Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Luxury Submarines

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

I can build an concrete undewater habitat 3 bedrooms , large windows for
$1M, 25' x 10' pool underwater access for mini sub or divers, ambient
pressure design , lock out access to keep moisture out, access at 30Ft deep,
power and air supply on shore with back up on the habitat.
Herve
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Nace" <mnace@rapidforms.com>
To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Friday, May 31, 2002 9:55 AM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Luxury Submarines


> 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
> > >
> > >
>
>