Private Submarines Gain Popularity with Millionaires (Lear Jets of the Deep)

Der Spiegel ^ | March 15, 2012 | Philip Bethge

[Second Amendment First]

Nice toys and tools for playboys, smugglers and terrorists.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

I want one.

[grobdriver]

A new class of private submarines has become the latest plaything for the super rich.

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?"

[Second Amendment First]

I think this guy is on to something here:

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.

[liberalh8ter]

How will they get those toll booths under the water, who will man and maintain them? Will fish be required to adhere to right of way laws? Will environmentalists be okay with this? Will there be speed limits? So many new issues the libs will get to legislate....

[Second Amendment First]

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.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

Sounds like a great idea to me, too.

I wonder what the chances are of being caught in a fishing net?

[Joe 6-pack]

When I was stationed in Korea, I took some leave and visited Cheju Island, which by the way, is one of the most beautiful places on earth. They have a little private submarine tour, that will take you out and let you check out the volcanic base of some of the smaller islands dotting the coastline of Cheju. IIRC, we went down to about 300' below. They had a standard size basketball tethered to the outside of the sub in a little net, and you could watch it get crushed by the pressure as you descended.

[Second Amendment First]

That looks like a great immersion experience. A far cry from the diving bell on the Steel Pier back in the fifties.

[DemforBush]

I want one with torpedo tubes.

And a full complement of Mk. 46’s.

[Second Amendment First]

Going hunting for pirates off the coast of Somalia?

[DemforBush]

Hey, that’s not a bad idea!

[Buckeye McFrog]

you know what this means....an upcoming cable TV
reality show about the guy who repos submarines.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

And another federal bureaucracy to oversee it.

[anglian]

"Deepflight Super Falcon, for example, is $1.7 million"

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.

[NonValueAdded]

A submarine could be the ultimate SHTF answer

[grobdriver]

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.

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!".

[anglian]

http://www.gizmowatch.com/entry/personal-submarines-to-unleash-a-new-era-of-underwater-exploration/

[N. Theknow]

you know what this means....an upcoming cable TV reality show about the guy who repos submarines.

Better pay cash for these things.

The way they depreciate, your loan could have you underwater in no time.

[org.whodat]

If someone paid a million for that damn thing they need a rubber room.