[PSUBS-MAILIST] Steinke Hoods available to PSUBS members

["Alec Smyth" <Asmyth@changepoint.com>]

Hi friends,

The US Navy has used a simple submarine escape device called a Steinke Hood for decades. It is basically an inflatable life jacket with a couple of extras. There are overpressure valves to avoid it exploding as the air in the jacket expands on the way to the surface. And there is a hood that traps a bubble of air in which the person breathes on the way up. Once on the surface, the hood removes with a zipper. The Navy is in the process of replacing these hoods with a British version that works on the same principle but is a full body suit, to improve one's odds once floating on the surface in cold water.  

I recently purchased a surplus Steinke Hood for Solo on eBay. In communicating with the seller after the auction, I found out he had 16 of them, and he offered me a ridiculously low price. Carsten told me he could use 6 of them for Euronaut, so I took the plunge and got all 16 imagining some other folks here could put them to good use.  A typical PSUB bailout kit is a scuba tank, good only to scuba depths. My understanding is the US navy has used these to about 600 feet, and the British suits have come up from 1,000. Perhaps we have someone from the navy in the house who can tell us more about that.

The cost to me was only $31 per unit, so anyone on the list is welcome to  purchase one at the same price plus shipping. To minimize correspondence here, PLEASE CONTACT ME OFF LIST. 

These units were made in 1995 and look as though they've never been out of their bags. Incidentally, the pouches they come in are about 9"x6"x4", pretty compact. I opened up a couple and they all had an attached whistle and nose clip. The one problem I have had with them is I can't get my head through the hole... no teasing me please!!! I don't see any size label, so maybe it's just that the flexible neck cuff is less flexible 8 years after being made. In any case, I think I'll make a modification to mine to get my head through, either just cutting out a larger hole or perhaps doing the same and adding a neoprene skirt.  But I digress.

I loaded two pictures on the PSUBS picture exchange, one of the pouch and one inflated:

http://www.prismnet.com/~moki/subfiles

In addition, here are links to a more detailed description I found online:

http://www.dcfp.navy.mil/mc/articles/flash/071099J.htm
http://www.dcfp.navy.mil/mc/articles/flash/110200C.htm

Again, please contact me offline. It's first come, first served.

rgds,

Alec