Aquatic supertoy, Seabreacher, sets up Canadian home in the Okanagan with the only two Orca vessels in the area
If you have spent any time in Peachland during boating season, chances are that you may have encountered two Orcas (killer whales) either in the water or on the back of a trailer. While we may be accustomed to seeing this type of aquatic life, Okanagan Lake is not the habitat where Orca’s are found. That is until now.
“What the heck is that,” I thought as I rode past and had to U-turn for a closer look. Here was a near full size Orca on a boat trailer that appeared bigger than me on a motorcycle. Seabreacher was visibly painted on the side and off to Google I went.
They are rare just like exotic cars and come with an exotic toy price tag. Entry level stock Seabreacher will have you shell out about $110K. However, each one is unique and customized to suit the buyer so your costs could reach as high as $180K.
The Seabreacher is the supercar of the marine world. It is a submersible watercraft, created nearly 20 years ago by a composite engineer and boat builder from New Zealand, Rob Innes of Innespace. There are only 170 of them worldwide across 35 countries and only 2 (soon to be 3) in the Okanagan.
These custom creations, painted to look like an Orca (or Shark or Dolphin), come complete with pectoral fins, dorsal fin and spouting water through a blow hole. The cockpit mirrors that of an F14 Hornet aircraft including a full acrylic canopy to seal the cabin.
Just like a Hornet aircraft, co-pilot is seated directly behind the pilot. Both seats can accommodate individuals over six feet tall with leg room. Communication between the two is by none other than headphones only. Inside, custom upholstery, a depth finder, VHF radio plus seven and one half inch split screen and an 880 watt Bluetooth sound system.
Air conditioning for summer sun is cruising with the canopy open. In the winter, as the craft sits in the water, a wetsuit is recommended for heat.
The co-pilot has no active role in the operation of a Seabreacher aside from being at the mercy of the pilot. The pilot is 100% in charge and steers the pod similar to that of a fixed wing aircraft – with feet rudders and independent hand controls delivering pitch, roll and yaw.
The Seabreacher is capable of diving beneath the surface to a maximum of five feet, come flying straight up out of the water, breaching the surface, perpendicular to the horizon, just like a breaching Orca, and slam down with as much force. However, with 120% positive buoyancy, the Seabreacher will always right itself on top of the water.
To pull off these manoeuvres requires skill and training. Needless to say, before you can fully own and operate a Seabreacher, you must complete pilot training.
With a 52 litre (14 gallon) fuel tank, and minimum 91 octane fuel, these submersible exotic toys will provide about three to four hours of aquatic fun for about $100, depending on how you operate them.
On the surface, the Seabreachers are capable of 112 km/h (70 mph). Dive beneath the surface and the speed decreases to 50 km/h (35 mph). The Orca (Seabreacher Y) offers a Rotax engine similar to that found in a Seadoo. The 1500 cc, 4-stroke, supercharged engine stock is capable of 230 HP but can be upgraded to 300 HP.
The ideal buyers of a Seabreacher are wealthy individuals that have a propensity to purchase exotic cars or collectibles and an excess amount of fluid income.
Bruce and Sandra Clark, are the owners and pilots of the only two Orcas in the Okanagan. They enjoy the watercraft so much, and the interest from boaters, that they became the Canadian distributors of the Seabreacher and have recently trademarked the name “Orcanagan” in hopes of putting the Okanagan on the map as the destination home of the Seabreacher.
“When we are simply cruising with the lid open,” said Sandra, “boaters often approach us to ask questions about the vessel.”
As for Rob Innes, his company Innespace, is in the process of creating a 4-seater Seabreacher that he hopes will show off 450-600HP on the water.
