Yacht Extras For You and Your Crew
From your own private submarine to seaworthy binoculars, there is a range of optional equipment to bring along for the ride.
For yacht owners, part of the fun of ownership is shopping for all of the state-of-the-art gadgets and other extras that seem to have been made just for a boat.
Below are some items that’ll make your ride on the high seas even more memorable.
A Private Submarine
High-end underwater exploration devices are the cool new thing in superyacht gadgets. The highly compact and lightweight Superyacht Sub 3, from U-Boat Worx in the Netherlands, was designed especially to fit into a standard superyacht garage area. Up to three people can dive together to explore marine life, the seafloor, reefs and shipwrecks down to a depth of up to 300 meters. The air-conditioned cabin is outfitted with three comfortable leather seats, a Bluetooth sound system, a cold-storage box, a large circular window at the front and a short, cylindrical glassed-in section to allow passengers to see above, below and around themselves. Horizontal, lateral and vertical thrusters move and steer the submersible, which is operated by a dual-joystick gamepad-style Manta controller. The high-tech submersible battery allows for underwater adventures for up to eight hours at a time. Safety features include a two-way communication system and a safety buoy. US$2.35 million
Seabob F5 Water Sled
The super-fun Seabob F5 water sled will let your passengers swim and dive like dolphins. Power along the water surface while lying horizontally on this sleek motorized scooter or make swooping dives underwater. The F5’s hydrodynamic shape and intelligent design provide optimal handling above and below the water. Its four power levels make it perfect for strong swimmers as well as those who don’t get into the water all that much. To operate, riders simply hold on to the two handlebars—a green button on the right reduces the power level while a red button on the left increases the performance. Steering and diving just require a shift in body weight. It can reach speeds up to 9.3 mph over water or 8.1 mph underwater. Seabobs can be equipped with a predetermined maximum depth dive, which will keep younger members of the family and inexperienced users from diving too deep. The battery will last for 60 minutes of operating time, and it recharges in 90 minutes with the Quick Charger. The F5 weighs about 60 pounds and has handles for easy transportation to the water. US$8,945
Smartphone-Turned-Dive Computer
The iGills SE-35 Smart Diving System works as both a waterproof case for your smartphone and a high-tech dive computer. The system’s polycarbonate case protects your iPhone up to depths of 130 feet while still allowing you to use the computer via six buttons on the outside of the case, which are next to depth and temperature sensors. The computer system syncs to your phone and allows you to access and log data, such as ascent rate, nitrogen loading and time remaining on the tank, while under water on a dive. iGills even has a camera port on the outside of the case for mid-dive photos and videos of fish and sunken treasures. US$299.99
Seaworthy Digital Binoculars
These Bestguarder NV-800 digital binoculars offer outstanding optical clarity and high-performance night vision. With their built-in infrared illuminator, these glasses cope perfectly with changing light conditions, from a slate-gray dawn at sea to total darkness (up to 400 meters). That makes them perfect for spying on a pod of whales on a starry night. You can also record and save what you're seeing on a removable SD card, either as video or still images. For easy recall, the date and time can be stamped on photos or videos. You can peer through the lenses as traditional binoculars, or you can switch on a 4-inch viewing screen. Meaning you can still use these binoculars while wearing prescription glasses. Stylishly dressed in all black, they are also water- and dustproof and tripod mountable, and there is a built-in menu with 11 languages. They offer 7X magnification and 2X digital zoom. These camera binoculars fit comfortably in your hand, weighing 1.68 pounds and measuring 8 inches by 6.65 by 3.46 inches. Each side has a slim section of anti-slip rubber for an easy, steady grip. You can also connect the binoculars to a television or computer, via the USB port, and use them as a security camera. Back on land, these binoculars are also great for hunting and watching sports. US$279
