Chinese Laid-off man Builds DIY Submarines For Sale (Video)

By Maggie Hui, posted Mar 22, 2012 at 11:57 PM, 12,713 views,

Chinese Laid-off man Builds DIY Submarines For Sale (Video)

A Chinese worker in Wuhan, the most populous city in Central China, was laid-off from a textile machinery factory. He can only depend on his mechanic knowledge to earn a livelihood. He found a substantial market for underwater vessels with fishing capabilities, so he decided to open a factory to build small submarines. The price for the DIY built submarine cost 200,000 yuan (US$31,621) each, and he has already received 3 order this year …

The mini submarines factory now has got more than 10 employees. The man has spent roughly three million yuan (US$400 thousand) for the start-up. The mini submarine has everything needed for simple underwater work, such as grabbing and lifting, emergency oxygen reserves as well as an underwater video camera for monitoring. The mini submarine has enough room for two people and it can dive up to 30 meters, drive at the speed of 20 km/h for 10 hours, which is good for scouring riverbeds for garbage and fish. A few of the earlier prototypes reportedly sank in local lakes, but now his vessels are cleared for underwater travel.

His first customer was a sea cucumber fisherman who’s saved money for purchasing one of this mini submarine instead of hiring professional divers. The fisherman claims the submarine was not as flexible as a car but works pretty well. The DIY genius is currently building his second submarine, complete with air-tight windows and wrought iron walls. He said that building mini submarine is more than just fun and interests, but now he can see business opportunity. However, his factory can only build one mini submarine per month due to lack of funds. Well, this type of DIY-built submarine may look like a toy, but it can really become commercialize in China’s domestic market.

The factory is currently building the second submarine.

The mini submarine has enough room for two people.

The earlier prototype.

The consumer submarine was sold for about US$31,000.

SOURCE: Wuhan Evening News (Chinese translated), TV sohu

TAGS: Culture:China, DIY, submarine

scocope

This man is a perfect example of why China will outpace the USA in regard to manufacturing. In the US he could build submarines, but, the governmental regulations would make the costs so prohibitively high that $400,000 would be spent just obtaining the required permits, safety testing, and environmental testing.

nah

so to understand your point, china will outpace the US because of prohibitive safety and environmental testing? do you have experience building submarines in the US and China? Or are you just full of shit as usual…

scocope

Sir, one does not need to manufacture any particular good to know how prohibitive it is to run a manufacturing business. Have you ever had a OSHA inspector come to your business (if you even have one)? Well I have and almost every fine I’ve incurred has been overturned after I have protested, hired lawyers and consultants. Guess what, they all cost money. The one I did not overturn was from to long of a line cord; after all someone could have tripped over it IF they were able to squeeze into the 6 inch space behind the mill. The cost of new assets are becoming prohibitive because of this B.S. In fact it was cheaper to buy and run a rebuilt semi tractor, that costs almost as much as a new one, just because we are not forced to have all of the costly (to operate) add ons that brand new ones are required to have. Do you even know of all of the costs one incurrs just to build a new facility and that these costs very greatly depending in which State or city you are cotemplating building it in?

truthseeker

haha, China outpace the USA, when prey tell? Lets come back to this guys business say in 2 or 3 years and see how long it goes? Like every other business in China greed takes over and stupidity and business fall.

Watch this space!

scocope

The IMF predicts China’s GDP will be larger than the US GDP in 2016. 2011 figures are 11.2 trillion dollars for China and 15 trillion dollars for the USA. Over regulation of American businesses will be a major cause of this occurring.
Larry Barger

China allready out paces the USA in everythig except maybe agriculture.used to be when your American tv broke you called an american to fix it.now we buy it from a Chinaman shit breaks ,throw it away buy another from another Chinaman.I’ve been without work 8 months. while we hemmorage our dollars into China ,they lend it back to us with interest. This is how they are conquering us as we speak.they look at the long run, the endgame. They will own us nevermind that million man army nuclear arms……Remember in the 70’s the people that said be American ,buy American……..America has F’ed its self so the powers that do be ,profit as always….

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I don’t know why, but that was the only time it’s ever happened….from then on they just started telling the kids to suck it up.
Mrqka

seriously is there a contact number ? to actually purchase one
joel

Please post the phone number
Adam

To me, the concept should be left to those who have the ability to build a SAFE end product. Did anyone else look at the welds in the close-up of the top section? I wouldn’t trust those welds on a riding mower, let alone on a metal tub subjected to 60 psi at operational depth. Even though the picture is somewhat low res, it’s STILL easy to see the porosity and lack of fusion on the toes. Sure, I’ll be the first to admit that the U.S. has effed itself on many occasions in manufacturing…but the fact that we have such stringent safety standards is responsible for saving the lives of thousands of people over time. Personally, I would rather spend 5 times the amount for a sub that is guaranteed to be safe than $31,000 on something that looks like a horrible way to die.
reaperman

y argue
reaperman

The man got laid off and did something awesome, maybe a goal in life. China is so far ahead of our time because they do something about it, unlike soaking up government money and still complain about it. The man looks like he did a good job. You cant put down one man because he chinese, china does make alot of shit but people still buy it.If people bought my toenail clippings of course i would still sell them.
Larry Barger

truthseeker is an ostrich hiding from the truth ,while saying something else..
ih8u

Does that guy look like competition or like he has a grasp on accounting concepts? Are you worried this guy is going to take over the submarine manufacturing industry? Do you understand the concept of comparative and competitive advantage as it relates to outsourcing? Do understand that while America is getting caught up in litigious bullshit and zero sum democracy, China is strategically carving out their future? China isnt to blame for America’s problems. Closed American thinking and an attitude of entitlement might have something to do with it though, but you wouldnt know anything about that scocope.
Larry Barger

Dont forget we send all our manufacturing jobs to them…Im still out of work,I’m glad the library has free services….
scocope

Ah my little inept friend is attempting to school me on economics. Boy will this be fun. Of course he and his ilk are competition if what you manufacture is for export. China is a huge market. Now for your inability to actually read another’s posts (or the article you comment on); where do my posts mention the guy’s ability to keep a set of books? Outsourcing; WTF? Do you even understand that if your company does not build, perform a task, or create a good it utilizes, it is outsourcing? Of course I understand the concept of outsourcing; it must had been a troublesome concept for you in your Econ 101 class to even bring the subject up. Where did I blame China on our problems? Closed thinking? I believe I was mistaken in another series of posts where I stated that you are intelligent; rather I believe that another poster got it right, you are a moron with a chip on your shoulder.