Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Luxury Submarines

["Herve" <caribsub@coqui.net>]

I do not beleive there is a market for luxury submarines.
I beleive there is a market for mini submarines that can be transported
anywhere and on luxury yachts, or to access underwater habitats.
I mean for much less money you could have a luxurious underwater mansion in
40 FSW in tropical waters with a couple of subs to get in and out.
Herve
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Nace" <mnace@rapidforms.com>
To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Friday, May 31, 2002 9:09 AM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Luxury Submarines


> Carsten--
>    Yes, certainly the ultra-rich folk place those creature comforts like
an on-deck
> barbeque and diamond-studded shuffleboard above pure adventure and
innovation - and
> as you said, unless you were to invest in the Phoenix-class sub that US
SUBS has in
> mind, there really wouldn't be a means for separating the upper-crust from
the
> servents.
>    But my current idea would be to purchase one of the smaller subs (like
the Marlin
> or Nomad, which are about 65' in length) and run them as a chartered
vessels between
> two vacation points. My Father-in-Law has a house on the beautiful
Portuguese island
> of Porto Santo, for instance, which is part of the archipelago of Madiera.
Running a
> luxury charter between Madiera and Porto Santo (perhaps promoting it
through some of
> the five-star hotels in Madiera) would be fun, and potentially lucrative I
think, and
> would afford people the opportunity to experience the luxury sub vibe
without being
> "trapped" on a small one for a ridiculously long amount of time (and also
without
> having to purchase and maintain one of their own). Also, it'd be a great
opportunity
> to freak out the people on the boat that goes from Madiera to Porto Santo:
they'd
> think that some James Bond villain had come to sink their ship!
>    Future endeavors could certainly involve purchasing the larger subs for
> transatlantic charters and ventures - it'd be a combination of a
cruiseline and a
> chartered jet-like company. I think the rich people would go for it -
they're always
> looking for new ways to spend their money. As as you mentioned, a female
staff would
> take things in an entirely different direction. ;-)
>    The downside is that one would have to receive quite a large sum of
financing -
> and it may be just too much of a risk for investors. Also, can you imagine
what the
> insurance would be on a venture like this?! Still, one can dream.
>
> Michael
>
> Carsten Standfuß wrote:
>
> > Michael Nace schrieb:
> > >
> > > Dear Psubbers,
> > >    I'm new to the mailing list, and have joined it mainly because I
have a real
> > > fascination with this new notion of "luxury submarines." Though I've
always
> > > enjoyed boating, the idea of traversing the sea submerged has always
been a
> > > passion of mine (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea left a mark on me). But
of
> > > course, navy subs have no windows, so the navy didn't offer a way to
quench
> > > this thirst.
> > >    As far as I can tell, US Subs is the only company even
contemplating these
> > > designs, and at quite a price. I'm curious to hear anyone's take on
what you
> > > think of their ideas, designs, and prices, and whether or not you
think prive,
> > > luxury subs will ever become a reality (have they even built one
yet??)
> > >    Sincerely,
> > >     Michael
> > >
> >
> > Dear Michael,
> >
> > with a serious yard for luxury yachts (200 footer) in the background
> > we offer on the France boat show in Nice and Monaco some 6-7 years ago
> > for this kind of vessel a project of a 100 foot double deck luxury yacht
> > submarine.
> > The intresst of journalist and the boat magazines were great. But not
> > one serious
> > client ask for a price. Not on the show - not later.
> >
> > At the moment the market goes that way that somebody order a bigger
> > motoryacht
> > - and a smaller submarine as tender. As I think USSubs offer bigger
> > luxury submarine
> > projects since 6 or 7 years - and have not sale one.
> >
> > Maybe one reason is that they more or less invisible in the harbour.
> >
> > Another reason is that a luxury surface motoryacht of this size offer
> > about : 2-3 tenders, 2 waterbikes, surfboards, a small sailboat, a
> > complete divestore,
> > sun areas, barbeque areas, swimming pool, 4-5 double guest cabins with
> > king size beths,
> > owner cabin with lobby, libary, office, computer room, music studio,
> > children's rooms,
> > his and her bathrooms etc.. a helicopter pad (or two..) with helicopter,
> > a gym, two galleys,
> > some service space, dinning area, main salon, sky salon, observation
> > launch, Laundry,
> > linen store a crew of 8-14 in double cabins... - no submarine can do
> > this job..
> >
> > Most people playing in this size want's there privacy very much - so
> > most of this boats
> > have two complete seperate areas - one for owner and guest - and one for
> > the crew.
> > Means two entrance areas, two main stairhouses etc. Only meeting points
> > are the public
> > areas in the dinnig room's etc. But privacy on a submaine is more or
> > less a joke.
> >
> > Another point is thats owners wife has in general a great influence of
> > the interior
> > design of this kind of motoryachts - never heard that such a women has
> > any intressting
> > in the interior design of a submarine.
> >
> > Another point is more technical : A submarine has 80-90 % of this hull
> > under
> > the waterline - a medium size submarine of 250 foot has a draught of
> > just >21 foot.
> > That keep them out of many nice yacht harbours. Not very funny to
> > mooring in the
> > commercial harbour between all the ferrys, freighters and tug boats
> > working day
> > and night.. and 2 miles away from the harbour with all the nice white
> > boats
> > with the party ongoing.
> >
> > To have a submarine with transatlantic range means that you play at
> > least in
> > the >100 foot area. The now offered tourist subs projects in the 60 foot
> > area
> > convert to luxury submarines projects are complete useless for this job.
> >
> > But maybe someday one rich sports diver break the ice..
> > .. a medium size 200 foot sub with a crew of 8-10 young womens - I am
> > hopefully.
> >
> > Sabine (my wife) didn't want to see women crew members
> > on board of CSSX.. ..no this was a joke - CSSX will get a women crew.
> >
> > But we still discuss that point - but the color of CSSX will be bright
> > blue
> > and not orange or yellow - as Sabine told me.
> >
> > Welcome here - Carsten
>
>