California Startup Sees Booming Business in Dolphin Subs

[SUBMAN1]

This thing looks cool!

-S

California Startup Sees Booming Business in Dolphin Subs
Jason Mick (Blog) - September 5, 2008 10:56 AM

Meet the dolphin boat, man's new best friend


The dolphin-esque Seabreacher is a sweet toy, which can do flips, jumps, and cruise underwater with no sardines necessary. (Source: Innespace)

The wealthy always have some nice toys. From enthusiast PCs to hotrods like the Lightning Car, cost is no object for such pleasures.

An innovative new mode of transportation is making quite a splash among the spending elite, but may someday be within the reach of mere mortals. The inspirations is quite simple -- looking at fighter jets such as the F-16, one cannot help but notice their curvy snout bears a bit of a resemblance to dolphins and porpoises.

Taking this idea and some of the same high-tech materials from the fighter jets, California startup Innespace, formed by designers Rob Innes and Dan Piazza, created a submarine that looks like a dolphin and can both act as a submarine and jump out of the water and perform stunts. Using the concept for a VASH (variable attitude submersible hydrofoil), which was invented by Thomas "Doc" Rowe and Dennis "Dusty" Kaiser in 1987 with his Dolphin, Noland 1 crafted this unique vehicle.

Looking like a jet ski on steroids, the $52,200 dream watercraft has a top speed of 45 MPH. Using a high-tech 15 ft long sealed fiberglass enclosure molded in the shape of a dolphin, it keeps its passengers dry. It also features a snorkel to supply the air needed for its hungry 1,500cc, 215HP marine engine, a feature which allows long underwater jaunts. The half inch thick polycarbonate cockpit shares the same design with the F-16 fighter jets.

The engine is an Atkins Rotary Marine engine. It is paired with an able Hurth V-drive transmission.

Unfortunately for those interested in toy, for now production is currently only at 20 units and is extremely exclusive. Single seat and double seat models are available.

Mr. Innes, its creator, says that for the fortunate few who can get their hands on one, the experience is unmatched. He describes, "You can drive it just like a boat with the canopy open at full speed of 45mph on the surface. It can do 20mph below the water. If you go below snorkel depth you run out of air for the engine and you stay under for 20 seconds before the craft will automatically surface. But with the snorkel system in use you can stay under for longer."

http://www.dailytech.com/California+...ticle12870.htm