[Big_Monkey]

"That is what hubby said, go underneath and a drill a hole to sink it.

It's a lifeboat for the high seas. SOLAS regulation mandate that the vessel must be have positive buoyancy. In other words, you could fill the whole thing with water and cut the bottom out, and it would still float.

[rlmorel]

I visited this US Navy Perry class Frigate last month while she was visiting here in Boston Harbor. (I believe she was the USS Taylor)

Her main armament was a 80mm rapid firing cannon, a Phalanx and these dual 50 caliber machine guns.

Boarding vessels was one of her main jobs while over in the Persian Gulf.

The Chief Gunners mate (shown here) was describing how they would sometimes use floating debris as a target for practice, which had the additional advantage of eliminating a navigation hazard.

He told us about a capsized aluminum fishing boat that they expended over a thousand rounds of 50 cal and a thousand rounds from the Phalanx, but it would simply not sink.

The officer giving the tour began mercilessly teasing him in front of us, but he took it good with good nature. He apparently thought it was pretty funny too, but you could still see the irritation..."That damn thing just would not sink..."

[HiTech RedNeck]

Drag it down with a submarine then?

[Talisker]

It's a lifeboat for the high seas. SOLAS regulation mandate that the vessel must be have positive buoyancy. In other words, you could fill the whole thing with water and cut the bottom out, and it would still float.

Ah yes, but it would then still be floating full of water. Which would make it a bit difficult to occupy without, say, scuba tanks.

[Shyla]

I saw a news clip on the type of lige raft.

I thought one could possible drill into the bottom, but apparently not.

What a brave man the Capt. is.

I hope the pirates sink to the bottom of the sea and this wonderful amd comes home safe and sound.