If you’re worried that summer is slipping by and you don’t have a new water toy, consider the new Ego hybrid boat that’s half above and half under the water. With the Ego, you can have your own semi-submersible submarine without all the trouble of actually flooding tanks and diving below the surface.
The point of the Ego is that you can climb down to the lower cabin through a small door and a ladder and enjoy the underwater world in front of you. The one-inch thick acrylic windows offer 270-degree views. With the Ego’s top speed of 6 knots, you can explore a reef or fishing hole without all the trouble of actually diving into the water and putting on a snorkel.
The Ego is built by Raonhaje, a South Korean company, and it’s billed as the world’s first compact semi-submarine. It is stable, and it’s powered by two 3-hp thrusters working from eight 12-volt marine batteries. The company says it’s as easy to drive as it is to ride a bike.
The hull floats on both sides of the central cabin, which contains the underwater viewing station. The helm, with two seats, is down there, with a joystick, HD camera, LCD screen, depth finder and battery gauge. The Ego is 12’8” long with a 10’10” beam; draft is 5’6.” It takes about six to ten hours to charge the batteries. The Ego costs about $50,000. Read more:
