Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Luxury Submarines

[Michael Nace <mnace@rapidforms.com>]

Herve,
   Really? I know that US SUB's Marlin runs about 3 million. An underwater hab
can be built for less than that?
Mike

Herve wrote:

> 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
> >
> >