Marine

U-Boat Worx floats $25-million submersible superyacht

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U-Boat Worx seems more determined than the average studio or independent designer to bring its subaquatic superyacht vision to the actual sea
U-Boat Worx
U-Boat Worx's design calls for the tender to fit the Nautilus like a thong
U-Boat Worx
When aquatic dreams give way to subaquatic dreams, the deck roof drops down and covers over the dining area
U-Boat Worx
The Aronnax tender splits away from the aft deck and carries five scuba divers
U-Boat Worx
U-Boat Worx seems more determined than the average studio or independent designer to bring its subaquatic superyacht vision to the actual sea
U-Boat Worx
The Nautilus offers no shortage of views out into the water
U-Boat Worx
Unlike U-Boat Worx's UWEP party sub, the Nautilus includes a large superyacht-style deck complete with swimming pool, bar, dining area and aft beach/swimming deck
U-Boat Worx
When you're spending 25 million on a watercraft, you expect some color options
U-Boat Worx
U-Boat Worx looks to deliver a luxurious on-/below-water experience like no other
U-Boat Worx
Plans call for a diesel-electric drive with 9-knot cruising
U-Boat Worx
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The idea of a superyacht that pampers guests with luxury both atop and below the waterline is one that has long tickled the imaginations of everyone from adventurous children to demanding billionaires. But it's ultimately proven better-suited to the pens of fanciful designers than the realities of the marina. With the Nautilus, U-Boat Worx seems determined to bring the concept to reality.

It puts its considerable experience in personal submarine design into the impressive 123-ft (37.5-m) vessel, which combines the usual trappings of superyacht life – sundeck, pool, bar and more – with the unique abilities to dive down to 650-ft (~200-m) depths and stay underwater for days at a time.

We always imagined the personal submarine market to be a rather leisurely one, filled with extended testing and development periods submerged in glassy-blue tropical waters. But U-Boat Worx has been absolutely grinding lately. Along with navigating a busy late summer schedule of major yachting events, it's found the time to ramp up personal submarine production and drop prices to record lows. Now it introduces something entirely distinct from its usual lineup of submarines that can be launched via superyacht — a superyacht that works as a submarine in and of itself.

In contrast to the similarly large UWEP party submarine U-Boat Worx previewed earlier this year, the Nautilus combines the comforts and amenities of a yacht with the submersible capabilities of a submarine. It's meant to give discerning nautical enthusiasts the best of both worlds (or at least something to brag about at the yacht club bar).

U-Boat Worx looks to deliver a luxurious on-/below-water experience like no other
U-Boat Worx

While the final configuration will ultimately be tailored to each buyer, plans call for a large sundeck that includes a freshwater pool, dining area and bar. Below deck, the steel pressure hull comes lined with large semi-bubble windows that deliver an underwater experience even while the yacht cruises atop the sea. Four of those windows surround the 538-sq-ft (50-sq-m) dining area and lounge, while others bring subaquatic views into the master bedroom and four staterooms. There's also a full galley.

The 1,250-ton Nautilus is designed to carry 10 passengers and up to seven crew members. When on the water, its diesel-electric powertrain delivers cruising speeds of 9 knots (16.7 km/h) and a range of up to 3,200 nautical miles (5,926 km).

When aquatic dreams give way to subaquatic dreams, the deck roof drops down and covers over the dining area
U-Boat Worx

Eventually passengers will tire of lounging around the pool and bar, and they'll yearn to immerse themselves in their aquatic surrounds. At this point, the sunroof drops down to cover over the dining and bar area, preparing the vessel to dive into the water. Like the UWEP, the Nautilus can carry passengers to depths of 650 feet below the surface. It's designed to stay underwater for a maximum of four days, or six hours when cruising at 4 knots (7.4 km/h). In addition to simply exploring the underwater world, the submersible capability is meant as a way of handling rough surface conditions.

"If the sea becomes too rough, you simply dive and continue your voyage in comfort," says U-Boat Worx chairman and founder Bert Houtman. "With the Nautilus, the yachting market will never be the same again."

The Aronnax tender splits away from the aft deck and carries five scuba divers
U-Boat Worx

The Nautilus also has its own pressure-resistant tender that fits below the aft deck like the final puzzle piece. The all-electric "Aronnax" tender can carry up to five divers to a scuba location of their choosing.

U-Boat Worx presented the Nautilus design at the 2022 Monaco Yacht Show over the weekend. It's still a pile of pretty pictures for now, but U-Boat Worx seems pretty gung-ho about building it rather than leaving it hanging in the concept stage like so many other submarine-yachts. At a cool €25 million (approx. US$25 million), the company will have to wait for the right type of buyer to come along and commission a build, but that's a steal compared to the $2 billion said buyer could be forklifting over for an Austrian-designed Migaloo submersible superyacht.

Source: U-Boat Worx

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8 comments
Ron
Nice toy model, I'll order one for my bathtub, and that's about as far as the reality of this advertising gimmick will go.
Bob Flint
Better hurry we will either have no deeper lakes to explore, due to drought, or an overabundance of water everywhere...
GregVoevodsky
Considering most of the oceans have low visibly 5-10 feet in muck like the San Francisco bay, what a waste of time and money. This might work only as a boat rental at the best scuba diving spots around the world which are few and less than 60 feet. I rather have my own custom sub to go exploring exotic places not a yacht?! Can you imagine hitting the docks too hard in bad weather when the buoy slides away, the dock cracks the underwater window and the boat sinks faster than the Titanic. Seriously, no one wants to see how nasty and boring most of the ocean is. Better to scuba, go to an underwater hotel or restaurant with fake coral and fed fish.
Jiri
Capitan NEMO would be excited about this sub
TpPa
all is fun until some military sub decides maybe your a bad guy & sends a torpedo your way. They won't talk about it, and you will just be considered missing.
cjeam
"a large sundeck that includes a freshwater pool"

Well, it won't be for long.
Mark Lewus
ALL those seals against high-pressure grungy seawater. Sure there won’t be any problems with that…
julia gines
Very impressive! An under the waves Cavern Dwellar! Yes, I've picked up on the points mentioned; via the bouyancy and unpredictable shoves of currents, basically; they could begin with some imagination of a subterranian Park! Several places around the world; coveted for safety. (LOL) Like a Sub-Mobile Attachment Parks! Where they have Caves to navigate trails, scenic Tours! Under & through Caverns arriving at fashionable restaurants & shopping; for a different Style of Adventure i Nautilating! What fun! My thoughts of enjoying our world! 07/21/2023