Government

Prototype Stealth Ship on the Auction Block for Just Over $100K

GSA Auctions Off Sea Shadow Prototype Stealth Ship

Sea Shadow is being auctioned by the GSA. (Photo: Historic Naval Ships Association)

If you were ever interested in owning a piece of Lockheed Martin-made Navy memorabilia that was also the inspiration for a ship in the James Bond flick “Tomorrow Never Dies,” now’s your chance. The General Services Administration is auctioning off the Sea Shadow, a stealth ship prototype developed to test new technologies in the 1980s. But, as you might expect, it comes with some stipulations for the highest bidder.

For those of you interested in the vessel, GeekOSystem has more on Sea Shadow’s history:

For those unaware, the Sea Shadow was built by Lockheed Martin and DARPA in 1985 to test automation and stealth concepts on naval craft. The comparisons between it and the angular design of the Lockheed F-117 stealth fighter are immediate to the eye, and probably intentional as the Sea Shadow was built only four years after the aircraft’s first flight.

The Sea Shadow has been paired with the HMB-1 since the stealth craft’s inception, and the floating drydock has continued to house the craft after it was removed from service in 2006. Since then, the pair have been quietly rusting in the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet, with the hopes that an interested museum would want to take on the strange vessel. There were, obviously, no takers.

GSA Auctions Off Sea Shadow Prototype Stealth Ship

There have been five bids so far topping out at more than $100,000. (Photo: GSA)

So, it went to auction but here’s the catch. According to the GSA description, if you’re the one taking home this beast, know that it will be “DISPOSED OF BY COMPLETELY DISMANTLING AND SCRAPPING WITHIN THE U.S.A. DISMANTILING IS DEFINED AS REDUCING THE PROPERTY SUCH AS IT HAS NO VALUE EXCEPT FOR ITS BASIC MATERIAL CONTENT.” The all caps were of the GSA. As GeekOSystem explains it, this means no pleasure boating.

Here’s some footage of the Sea Shadow from YouTube:

As of Monday, there are four days left to place your bid. So far there have been five bidders, the highest at $100,420, according to GeekOSystem. A $10,000 deposit is required to bid.

GSA Auctions Off Sea Shadow Prototype Stealth Ship

(Photo: Historic Naval Ships Association)

The Herald Sun reports Sea Shadow cost $195 million to construct.

Comments (18)

  • AuraStream
    Posted on May 3, 2012 at 3:32pm

    I can Imagine you pulling up with this right next to some other Yaht….oh joy.

    Report Post » AuraStream  
  • steelpanther
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 9:31pm

    “So, it went to auction but here’s the catch. According to the GSA description, if you’re the one taking home this beast, know that it will be “DISPOSED OF BY COMPLETELY DISMANTLING AND SCRAPPING WITHIN THE U.S.A. DISMANTILING IS DEFINED AS REDUCING THE PROPERTY SUCH AS IT HAS NO VALUE EXCEPT FOR ITS BASIC MATERIAL CONTENT.” The all caps were of the GSA. As GeekOSystem explains it, this means no pleasure boating.”

    So they are bidding on scrapping rights? Why couldn’t they just say that…..

    Report Post »  
  • Inlandmar2
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 8:37pm

    Be a Partiot! Bid now! Bid high! GSA needs money for their next foray to Las Vegas. This time they want 2 performing clowns. They have to pay, because Obama and Biden turned them down.

    Report Post » Inlandmar2  
  • Wolfgang the Gray
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 8:31pm

    That would that be cool for pulling skiers! I bet Sea Shepherds would love it for their fight against the illegal Japanese whaling fleet.

    Report Post » Wolfgang the Gray  
    • Hades
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 12:57pm

      That would be pretty cool. I watch Whale Wars because, being an ex-cop, I respect the laws. There is a law against whaling but the Japanese are saying they are conducting scientific experiments and taking “samples”. In doing so they can legally harvest the remaining whale meat for sale on the open market. But they are obviously harvesting a lot more whales than needed for “research”. The Japanese are essentially breaking the law with a wink and a smile.

      Those that fight this should be helped, but I do not condone the ramming tactics that they have used in the past. That gambit has a very real chance of causing a loss of human life. They should continue to harass, shoot whatever chemical they use to make the meat non-edible but safe for the so called “scientific” purposes that the Japanese say they are there for but should not put people’s lives in danger over it.

      Just my two cents…

      Report Post »  
    • Inlandmar2
      Posted on May 3, 2012 at 1:41pm

      Too slow…..Does not maneuver very well.

      Report Post » Inlandmar2  
  • N37BU6
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 4:56pm

    “100,420″

    Millionaire stoner alert.

    Report Post » N37BU6  
  • lukerw
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 2:13pm

    And… the same Sale Critera holds for the Sale of the USA!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 10:11am

    Was it solar powered, cuz that’s about the rate of return on obams green investments…….

    Report Post »  
    • teamarcheson
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 11:23am

      I’ll buy it for $100K if it comes with its weapons. I am sure drug runners will buy it.

      Report Post »  
    • JRook
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 1:36pm

      So where is the investigative interest relative to how much the Pentagon paid Lockheed for the prototype. The answer will of course provide some insight into those who really benefit from federal spending.

      Report Post »  
  • 1WhoQuestions
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 8:45am

    So, you’re buying $100K pontoons and wire? Would have been better off just scrapping the boat entirely as ultimately you end up with a $100,000 picture of the boat with your name on a plaque.

    Report Post »  
  • RepubliCorp
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 8:00am

    Just try finding parts

    Report Post » RepubliCorp  
  • Noonien_Soong
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 7:48am

    China might be interested.

    Report Post » Noonien_Soong  
    • Willik
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 8:17am

      China probably made a bid and above the best one. They won’t be required to break it down. They’ll get it in tact. Fix is in! Guaranteed!

      Report Post » Willik  
    • sndrman
      Posted on May 2, 2012 at 10:23am

      why would china pay? just steal the designs.or better yet have it some how land in iran and then iran could trade for services…O’kenyan HUSSAIN could just hand the designs or the prototype to the chinese … so when the O’kenyan needs money just trade our secrets….

      Report Post »  
  • BlackAce41
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 7:33am

    It would make an awesome looking yacht..

    Report Post » BlackAce41  
  • 80mesh
    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 6:56am

    IT HAS NO VALUE EXCEPT FOR ITS BASIC MATERIAL CONTENT

    exactly whats left our country after what floppy ears is done with it

    Report Post » 80mesh  

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