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Retired teacher builds pirate-proof vessel in five years
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A retired teacher from Indiana, Tom West, has recently completed a huge pirate-proof armored yacht called Faith after five years of work.
The vessel is longer than a double-decker bus, weights 30 tonnes and is 56 feet long. Inside, it is big enough to house a kitchen, dining and lodging areas, two bathrooms and sleeping room for 12 people.
Two wind turbines on the back of the vessel provide power for lights and electronics. For other electrical needs, the boat is equipped with a 10kW diesel generator.
The master cabin and the rudder controls are protected by a quarter-inch-thick steel door with a thick metal lock bar, in case of pirate raids on global trips.
An autopilot mechanism, sonar scanner, GPS unit, and gyroscope allow the Faith to get to its destination even without a pilot.
A water-treatment system is able to transform seven to nine gallons of seawater into drinkable water every hour by using carbon filters and a bacteria-killing ultraviolet light.
The Wests used a towing company to get the Faith into the Ohio River, which is the nearest suitable connection to waterways leading to the Gulf of Mexico.
They hope to bring the Faith to several continents. The route they will be following will change according to the wind and to their curiosity.