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The dolphin-esque Seabreacher is a sweet toy, which can do flips, jumps, and cruise underwater with no sardines necessary.  (Source: Innespace)
Meet the dolphin boat, man's new best friend

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."

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What this needs
By masher2 (blog) on 9/5/2008 11:11:31 AM , Rating: 4
Is a set of LiIon batteries, to allow you more than 20 seconds of deep-water diving. Imagine a 10-minute crawl past a scenic coral reef.




RE: What this needs
By TechLuster on 9/5/2008 11:17:25 AM , Rating: 2
Yeah, I might give up the (much) higher performance of an internal combustion engine for an electric motor that would allow extended underwater excursions. Finding a way to charge it might be a pain though.


RE: What this needs
By mmntech on 9/5/2008 11:44:33 AM , Rating: 2
Actually, electric motors are ideal for that application since they produce more torque. Allows the prop to cut through the water easier. Therefore, you'd probably have more power versus a gasoline IC engine. As you said though, it's charging the batteries that's still the problem. That's the Achilles Heel of all electric vehicles.

I remember seeing these dolphin subs on Daily Planet last year. It's a science news show that airs on Discovery Channel in Canada. They're pretty neat to see in action.


RE: What this needs
By masher2 (blog) on 9/5/2008 11:46:13 AM , Rating: 3
I smell a hybrid version of the Dolphin in the future.


RE: What this needs
By FITCamaro on 9/5/2008 12:10:15 PM , Rating: 1
It's range wouldn't be very far. Takes a lot more energy to move through the water than it does roll along a highway or road.


RE: What this needs
By masher2 (blog) on 9/5/2008 12:33:08 PM , Rating: 3
It's range would be greater than the gas-powered version. . . both above and underwater.


RE: What this needs
By masher2 (blog) on 9/5/2008 12:33:59 PM , Rating: 2
My god, I appostrophized a possesive "its".


RE: What this needs
By ggordonliddy on 9/5/2008 1:54:19 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
My god, I appostrophized a possesive "its".


You also spelled "apostrophized" and "possessive" wrong, but we'll possibly forgive you if certain promises are made.


RE: What this needs
By therealnickdanger on 9/5/2008 2:48:14 PM , Rating: 3
No compromise! Burn him!

I remember seeing this on Discovery a year or two ago as well, very cool! I would rather have one that looks like an orca, but I probably won't be in the market for one of these, oh for about... never.


RE: What this needs
By Guuts on 9/6/2008 12:46:13 AM , Rating: 2
Oh, come on! A shark-shaped one would be much more fun! Hehehe!


RE: What this needs
By theendofallsongs on 9/9/2008 10:13:59 PM , Rating: 2
And the big difference between a shark-shaped sub and a dolphin-shaped one is... ?


RE: What this needs
By modus2 on 9/6/2008 1:25:15 PM , Rating: 3
Unfortunately it would likely have quite a limited range/endurance fully submerged. Saw a piece about this "submarine" a while back on discovery, it relies on a rather hefty positive buoyancy and needs to be forced underwater. Essentially it would surface within seconds after engines where stopped. To implement a real ballastsystem with watertanks would presumably push the price far higher.


RE: What this needs
By Yossarian22 on 9/7/2008 12:11:34 AM , Rating: 2
Well, duh. Its a single person submarine, what do you really expect? Low range is basically a given.
A hybrid version would travel just as far, if not farther, than its gas powered brother. Even if it somehow didn't (refusing to make the sub heavier) it would make up for it by being able to stay under water longer than I can hold my breathe.


RE: What this needs
By Captain Orgazmo on 9/5/2008 7:26:06 PM , Rating: 2
I guess you could call diesel-electric submarines "hybrids", and they've been around for more than 60 years. Hmm... never thought of that before.


RE: What this needs
By kattanna on 9/5/2008 11:19:44 AM , Rating: 2
i'd settle for a small personal reactor powering the thing that then can also take seawater and make air for prolonged dives to depths on a personal basis.

thats the one thing thats kinda annoying now about scuba diving, with a tank you really cant stay down all that long.


RE: What this needs
By Seemonkeyscanfly on 9/5/2008 11:24:26 AM , Rating: 2
20 minutes.... 10 Minutes would go by to fast. I've heard about this before. They said you could reach a speed that could take you 15 feet out of the water. Which would be cool but I would think that would be hard on the craft.

Anyone have a link to footage of one running?


RE: What this needs
RE: What this needs
By Seemonkeyscanfly on 9/5/2008 11:52:42 AM , Rating: 2
Thanks masher, now I just need to find $54,000.00 and a big lake. :) I looks like a roller coaster ride. Just you are in control.


RE: What this needs
By feraltoad on 9/9/2008 12:24:40 AM , Rating: 2
What kind of mechanism is in place to keep you from bashing your head open like a melon on the cockpit after landing a jump. I guess helmets are in order?

Goooose!!!!!!!!!