[Date Prev][Date Next] [Chronological] [Thread] [Top]

Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Luxury Submarines



Herve,
   That's quite impressive, really. Ironically, I just received a "pitch" from
an L.L.C. that is looking for financeers for their underwater resort complex,
donned "The Posiedon." I think their estimated start-up budget is $30 mil, and
their facility still has that "outpost" look to it. In my opinion, you should
open the "Herve-Land Underwater Resort" - I like your design ideas even more!

Mike

Herve wrote:

> I can build an concrete underwater 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
> > > >
> > > >
> >
> >