Followers tracking the Vietnamese craftsman’s work called the vessel “out of this world.” Recently, Trang Long Ho delighted them with footage showing him build a fully functional jet boat shaped like a flying saucer in his home workshop.
Made of fiberglass and several steel plates, the craft has automatic doors and light panels. The inventor says there’s enough space for a pilot in the cockpit.
Although the boat doesn’t fly, it reaches speeds up to 50 km/h on water. In a Facebook post about the project, Trang Long Ho wrote, “I created what I dreamed of.”
How did he do it?
Mr. Ho’s creation may look futuristic, but the boat was built from simple materials, Daily Mail reported.
The video documenting the build shows it began with a sand model that formed the base of the upper dish. Trang Long Ho covered the sandy dome with a thin layer of concrete, then laid sheets of fiberglass and epoxy resin over it.
After the fiberglass set, the team lifted the shell and removed the concrete, leaving a thin, lightweight hull. Ho then reinforced it with a grid of fiberglass ribs and hexagons. The same process produced the lower half of the “UFO,” where the engines were mounted.
Meanwhile, Mr. Ho cut hexagonal windows and installed door panels. The doors slide open sideways, like on a spacecraft.
Next, Trang Long Ho turned to electronics and controls. Inside the cabin he installed a steering wheel, pedals, and a dashboard, and used LED strips to create a futuristic glow around the panels.
The video also shows Mr. Ho connecting dozens of small segments into large solar panels that he installed outside.
Although the footage didn’t show him installing batteries, they are likely present to power the lighting and the electronic doors.
After painting and adding the final decorative elements, the saucer-shaped boat was ready for testing.
Tuoi Tre News observed that Mr. Ho has to lean back significantly in his seat to fit into the low cabin.
The bottom of the vessel is shaped like a typical flat-bottomed boat, which gives it reasonable maneuverability. Still, the ride isn’t smooth: the boat often tips backward, jumps out of the water, and then splashes back down.
Fans react to Mr. Ho’s work
Commenters on social media expressed excitement about the marine engineering feat.
One wrote, “I’m a retired engineer. In my lifetime I have designed quite a few things, but this is the coolest thing I have ever seen.” Another said they had “never seen so much talent in one person” and called the inventor “a gift to all humanity.”
One enthusiastic commenter added, “You are an alien from space. This is how you built a spaceship from scratch! No one could have done what you did!”
To the disappointment of fans, Mr. Ho says he does not produce boats for commercial sale.
Online posts suggest he was once willing to sell a previous jet boat for “around 20 million.” That likely refers to 20 million Vietnamese dong, roughly $814 US.
