Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] More youthful wetsub experiences

["Tim Smalley" <TMSmalley@usinternet.com>]

They are shots of me on the dock with the compressor and gear and then me
getting into the water to test the hookah rig.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Gregory Snyder" <gsnyder@mn.rr.com>
To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2002 4:50 PM
Subject: RE: [PSUBS-MAILIST] More youthful wetsub experiences


> For crying out loud -
> Submit the polaroid to the webpage!
> Thanks-
> greg
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org
> [mailto:owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org] On Behalf Of
> tmsmalley@usinternet.com
> Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2002 9:37 AM
> To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
> Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] More youthful wetsub experiences
>
> A few years earlier (1964-65, I was 14 or 15 at the time) I did build a
> simple wooden tow behind-the-boat "wetsub" that you laid down on plans
> gleaned from another Pop Mech (Mech Illus?) article. I looked like I was
> lying on a cross - only face down.
>
> The cross' arms had diving planes hinged on the trailing edges. I ran an
> airhose (from a gas-powered aircompressor I made from a $5 lawn mower
> motor and an old air compressor) down the tow rope to a hotwater bottle
> air reservior and mouthpiece that I had pulled the idea from another
> Popular Mechanics story. A diving faceplate and fins to help steer
> completed my ensemble.
>
> Dad ran our 12 foot duckboat with a 9.5 HP motor (very slowly) and
> pulled me along about 30 feet astern. I pushed the plane controls
> forward and down I went, right into a weed bed of lilly pads! Ecchh.
>
> The sub came to a screaming halt - and of course so did the boat. Mom,
> who was watching out the front door of the cabin, thought "the old man"
> was going to drown me for sure. I was fine, but the "sub" got put away
> after her first dive. But subs were in my blood after that - plus a
> little CO from the lawn mower engine!
>
> I still have an old black and white Polaroid photo of me standing on the
> dock with my homemade hookah diving rig. A very proud moment!
>
>
>
>
>