The Chinese economy is booming and there is a new class of wealthy tycoons ready to splurge on luxury goods. A growing number of Chinese yacht makers are hoping that many of the new rich will begin to spend money on high-end boating. About 20 companies in China are currently producing super yachts, including a 144-foot vessel being built by Kingship Marine. With a price tag of $27 million, the yacht has yet to find a buyer.

China’s yachting industry is still in its infancy. While most of the startup companies have foreign backing and plenty of expertise, there are some for whom boat building is a new concept. This YouTube video shows the launch of the SS Jiugang, a $2.5 million yacht (not a submarine) that sank into the Yellow River during the launch for its maiden voyage. (No one was injured during the mishap.)

One of the most interesting entries in the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show will be a 3-seat air conditioned submarine. This personal submarine carries a $2.9 million price tag and is being marketed to owners of super yachts. Triton Submarines, the maker of the sub, began building 2-person personal submersible in 2007. The new Triton 3300/3 is the company’s first 3-seater. It features an acrylic sphere enclosing the seating area that offers 180-degree underwater views.

Although a license is not required to operate a submarine, they can be as difficult to handle as a submarine and training is required. Triton sells about one or two personal submarines per year. Each one is custom built and takes about a year to deliver.

Find out more about Triton Subs on the official company website.

The Mirabella V, the world’s largest sloop, was spotted in Charleston Harbor earlier this month (the photo above shows her anchored off the coast of Monaco and gives some idea of her immense size). Completed in 2004 at a reported cost of $50 million, the single-mast yacht is owned by Joseph Vittoria, former CEO of car rental company Avis. The 247-foot yacht boasts a 292-foot mast and 6 cabins. According to a 2005 post on the official Mirabella V website, the super yacht and its crew of 14 are available for charter at a cost of $250,000 per week.

Visit the Post and Courier website for more information about the Mirabella V’s visit to Charleston, South Carolina.

Camachee Cove Yacht Harbor is located 2 miles from the historic district of St. Augustine, Florida. The harbor features a fully-protected marina less than a mile from the St. Augustine Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean. The St. Augustine Yacht Club is located in Camachee Cove as well as the headquarters of the Northeast Florida Marlin Association.

Established in 1565, St. Augustine is the oldest permanent European settlement in the continental U.S. It’s an area well worth exploring. Camachee Cove is a great destination or stop over for boaters cruising the Florida coast. Find out more at the official Camachee Island website.