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-   -   O.T. Do they have Junk-Yard wars in Cuba ?? (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/general-boating-discussion/55364-o-t-do-they-have-junk-yard-wars-cuba.html)

Chris288 07-25-2003 08:26 AM

O.T. Do they have Junk-Yard wars in Cuba ??
 
1 Attachment(s)
Cubans make freedom bid in floating Chevy truck
Thu Jul 24,12:23 PM ET


MIAMI (Reuters) - The 12 Cubans who tried to sail a 1951 Chevy truck from the communist-ruled island to the United States got no marks from U.S. authorities for their creativity.


Reuters Photo


AP Photo
Slideshow: Cubans Make Freedom Bid in Floating '51 Chevy




The would-be emigrants were sent back home.


Since Fidel Castro (news - web sites)'s 1959 revolution, Cubans have tried to leave the Caribbean island on rudimentary rafts, on giant truck inner tubes, in stolen boats and planes, even by windsurfer.


But no one remembers anyone attempting the 90-mile (145-km) crossing of the Florida Straits in a floating flatbed truck with 55-gallon (250-litre) drums strapped to its sides, tires still in place, a propeller attached to its drive shaft and a driver behind the wheel.


"We've seen surfboards, pieces of Styrofoam, bathtubs, refrigerators. But never an automobile," Coast Guard Petty Officer Ryan Doss said on Thursday.


A U.S. government plane spotted the bright-green truck chugging through the water at 8 mph (13 kph) on July 16 about 40 miles (64 km) south of Key West, just over halfway from Cuba to Florida. The Cubans had fashioned a makeshift, bright yellow shelter on the truck's bed.


"The truck's engine was actually running, propelling it through the water," Doss said.


The Coast Guard picked up the 12 Cubans from the vintage vehicle and took them back to the island on Sunday.


The truck was deemed a hazard to navigation and was sent to the bottom.


Under the U.S. immigration policy known as "wet foot, dry foot," Cubans who manage to set foot on U.S. soil are usually allowed to stay while those stopped at sea are routinely sent back to Cuba.

Chris288 07-25-2003 08:30 AM

Hey, is that thing a planing hull or a displacement hull ?? looks like a plowing hull, hell the plow is still attached..

P.S. notice, they were even smart enough to wear their life-jackets..

CigDaze 07-25-2003 08:34 AM

Those are some desperate mofo's!
That thing would kick the crap out of anything I've seen on JYW's so far....but I'll bet they took more than 10 hours to build it! :D

Chris288 07-25-2003 08:49 AM


Originally posted by Baja Daze
but I'll bet they took more than 10 hours to build it! :D
:D :D :D

97BossHammer 07-25-2003 08:56 AM

I bet the Boarder Patrol there can win any contest of "Guess what I saw today"

Shah Mat 07-25-2003 08:57 AM

I hate seeing old vehicle destroyed
 
Look at the condition of the truck. It's sad that the Coast Gaurd shot it full of holes and sank it. Would have made a cool resto project.

They should have given them passage to FL with that much effort.

Shah Mat 07-25-2003 09:03 AM

quote by chris 232:

Hey, is that thing a planing hull or a displacement hull ?? looks like a
plowing hull, hell the plow is still attached..



I think the plow is being used to steer with. Notice it's angle?

R Addiction 07-25-2003 09:33 AM

Junk Yard Wars in Cuba!!!!!! All the cars in Cuba are junk!!!!:D


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