Australian Car Guide

Half-Safe is now protected from the weather in a glass-walled garage.

Carlin and his companion lived, ate and slept in this cramped area. A bunk was built across the cabin, behind and to the right of the camera position.

The standard amphibious Jeep or Seep has a bluff bow but Carlin added a boat-shaped bow both to improve sea worthiness and to provide more space for fuel tanks; unfortunately it made the Jeep less nimble on land. The (standard) capstan winch on the fore-deck was used for debogging, particularly when landing on soft beaches. The headlights were needed to make Half-Safe (sort of) street-legal; I wonder if he would have gotten away with it today?

The rear view shows the aft end of the cabin and yet another tank. Tail-lights were needed for the land legs of the trip.

Like a DUKW, the standard amphibious Jeep's propellor is carried in a "tunnel" where it is somewhat protected on launching and landing. Half-Safe carried a belly-tank for yet more fuel at the start of the Atlantic crossing. This masked off the propellor in the standard position, so Carlin extended the propellor shaft. The tunnel was plated over and used as an oil tank. The rudder is non-standard and larger than the standard one, various arrangements being tried. © L. A11ison

Half-Safe page

Pictures © A.J.Maeder