Posted on 03/16/2012 6:12:45 AM PDT by Second Amendment First
A new class of private submarines has become the latest plaything for the super rich. They allow would-be adventurers to navigate the wonders of the coral reefs, explore shipwrecks or even to cruise alongside dolphins. The cheapest models start at $1.7 million, but prices can go as high as $80 million.
Just recently, Graham Hawkes tracked down a group of hammerhead sharks. Along for the ride on his Deepflight Super Falcon at the time was an investor named Tom Perkins, a potential client. "We were literally stalking them from below," Hawkes says. "It felt like flying in liquid sky."
Hawkes is an engineer in Point Richmond, California, and his workshop is located at the town's marina, directly on San Francisco Bay. Visitors don't exactly wander in here often, but when they do come, they generally have full pockets. Hawkes builds submarines for millionaires.
His company, Hawkes Ocean Technologies, is one of a number of businesses that specialize in taking the superrich diving. Hawkes' asking price for the Deepflight Super Falcon, for example, is $1.7 million (€1.3 million). American manufacturer SEAmagine's Ocean Pearl costs even more, at $2.5 million, but has the benefit of being able to dive to depths of around 900 meters (3,000 feet).
Triton Submarines, based in Vero Beach, Florida, is another company that specializes in submersibles for the well to do. "Our customers are large yacht owners who want to offer their friends and their family something special," says Bruce Jones, CEO of Triton. In the deep sea, "they can show them things they have never seen before."
(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...
I want one.
Oh, great. The company is in California, no less.
Democrats, Federal, State and local are at this very minute wondering, "Oh Goodie, another tax revenue stream - now how can we tax this buisiness out of business?"
Jones' next idea is to take tourists under the sea. He's building an underwater resort with submerged suites (price per week: $15,000) off a private island in the Fiji archipelago. Five submarines will be on hand to ferry guests across artificial reefs during the day.
Considering the clientele base for these, I think they can build a margin that will easily allow for high taxes and and a fine profit as well. Just look at where the wealthy reside.
Sounds like a great idea to me, too.
I wonder what the chances are of being caught in a fishing net?
That looks like a great immersion experience. A far cry from the diving bell on the Steel Pier back in the fifties.
I want one with torpedo tubes.
And a full complement of Mk. 46’s.
Going hunting for pirates off the coast of Somalia?
Hey, that’s not a bad idea!
you know what this means....an upcoming cable TV
reality show about the guy who repos submarines.
And another federal bureaucracy to oversee it.
What if someone doesn't want to go that deep? Why should a little ingenuity cost a fortune for something at depths >100-200ft? Can't one be built using smaller rechargable motors with drop-in battery packs? With control of buoyancy and your basically floating in position.
A submarine could be the ultimate SHTF answer
A fine argument for the left to use on just about everything.
To some, you or I may be considered "wealthy" and where we live may be "the right side of the tracks".
Whether my house is worth $100K or $1M, why should my toys be singled out for excessive taxes (remember the yatch debacle)?
Don't consider the clientele, consider the sticky fingered government and just say, "No!".
Better pay cash for these things.
The way they depreciate, your loan could have you underwater in no time.
If someone paid a million for that damn thing they need a rubber room.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.