Water-racing pod on steroids goes 50 mph, leaps 18 feet into air

The Seabreacher is a jumping, diving, speeding water sub/Jet Ski, making it more similar to a dolphin than any other man-made machine.

The new model, the Seabreacher Y, is a killer-whale-inspired version that can dive below the water at 25 mph, jump 18 feet into the air, speed on top of the water at 50 mph and do multiple consecutive barrel rolls. All starting at a cool $81,000.

The standard model comes with a 255-horsepower engine, though the custom-built model shown above features a 300-horsepower engine that can go 55 mph on the surface.

Designed by Innespace, the Seabreacher features six dolphin-like fins, which you can maneuver to dive down, launch into the air, and roll to the side.

The pneumatically sealed cockpit seats two and is hooked up like a bachelor pad: iPod dock, speakers and LCD screens that display live footage from a camera located on the dorsal fin.

The Seabreacher Y was specifically designed for aquatic show performances, so it also features riding pegs and handles for a stunt person to use while riding on the back.

The Seabreacher X, however, is for lay people like you and me -- if we deem the Seabreacher worthy of that extra $81,000 we have lying around.

Before you buy, see for yourself how you might use it in these two videos, the first of Seabreacher Y, the second of Seabreacher X.

Warning: this second video of Seabreacher X is full of cheesy marketing speak -- "Speed is what the future demands," "If it looks like a dolphin and acts like a dolphin, then it's a Seabreacher," "What if you could explore the heights and depths of the ocean in ways never before seen?" and so on -- but the action shots are worth it:

via Popular Science

photos courtesy of Innespace Seabreacher

Editor's Note: Updated with new video of Seabreacher Y

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com