Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Sub building business

[MARCO <marco@zeeman.co.nz>]

http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/NationNF.asp?ArticleID=146611


Seems Herve has gone to Dubai...see bottom of article...leads to another



> Hugo;
> 
> One of the biggest stumbling blocks that must be addressed before even
> contemplating a submersible market is product liability.  Piper doesn't build
> single engine airplanes anymore because the product liability insurance costs
> are higher than the production costs.
> 
> Aircraft Kit manufacturers get around this by calling them "Experimental," and
> any structural failure cannot be attributed to the kit manufacturer since he
> didn't build it.
> 
> Has there been any legal discussion on the liability problems of a venture of
> this type?
> 
> Anyway, put me on your list...
> 
> Stan
> 
> In a message dated 12/22/2004 8:23:50 PM Eastern Standard Time, "Hugo Marrero"
> <hmarrero@hboi.edu> writes:
> 
>> 
>> Hi guys,
>> 
>> While I have not been posting much lately, I have always kept reading all
>> the interesting postings in this forum.
>> 
>> Just like many of you, I have been toying with the idea of making private
>> submersible ownership available to the public in general. And while I have
>> higher purposes in life, I have never really stopped pondering on how to
>> make this happen. Since I see some interested in this, I want to share some
>> of my thoughts to gauge the level of passion & commitment for creating a sub
>> business.
>> 
>> The existing problem is not the product (e.g. the sub), but rather the
>> market...it's a catch 22.... In order to manufacture and sell enough subs to
>> survive, a viable market must exist. In order for that market to exist, the
>> price of the vehicle must be competitive enough to keep sales coming in. In
>> order to keep the submersible price competitive you need to keep your costs
>> as low as possible. And in order to keep the manufacturing costs low you
>> need a viable market. I am sure all can see the problem.
>> 
>> Also there is the infamous Lemming Effect... since the "Joneses" don't own a
>> private submarine no one wants to be the first to buy that sub as people
>> hate uncertainty. Once the "Joneses" brave enough buy their sub then is
>> easier for the rest to follow.
>> 
>> Since it takes a lot of money to start up, is difficult to prove that there
>> is a market to investors, and the record shows that most everyone who has
>> been brave enough to start is either out of busines, have only built
>> prototypes and have never progressed further or have never even got past the
>> conceptual planning stage. Therefore is a very risky venture and extremely
>> hard to get even your beloved rich uncle to lend you $50K to build a
>> prototype.
>> 
>> Since a sustainable market for private submersibles does not exist .... a
>> way to create a market for private submersibles from scratch must be
>> devised. The question is... How in the World do I do that? This is the
>> question that I have been asking myself for almost 12 years. To find an
>> answer to this question I have dedicated hundreds of hours collecting data,
>> analyzing business models, and studying the marketing schemes of industries
>> that have contended with similar issues successfuly.
>> 
>> From this, I believe, in my own humble opinion, that I have devised a
>> concept which may potentially create a market large enough to reduce the
>> cost of ownership of a private submersible to make it attractive enough to
>> spark an interest in the general public.
>> 
>> With this I want to add a peronal note. I am interested in this for many
>> reasons, but the most important reason is because I love  submersibles and I
>> truly believe that they should be available to the general public. Since
>> 1991 I have had the privilege of making a decent living working with
>> submersibles, and I can continue doing what I am doing and retire
>> comfortably doing it. However, If I can make a decent living sharing my
>> passion with others, and creating something of value for others, that would
>> be much more rewarding than enjoying it all by myself. My intent is to
>> continue doing what I love to do, and shrare it with others, while making a
>> living and having fun doing it. The moment is no longer fun is the time to
>> get out.... that is my personal belief.
>> 
>> I am willing to discuss this with anyone who is seriously interested in
>> getting involved in it. My only requirement is that all who are truly
>> interested in this must sign a non-disclosure agreement. If anyone is really
>> serious about this, this should not pose a threat as it is a common business
>> practice. If from these discussions enough interest is leveraged, it may be
>> possible to form a venture which could be mutually beneficial (or mutually
>> catastrophic) for all involved.  :-) These discussions could take place in a
>> private forum online, or at psubs discretion, a private forum could be set
>> up here.
>> 
>> What do you think? Post your comments online....
>> 
>> Take care,
>> 
>> Hugo
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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> 
> 
> 
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