Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Pro's & Con's of Propane Tanks

[VBra676539@aol.com]

Doug,

All your knuckles-in-the-eye, hair-tugging, scowling, grunting, scratching ruminations will go for naught unless you take the basic step of assuming FULL responsibility for your psub. Building your own hull isn't very expensive, and having it built isn't all that terrible. The engineering and fabrication are integral. By going through all the basics, you are ensured of having a safe and reliable machine that will have the least chance of hurting you. You must have absolute confidence. Buying an old tank gives you a submarine hull shaped object about which you know nothing. What material? What rod used to weld it? Any stress corrosion? Any pitting? And so on.

You can sure do it. More than a few have. And if diving in shallow lakes and ponds is your plan, then you can (based on their experience) get away with it. My question: Why bother? If you are going to build the damned thing in spite of popular opinion and common sense, why not do the very best job you can do and build something that will outlast your enthusiasm and outperform your needs. The sense of accomplishment (to my way of thinking) is much deeper, and the satisfaction derived by plunging into the ocean in a machine you built with your own hands is simply indescribable.

Best Regards,
Vance