The Hyper-Sub

The first submersible speedboat transforms from wave rider to deep diver in seconds

By Jessica Cheng & Day Greenberg Posted 07.16.2008 at 5:16 pm 9 Comments

More Than Meets the Eye The home-built Hyper-Sub’s ballast system allows it to dive on the go. Marion Hyper-Submersible Powerboat Design

Nautical engineers have long dreamed of a craft that could race across wave tops like a speedboat and seconds later dive beneath them like a submarine. But crossing the two breeds presents a catch-22: Subs need heft to sink, but speedboats need to be lightweight to go fast. With an investment of nearly $2 million and years of research, former auto-shop owner Reynolds Marion of Lake City, Florida, has finally hit on a solution, a machine he’s dubbed the Hyper-Submersible Powerboat. When complete, it will reach speeds of up to 45 mph and dive down to 1,200 feet.

Stealth Mode: As a sub, the boat will dive to 1,200 feet. Marion Hyper-Submersible Powerboat Design

To make the Hyper-Sub sink without sacrificing surface speed, Marion and his team—Gene Mock, a former construction contractor, and Scott Shamblin, an engineer—rethought the ratio of ballast to cabin volume. The ballast systems in most submarines can displace only about 20 percent of the cabin’s volume, but the Hyper-Sub’s ballast chambers double the volume of the cabin. The boat uses a high-pressure pumping system to rapidly fill these chambers with water or air, quickly changing its weight and buoyancy and allowing it to submerge or surface in less than a minute. “This creates more than 12 tons of lift [or sink],” Marion says.

He has designed four add-on kits for the sub that outfit it for applications ranging from day cruises to Coast Guard missions. The only thing left for the team to do is verify that all the sub’s components meet the standards set for both over- and underwater vehicles. Marion expects to start mass production next year, with the subs going for $2.5 to $4 million.

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9 Comments

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RMORTI

07/17/08 at 1:07 am

drug smugglers. This is one of those "good idea/bad idea" ideas.

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BNicholson

07/17/08 at 11:48 am

James Bond wants several, I should think. You know, of course, that you could run this submarine on gravity alone and not use fuel at all, don't you? Just guide the sinking. No energy means no energy signature, too.

Coined "Inclusive" and "Inclusive Democracy" concepts from math term.
Original creator of "Lights On! Tampa!" art display/contest.
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Proposed Lee Roy Selmon Expressway extension to St. Pete w/rail link.

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Light

07/17/08 at 12:56 pm

That's right! We shouldn't ever do anything cool or new because drug smugglers might use it!

The drug war is a crock. Legalize, tax, and regulate.

People will abuse it anyway. Look at prescription meds. Some geniuses even huff paint. You'll never stop people from doing what they want or trying to get intoxicated. You'd think the repeal of prohibition would have been a clue. Anyhow, I better stop. Some DEA agents have families to feed and doors to kick down in a paramilitary raid. All in the name of keeping you from harming yourself!

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kurmugn

07/17/08 at 1:41 pm

There already exists surface craft that can "fly" underwater using wings and rudders, without the problem of ballast considerations.

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tbrosz

07/17/08 at 1:44 pm

I'm impressed that this sub can dive to 1,200 feet, but unless it's constructed a lot better than it appears to be, with nice big picture windows, I doubt anyone would be alive in it when it got there.

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furyreborne

07/21/08 at 2:10 pm

LoL! ^_^ I'd still want one just to try it out! Too bad it can't fly too. =(

Oh well, since it reaches 45 mph ill just build a ramp and make it fly! xD

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seogoogle

07/25/09 at 1:03 pm

why? when there are so many other choices.......still land will be destroyed to get the coal , people die mining it, water is polluted from mining......land is taken from people to get at it.......wake up people!! we are smarter than this most things we truly need are above ground just a little blessing from the universe and god!!!!!! Why do we feel the need too waste time.lives and money tearing things apart to find our answers....the world was designed perfectly , we have the sun , wind & water to obtain energy we can create hydrogen gas from water and as an added bonus we keep the beautiful mountains to visit with our children. Why do we cling to our destructive ways when we have better cleaner answers- this bs spreads money too thin and holds back real progress- sooner or later there will be no coal for anyone this is already known why not pretend this is so now and move on to better things okk?
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shrivastav5

01/05/10 at 5:05 am

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