp it. Will Swift convince the CG to make the harbor a no-wake zone to prevent this ? These vessels aren't safe for our harbor except on the calmest of days . I haven't seen the "Chief Engineer" aka Ed Swift on it once , he lists himself as such and should be the required pilot so that he can go down with his ship when necessary. Name the hydraduck "Titanic" so it's no suprise when it happens. True irony would be if the duck ran into a cruise ship and both sank. Irony is also that Jimmy Weekly is concerned about the "saftey" of these vehicles, where is our Cities 8 million dollars , Jimmy ? You personally should have to pay off that chunk of change . after all , you caused all of this fubar.

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to trapper

Submitted on Tue, 10/02/2012 - 1:33pm

these are not wwII 'dukws' better known by thier nickname 'ducks' these are 'hydra-terras' amphibious yes but 'ducks' a big NO. hydra-terras have been fabricated within the past 20 years or so. the 'ducks' used in ww2 were slow indeed at 5 knots but highly manuverable and could turn almost on thier own length of 30 feet and are way smaller then the 40 foot hydra-terras. ww2 'ducks' are not at all "ungainly, top heavy and hard to steer". this is pure fabrication. now the only reason so many [get your facts straight please] 'dukws' sank in ww2 was the 50 and 80 cal shelling hitting them and with some 2" morters deep sixing them also....not thier stability in water as you imply. in fact they have been known to surf 12 foot waves onto the beach heads. i doubt a hydra terra could do that. hope this helps with your 'fact finding'. also on the roadway they are simple gmc trucks with hulls built around thier 6X6 frames. you can see them all over town every time you spot a 6X6 dump truck carrying materials or supplies at any number of construction sites. best of cheers john murphy mgrm duck tours seafari LLC.

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johnmurphy mgrm duck tours seafari LLC,

Submitted on Mon, 10/08/2012 - 4:24pm by spkev

Are you saying that these are 6 wheel x 6wheel drive? Because I don't think I've ever seen any 6x6 dumptruck at 30' long, all over old town at any construction site. Cheers

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John murphy; you need to get out on the water

Submitted on Wed, 10/03/2012 - 8:20am by trapper

and watch the monstrosity you want to cripple our traffic with. You will find what I say is true. The harbor is the last place it needs to be. The first one to roll over in the harbor will end this charade. You and Swift are cut from the same fabric and deserve no consideration from the City or residents. Your ill gotten gain of our taxpayers monies has over inflated your self image. Your trolleys , which have inconsiderate rude drivers have hit more cars at greene and elizabeth than I can count. The ducks ,regardless of what model they may be ; are inapproprtate for Key West, Eventually , the citizens will force the City Commission to eject these lumbering pests from our streets. Next time I pass a duck on the water I'll forgo "backing down" and reducing my wake, and lets see the results, you have so much confidence , YOU drive the damn thing on the water, or will you have some underpaid lackey take the risk for you.

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trapper again

Submitted on Wed, 10/03/2012 - 6:34pm

you continue to fabricate things in your postings. we operated for one and a half years back in 1995-96 with no problems whatsoever on the harbor wakes or no wakes nor on the streets. also i have nothing to do with trolleys. get your facts straight. bearing false witness trapper makes you pathetic. i see by your responce you only want to muckrack. i waste no further time with the likes of you.

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I am in the harbor almost every day at least twice

Submitted on Thu, 10/04/2012 - 6:56am by trapper

and sometimes for 5-6 hours at a time , I didn't see these pieces of junk back then , so your operations must have been only occasional. Face it, you have a vehicle designed for crossing ditchs and inland water. it was never designed to be transportation for entertainment. Jimmy Weekly was right to eliminate the beasts but went about it the wrong way.

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Not only that...

Submitted on Tue, 10/02/2012 - 12:24pm by Mac

I hear that in sea trials they've discovered that the current in the harbor is far too strong for them. I think this won't last long.

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And Also

Submitted on Wed, 10/03/2012 - 12:00pm

As a waterfront rumor it was going around that they blew thier transmission on the first time sea trials being swept into a pier by tides, currents and windage and the captain threw it in reverse to recover and avoid the pilings and kapow. There went the tranny.

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Some mindless bicyclists are

Submitted on Tue, 10/02/2012 - 7:06am by david2009

Some mindless bicyclists are going to get squished.

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This should be fun to watch....

Submitted on Tue, 10/02/2012 - 7:03am by Elvis

Locals and snowbirds have barely become used to giving in and being courteous to the already present elongated tourist laden vehicles plaguing old town streets. Having to move, back up, or adjust themselves either driving a car, or biking, is going to completely put someone over the edge of emotion. Look forward to the show!

Welcome to Key West! Bring your earplugs and stare at the highest palm and patch of blue sky for your rest and relaxation. Best regards, Virginia Quacko

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What a Joke

Submitted on Tue, 10/02/2012 - 5:28am by

The Hydra Terrors look like T-Rex's roaming old town in search of their first victims. I've got my money on a bicyclist being the first to lose a battle with the lumbering giant. Squish. Splat. Kazam. I here the new ambulance company is adding snow shovels to their equipment list in preparation for scraping the victims up off the pavement.