RE: [PSUBS-MAILIST] How much drop weight?

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

Hey Pierre,

A brief update on Solo... this last weekend the welder came by and we
finished the pressure hull. I use a professional welder for the pressure
boundary welds. I can stick metal together, but the difference between
my efforts and those of a professional are night and day. The hull was
"finished" before, but over time I had come up with the need for several
more stainless inserts, plus we ground out and redid any prior welds
that were the slightest bit suspect. I am now a firm believer in
grinding down welds... it really increased my confidence in the weld
quality. I know there are two schools of thought on that one, and don't
intend to restart an old thread, but I'm convinced!

I've just finished all the miscellaneous large and small mounting
brackets in the hull. Everything from heavy battery racks to very small
attachments to hold down air lines. I put in longitudinal brackets on
both sides of the interior, and on the "ceiling", for the entire length
of the boat. These longitudinal rails have a threaded hole every 3", and
are 9" apart. This way, all internal panels and equipment will have
compatible mounts, and can be moved around in the future. I like the
result, although admittedly it took a while to drill and tap nearly 300
holes. This replaced my earlier idea of building a removeable chassis
that would come out through the bow for maintenance. As in so many other
cases, I changed my mind only after actually building the part! I found
putting things in the center of the internal airspace just took up too
much room, while removeable panels like this should still be reasonably
easy to maintain, and allow me to worm my way to the stern with
everything installed.  

Another minor design mod... my flood valve is on the roof rather than
the floor. This serves two purposes; believe it or not, it's the best
ergonomics with this interior, and second I can put a "snorkel" out
through the valve if I am ever adrift on the surface.

I am awaiting delivery of a sandblaster I bought on eBay a few days ago.
When it arrives, I'll paint and begin assembly. Will send pictures at
that point. I still estimate there's a year to go, at least.


How about your boat?



Cheers,

Alec

-----Original Message-----
From: Pierre Poulin [mailto:pipo305@hotmail.com] 
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 1:17 PM
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Subject: RE: [PSUBS-MAILIST] How much drop weight?

Yes, that is a good idea. I also tough about a second air cylinder. But 
again, money is a problem...

I will see. Thx for the idea!

How is solo doing? any new changes? Give us an update!

Pierre Poulin




>From: "Alec Smyth" <Asmyth@changepoint.com>
>Reply-To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
>To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
>Subject: RE: [PSUBS-MAILIST] How much drop weight?
>Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2003 09:34:11 -0500
>
>Pierre, on second thoughts if you have that much weight left over, why
>not just put it into something more useful and increase the battery
>capacity?
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: pierre&marie [mailto:poulin.carrier@videotron.ca]
>Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 11:44 PM
>To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
>Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] How much drop weight?
>
>Thanks guys for the reply.
>
>Well, 850 pounds of drop weight = nothing can keep you entengle on the
>bottom. But you will explode lung/hull/viewport...
>
>And, 0 pound of drop weight? Hum... not very confortable with that.
>Better
>to explode lungs then to die at the bottom...
>
>How about a rope from the dropped weight to the sub with a brake of
some
>kind? Just an idea.
>
>Any comments?
>
>
>Pierre "entengle must have an A somewhere..." Poulin
>
>P.S. Oh, and Marie-Andree say hi! And she still don't want me to put
BIG
>inside water with me inside. I think she missed the whole concept here.
>Anyway...
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Alec Smyth" <Asmyth@changepoint.com>
>To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
>Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 5:23 PM
>Subject: RE: [PSUBS-MAILIST] How much drop weight?
>
>
> > Pierre,
> >
> > I think if it were a dry sub, the answer would be "as much as
>possible".
> > But in an ambient sub, dropping too much weight would actually be
> > dangerous. So I'd say "as much as possible, so long as you can drop
it
> > in small increments". Very precise of me, hehe.
> >
> > Rgds,
> >
> > Alec
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Pierre Poulin [mailto:pipo305@hotmail.com]
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 4:46 PM
> > To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
> > Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] How much drop weight?
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi all!
> >
> > I have question.
> >
> > My sub weight now 350 pounds. It will have to weight about 1200
>pounds.
> > So I
> > have to had 850 pounds of weight to get it under water.
> >
> > How much of that 850 pounds should I use as drop weight? Remember,
My
> > sub is
> > a dry-ambient design to use at max 30 feet...
> >
> > Thank you!
> >
> > Pierre Poulin
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > MSN Search, le moteur de recherche qui pense comme vous !
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> >
>

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