Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Re: Psub for Lew

["Captain Nemo" <vulcania@interpac.net>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lew Clayman" <lew_clayman@yahoo.com>
To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2001 2:17 PM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Re: Psub for Lew


> I wonder if it could be modified to sail at the surface, as a trimaran?
Oh no, I'm off on a
> bizarro quest now... ohh noooo here I gooooooooooooooooooooo

Not so bizarro as you might think.  Back in the mid-to-late 80's, there was
an Aussie TV show playing in America (BEYOND 2000 ?) that did a segment on a
boat / sub called the SCUBA CAT: two metal catamaran hulls (one with a
NISSAN automobile engine and squirt-drive in it) connected by a frame of
moveable levers operated by the hydraulics from a back-hoe to carry a
central pod (teardrop shaped, pointy end forward, clear bubble canopy)
alternably above or a few feet below the surface.  An air-con unit pushed
surface air through the pod when submerged.  Prototype seemed to work fairly
well: looked well ventilated and comfortable; pretty good underwater
visibility; etc.  Inventor spoke of building a larger commercial "tourist
version", but I never heard of it actually being done.

Pat