BERGSTEAD SEBASTIAN – 1/12 scale
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This topic contains 81 replies, has 12 voices, and was last updated by 
shredder7753 8 months, 2 weeks ago.
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January 28, 2012 at 12:31 pm #17619
“shredder, reporting for duty”. i like the new site but its gonna take some getting used to. this ‘reply’ box has no option buttons at the top. hmmm… overall the site has a beautiful new look.
January 28, 2012 at 12:53 pm #17620EVERYBODY! my Kickstarter page is getting ready to launch. let me know if u like:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/86794338/274925219?token=781a484eJanuary 28, 2012 at 8:42 pm #17622Everything is so very shiny, but how do I make it work?! XD
January 28, 2012 at 10:37 pm #17624This comment is going to be somewhat generalized and focused towards comments made early in this thread, but I feel they are valid nonetheless. Specifically Ocean’s implications that the estimated cost of the Bergstead put it outside the realm of reasonability, especially given “what 30k can buy” these days.
I feel that is a very invalid perspective, and I challenge the entire notion that a Singe Family Seastead (SFSt) need be super cheap like that. Sure, there is a place for the 25k package, but do we really imagine that only the single demographic of the financially super-limited are going to be interested in populating the seas? In my view such an assertion not only limits the entire prospect of Seasteading, but damages the possibilities as well.
Sure, its incredibly fashionable here to associate Seasteading with the “Manifest Destiny” Homesteading of the 1800′s, but really its an implausible association. The truth of the matter is that the sea is FAR less hospitable than those new territories were back then, and it will require much more money on the part of those looking to be the very first to expand into it. (I can qualify these statements if anyone takes issue with them, but will not bother to do so right now)
Besides which, I belive we are forgetting the holy trifecta: Quantiy, Quality, Low Price. You may have two of the three elements, never all three of them. To use lower price you must either have a product which lacks quality or is substantially reduced in content from other products. And are we forgetting above and beyond this that there are a number of successful business models which cater to those who can afford higher prices in their persuit of quality? To have Seastead which offers both a Quality product and physically sizeable product (Quantity) you must have a higher price. To argue this is silliness and foolishness.
Rich has offered us a product which has both quality and is substantial enough for an entire family to live comfortably. You may have arguments against it’s properties, you may have arguments about it’s performance, but you cannot claim to be rational membe of this community while simultaniously discounting it for costing too much.
February 1, 2012 at 5:23 pm #17778Kickstarter campaign has been UNLEASHED!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/86794338/the-bergstead-ocean-colonization-demoFebruary 3, 2012 at 2:17 am #17827well! just 33 hours into my kickstarter campaign and it appears that im well on my way… to a massive failure. already im starting to ask myself “what learned?”. so here’s what i got at the moment:
both Google and Facebook were just a “model” when they were dreamed up by people. if those people had gone around to all their friends and said “HEY i never did anything amazing b4 but i got this really great idea now. i want u to gimme just a lil money to help fund it”, their friends and family may have given them the same reaction that im getting right now.
all of the great technological success stories of the last few decades were initially funded by large chunks of money. it may have given me an added degree of freedom if the funding was ‘grassroots’ but im just thinking maybe that isnt a realistic approach. im worried that people look at the project and think “great! even if it succeeds my life wont be directly impacted in the near future at all”. which is fair to say.
i still believe as others have said on this forum that a physical model is necessary. you can do computer models until ur blue in the face but it still wont convince people the way a solid physical prototype will. and for $25K i think its dirt cheap. to be honest i think $35K may be a better minimum to make sure it does not fall short. still really cheap all things considered.
i decided to cryogenically freeze the Bergstead system for now. i will still complete the hydroturbine test platform and maintain all my research and models so that its fully ready in case a serious investor comes along. i am only one man. the very best i can do is the best that i can do. i have a real life to lead and i dont intend to miss out. this project can no longer be healthy for me without outside funding.
(sound effect, then static)
February 3, 2012 at 2:42 am #17828and a note:
people will truly understand the power of the Bergstead only when a qualified rival tries to compete against it. you cannot beat the Bergstead. i take great pride in saying that no one in this world will present a valid technical reason why the Bergstead system would fail – it is too strong!February 3, 2012 at 4:32 am #17830anyone who would like to contact me about continuing the project can do so thru my email: rallen7753@gmail.com
February 6, 2012 at 5:41 pm #17845ya man, honestly, I’m amazed you even got as much as you did,
$216 from random strangers online, kudo’s!I’ve not gotten any money ever,
and I’ve had a donation button for years.Anyways, I technically have more than enough money,
though could set up some “kickstarter-campaign”Main issue now, is that need a place to build,
and at the moment, I’m not aware of anywhere nearby,
unless I guerrilla build like I did with my dinghy.Oh BTW for the amount you already have,
can make a floating drydock, with roughly a ton buoyancy.February 10, 2012 at 9:11 pm #18406I cant paste a picture from another web page?!!
fast forward to slide #5 for neat little concrete island. Would b a cool hangout for teens:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46315378/ns/news/displaymode/1247/?beginSlide=5April 5, 2012 at 7:05 am #19825just an update: im back to looking for a big sponsor for the 1/12th scale model. Stoltzfus RV sales out of West Chester, PA seems like an ideal sponsor. i talked to a lot of industrial companies near me and, although they thought the idea was cool, no one wanted to support it financially. will let u know if i make some headway.
April 13, 2012 at 2:15 pm #20001heres a photo of the latest Bergstead model design work. because this model will be fairly complex im working hard to make sure ever detail of every detail is thoroughly planned:
April 25, 2012 at 9:59 am #20178Funding suggestion for ya…
Most manufacturers count on the cost of the final retail product being several times the manufacturer cost. Manufacturer sells to wholesaler, who sells to distributor who sells to retailer who sells to the end user. Each one along the way wants their cut.
So you could sell the opportunity to be able to buy the first Bergsteads at cost.
Say the final product will cost $40-50k to build but the final cost to the buyer is going to be closer to $100k. You ask for a $5k contribution now in order to lock in a Bergstead at the $40-50k price.
For cheaper products on kickstarter I have seen them sell the actual product for a contribution of like $1k (the manufactured cost of the product). So the first X people will get it at manufacturer’s cost and then you start making profit.
Just a thought.
April 25, 2012 at 1:00 pm #20183no, no, no, no, no…
(facepalm)
theres no retail value for a scale bergstead. the $75K i want to raise is just to build a developmental scale version of the design. 1 unit in 1/12th scale for testing and exhibition purposes only. an actual Bergstead wwould cost at least $5 million.
April 25, 2012 at 1:23 pm #20184“an actual Bergstead wwould cost at least $5 million”
Ahh…
ya, I was not talking about selling the scale version, just the final version
You never know though, someone may be willing to pony up a good chunk of change to get a discount or the first Bergstead in production. But that is a whole different search.
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