Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Luxury Submarines

[Michael Nace <mnace@rapidforms.com>]

Rob--
   I vowed to never see Jaws II, considering the tagline was "This time it's
personal!" Almost as bad as the new Friday the 13th (part 10). Ewww.
   Mike

Rob Bell wrote:

> See "Jaws III".  Or Disneys (EPCOT) The living seas.  Both are habs with the
> corridor idea.
>
> Rob.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org
> [mailto:owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org]On Behalf Of Michael Nace
> Sent: Friday, May 31, 2002 2:14 PM
> To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
> Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Luxury Submarines
>
> Herve,
>    The Posiedon idea actually replaces the need for a sub ride with a long
> corridor the would start on land and decend into the hab. Have you
> considered
> this kind of entrance as opposed to a mini sub? It'd be cheaper, and then
> you
> could have the token bouncer at the front door.
> Mike
>
> Herve wrote:
>
> > actually i designed an underwater club, 200 people capacity, 2,000 tons ,
> > called " The Abyss" (of course), where people could take their girl friend
> > for a drink after a 10 mn ride in a minisub and surfacing in the open
> bottom
> > pool.
> > panoramic windows, lighting for night hours.
> > hopefully i would be able to finance it in 2 years.
> > Sitting in 40 Ft of waters, off Key biscayne
> > Herve
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Michael Nace" <mnace@rapidforms.com>
> > To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
> > Sent: Friday, May 31, 2002 11:22 AM
> > Subject: 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
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > >
> > >