Re: for those who want to show up those jetskis....
Honestly.... I think this is going to sell eventually.... lots of comments about the impracticalities, but many of the same things can be said for jet skis, and while they take a bad rap on these boards, people tend to have no problem forking out $10-$15k regularily. This thing is basically like an enclosed jet ski with more controls and a wicked-cool looking body.
Personally, I think there's 4 big issues that they've gotta solve.
1. Price = $65k+ gets you into a very nice 23'+ boat. There's no way the general population will pay that for a jet-ski. When you consider that this thing is essentially a jet ski with a body, they should be able to produce and sell it for under $25k if they had the production quantities.
2. Reliability = The engine (and humans) breathe through a snorkel built into the top fin. When that gets covered by water, a valve closes cutting off air to the engine and thereby reducing power so you can't stay under water. To me, this seems like a surefire way to reduce engine life, from both the water and lack of air.
3. Safety = In a jet ski, if you crash or do something stupid, you're getting tossed. If the jet ski sinks, it's falling out from under you. In this thing, it could easily take you down with it. Plus, with the reduced visibilty (especially underwater) an accident is problably more likely to happen.
4. Comfort = Without having actually riden in this thing, I can only assume that those landings are rough. If you get air in a jet-ski, you can use your knees to brace the landing. In this thing, that shock is problably going straight up your spine.
That being said, I'd love to see this thing hit the mass market and I really want one.
