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RE: [PSUBS-MAILIST] web sites



Matt,
 
I am building my first sub and am now a couple of years into the project. I came in with a little useful knowledge in areas like naval architecture and machining, and with over 10 years of picking up every submarine design book or article I could get my hands on. Yet there are many items I've spent months and months building only to have a better idea later on, realize I'd used the wrong material, etc., etc. In the worst case so far, I had to abandon parts with a full year of work in them and start over. This is the cost of developing a completely new design and having to locate all my sources from scratch. And I am nowhere near done. Even when the sub is eventually finished, I'm pretty certain the first hour of in the water will lead to mods requiring a year or two in the shop. That's just how it goes with prototypes built by an amateur in the wee hours of the night. 
 
Anyway, all that was just an intro for the hindsight lecture...
 
Unless you're hell-bent on an un-conventional type of sub, I'd strongly recommend building to proven plans. One of the Kittredge designs, for example. The cost (I think $500) is insignificant compared to the savings you'll get from this approach. Plans are the closest to a cook-book you'll get. Cook-books simply don't exist in this field. If they did, it wouldn't be half as interesting.
 
cheers,
 
- Alec
-----Original Message-----
From: Joanne Cadieux [mailto:compkid15@earthlink.net]
Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2001 2:24 AM
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] web sites

I am just starting out in the area of personal subs.  I was wondering of anyone has any website that can give me more information on how to build them.  I know how to build one but there are soe stupid thinkgs i am stuck with like what you use to control the air pressure inside the sub. And the best desighn for a hull i am only looking to dive to about 50 feet so only need a hull that will stand up to about 80feet.  If any body can help me it would be greatly apreciated.                                       
   
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                                                                                                    Matt Cadieux