Thirty years of research has gone into the project, and still it does not exist. But a recently launched crowdfunding campaign hopes to make the last decade of stagnancy a thing of the past.

At least part of the SeaOrbiter could be built with the help of funds from the masses. It's called the "eye of the SeaOrbiter" and it's the top 59 feet of the proposed 190-foot vessel. Within the eye sits a lookout post and the entirety of the SeaOrbiter's communication systems. From it, the public will be able to share in the eventual adventures of the SeaOrbiter's crew, so it's fitting that the public takes a hand in its creation.