Posted on 03/16/2012 6:12:45 AM PDT by Second Amendment First
A new class of private submarines has become the latest plaything for the super rich. They allow would-be adventurers to navigate the wonders of the coral reefs, explore shipwrecks or even to cruise alongside dolphins. The cheapest models start at $1.7 million, but prices can go as high as $80 million.
Just recently, Graham Hawkes tracked down a group of hammerhead sharks. Along for the ride on his Deepflight Super Falcon at the time was an investor named Tom Perkins, a potential client. "We were literally stalking them from below," Hawkes says. "It felt like flying in liquid sky."
Hawkes is an engineer in Point Richmond, California, and his workshop is located at the town's marina, directly on San Francisco Bay. Visitors don't exactly wander in here often, but when they do come, they generally have full pockets. Hawkes builds submarines for millionaires.
His company, Hawkes Ocean Technologies, is one of a number of businesses that specialize in taking the superrich diving. Hawkes' asking price for the Deepflight Super Falcon, for example, is $1.7 million (€1.3 million). American manufacturer SEAmagine's Ocean Pearl costs even more, at $2.5 million, but has the benefit of being able to dive to depths of around 900 meters (3,000 feet).
Triton Submarines, based in Vero Beach, Florida, is another company that specializes in submersibles for the well to do. "Our customers are large yacht owners who want to offer their friends and their family something special," says Bruce Jones, CEO of Triton. In the deep sea, "they can show them things they have never seen before."
(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...
I want one.
Oh, great. The company is in California, no less.
Democrats, Federal, State and local are at this very minute wondering, "Oh Goodie, another tax revenue stream - now how can we tax this buisiness out of business?"
Jones' next idea is to take tourists under the sea. He's building an underwater resort with submerged suites (price per week: $15,000) off a private island in the Fiji archipelago. Five submarines will be on hand to ferry guests across artificial reefs during the day.
Considering the clientele base for these, I think they can build a margin that will easily allow for high taxes and and a fine profit as well. Just look at where the wealthy reside.
Sounds like a great idea to me, too.
I wonder what the chances are of being caught in a fishing net?
That looks like a great immersion experience. A far cry from the diving bell on the Steel Pier back in the fifties.
I want one with torpedo tubes.
And a full complement of Mk. 46’s.
Going hunting for pirates off the coast of Somalia?
Hey, that’s not a bad idea!
you know what this means....an upcoming cable TV
reality show about the guy who repos submarines.
And another federal bureaucracy to oversee it.
What if someone doesn't want to go that deep? Why should a little ingenuity cost a fortune for something at depths >100-200ft? Can't one be built using smaller rechargable motors with drop-in battery packs? With control of buoyancy and your basically floating in position.
A submarine could be the ultimate SHTF answer
A fine argument for the left to use on just about everything.
To some, you or I may be considered "wealthy" and where we live may be "the right side of the tracks".
Whether my house is worth $100K or $1M, why should my toys be singled out for excessive taxes (remember the yatch debacle)?
Don't consider the clientele, consider the sticky fingered government and just say, "No!".
Better pay cash for these things.
The way they depreciate, your loan could have you underwater in no time.
If someone paid a million for that damn thing they need a rubber room.
LOL, talk about ingenuity, http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-02-15/news/28619548_1_semi-submersible-cocaine-vessel
This transparent sphere design was described in Popular Science back in approximately 1963. I know because I was crazy about all things underwater back then and I had a subscription to PS, thanks to the generosity of my parents.
The design shown above is very similar to the one depicted on the cover of that magazine, way back then. The main difference is that it's shorter in length; this could be due to the availability of better batteries today.
The article said that the thing about spheres is that they get stronger as you go deeper. That's undoubtedly true for an unblemished sphere, but as soon as you cut a hole for a hatch, its strength takes a hit. I wonder how deep that one is rated for.
With my luck, the market value of my sub would sink,and I’d be underwater on my loan.
Got me by 26 minutes.
Aww, shoes for industry.
Chevy tried to get into this market, but the batteries kept catching fire.....even underwater.
I spent several years crewing on my Uncle’s submarine. The thrill is gone. :-)
Some of the subs had cabins for 7-8 people and they could stay submerged for a a quite long time.
I can only try to understand what that must be like. Thanks for serving with our Silent Service.
I don’t buy the class warefare anymore than you, however, if you have a yacht from which to launch one of these, and homes in multiple blue city/states, you will probably pony up whatever the final cost is for one of these.
I can see the posts on FR: I used to have a great firearm collection before that terrible submarine accident.
A decade or so ago the government thought the same thing with the luxury tax on private jets and yachts. Didn't turn out so well for workers in those industries.
If I could afford it, I would buy one of those in a heartbeat. I would put it on my large yacht, right next to my helicopter.
These are definitely cool! However, while a private plane can land on a freeway or vacant field in an emergency, if something goes wrong in one of these things you’re screwed.
Probably nonexistant unless you're following dolphins.......
>> I can only try to understand what that must be like.
Probably not as bad as you imagine — and I learned a HECKUVA lot and had a lot of good times, too.
And it was relatively safe duty, compared to those soldiers and sailors who find themselves directly in harm’s way — the REAL heroes of freedom, IMO. God bless them all.
(Nevertheless, I’ve had my fill of going to sea — whether above the water OR below!)
Thanks and FRegards
If you think they're bad, take a look at those private aeroplanes. They can take off and land on fields, no government agents are required to be on board - it's an atrocity.
sounds awesome...too bad i can just afford to snorkel
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