Jan 3 2008Hyper-Sub Fathom Is Both Boat And Sub
The Hyper-Sub boat/submarine hybrid was built by a Florida man and his neighbor. It's capable of cruising the sea at 40 knots (~46 MPH), and then dive to depths of 250 feet. It has a 500 mile surface range and currently only exists in prototype form. However the man responsible for the thing has started a company and hopes to get models in production in the not-too-distant future. Which would be sweet, because I've always wanted a boat-sub hybrid. Almost as bad as I've always wanted a time machine-rocketship hybrid. But I actually built one of those last year so I'm good on that. As a matter of fact, I'm actually writing this right now from the moon while I bang Cleopatra. True story, I have the laptop resting on her back.
A bunch more pictures and a video after the jump.
Reader Comments
1. The Moat - January 3, 2008 5:42 PM
Ok, so it's a sub because it travels BELOW the surface, and it's a boat because it travels ON the surface. Thus, it' s a hybrid sub/boat.
Wait a second....
How is this different from EVERY OTHER SUB EVER!?!?
2. Sophie - January 3, 2008 5:58 PM
This one has lots of windows.....?
3. bonzo420 - January 3, 2008 5:58 PM
looks like we got a pholosopher in the house... look out!
good find- i wonder the cost???
hmmmm......
~420~
4. guate6 - January 3, 2008 10:22 PM
Heh, cool...People from my school are famous...first the Gatorade dude, then the Myers prick ("don't tase me bro"), now this... Go gators!
5. Lear - January 4, 2008 2:12 AM
I must need more sleep, because I was genuinely expecting pictures of Cleopatra after the jump.
6. boredom - January 4, 2008 7:48 AM
The Moat, Submarines don't trale 'ON' the water. Yes they can surface and stick out of the water but correct me if I'm wrong I've never seen a submarine floating on TOP of the water.
7. The Moat - January 4, 2008 8:11 AM
"The Moat, Submarines don't trale 'ON' the water. Yes they can surface and stick out of the water but correct me if I'm wrong I've never seen a submarine floating on TOP of the water."
You've never seen a BOAT floating on TOP of the water, either. With some exceptions (hovercrafts, hydrofoils, waterbugs) boats employ differences in material density to stay afloat - no differently than submarines. It's the exact same thing keeping each afloat.
And don't give me this "stick out of the water" crap, either. A surfaced submarine can leave very little of its hull below the surface; again, no different than a boat.
8. guate6 - January 4, 2008 10:28 AM
I'm sorry #7 but I have to agree with #6. You seem to be mistaken about what "floating" means. I really don't want to explain the whole thing, but I'll do it in the name of education and science.
A submarine is heavy. They sink and rise depending on how much air you have in it. If you dropped an empty submarine (no air, and unmanned), most of it would be underneath (given the natural amount of air in the submarine to begin with), but it's so heavy that it can't float as a boat can. Yes it's a SIMILAR principle for the boat, but it's not the same.
A boat is made to be light (thin sheets of steel for large rigs, or fiber glass for small ones. Submarines are meant to be able to be sunk, whereas boats, the opposite effect is desired, therefore they're made with small density on the lower end, and larger density on the higher end. There's a bit more to it than that I know, but I'm trying to be as basic as possible.
Things float based on their density: Icebergs (ice), wood, Styrofoam, as well as boats made of different things. The denser it is, the more of its body will be under the water. Again, I say, subs are meant to sink, so they're made heavy enough to do that. When pumped with enough air, they can surface a bit, but most of it is still under the water. I understand you're using a fine line for "floating" but I'm sure everyone can agree with the argument that you are incorrect.
If you've never seen a boat floating on water, then I don't think you even have an argument to begin with. Simply because a small portion of the boat or vessel is below the water, that doesn't defy the very definition of "floating." In any case, you're not being technical, haven't seen a floating boat, and are incorrect. I admit you put up a decent argument, but it lacks.
9. The Moat - January 4, 2008 11:01 AM
@8 - You're dead wrong.
Floating has very little to do with weight. It's density. And the density of the materials used in construction are not the only factor. Whether or not an object will float is based on its total density; including cavities.
Cruise ships, battleships, aircraftcarriers, etc. are all made out of very HEAVY materials, yet they all float, just fine. This is because the density of the crats (including both metal hull and air in the cavities) is less than that of the water.
You're also wrong about what causes submarines to submerge. A submarine, by itself, will not sink. It will float. It's a boat. The density of the hull, along with the cavities inside, is less than the water surrounding it. It will float. It's a boat.
Contrary to what you've said, pumping additional air into the submarine will actually cause it to SINK. When additional air is pumped into a fixed volume of space, this increases the density, causing it to sink. Venting the pressurized air (and reducing the density of the craft) will cause it to revert to its natural state - FLOATING.
I've seen plenty of boats. Hell, I've BEEN on plenty of boats (although I'd get hit for not calling them "ships") that cruise with more hull underwater than subs have in total; yet nobody says these are not floating.
Submarines are boats. They float. They have mechanisms that modify their total density, allowing them to submerge. That's it. They're boats with additional hardware.
In that sense, what this guy has created here is no different and is no more of a "Hybrid boat/sub" than any other modern submarine.
10. The Moat - January 4, 2008 11:04 AM
...and if you still don't believe me, just check out the manufacture's site. Nowhere do they call it a "hybrid", "boat/sub" or anything similar.
11. xring - January 4, 2008 11:34 AM
I didn't agree with Moat but he is right. Look up "submarine" on Wiki
12. owen wilson - January 4, 2008 4:19 PM
You guys are idiots. No submarine today can cruise long distances above water at reasonable speeds. This craft differs because a large portion of its hull raises out of the water while "on a plane". It will travel this ways much like a ski boat etc. Normal subs for research are also reliant on a mother ship to which they get their power etc. through an umbelical cord of sorts. This you could drive away from a personal dock any day with no support team.
13. Diego - January 4, 2008 5:02 PM
Niceeee!
14. john - January 6, 2008 8:29 PM
In regards to the moron post #1 no other small mini sub can go very fast on top of the water, you lamer
15. edjube - February 24, 2008 9:03 PM
Per #6
If you've never seen a boat floating on water, then I don't think you even have an argument to begin with. Simply because a small portion of the boat or vessel is below the water, that doesn't defy the very definition of "floating." In any case, you're not being technical, haven't seen a floating boat, and are incorrect. I admit you put up a decent argument, but it lacks.
Then I say that nothing floats