Hello All,
Well, I've had My K-350 "Persistence" out several times this summer, and
now that the local waters are clearing up more as they get cooler, I'll
be getting in several more dives until it freezes. As of yet, I haven't
done a deep water test but dived manned to fifty feet several times and
had no problems. I don't care to take it any deeper then that until I
do an unmanned deep water test to five or six hundred feet.
I've had a bunch of fun with it, even though I haven't seen anything
spectacular. With the practice, I'm getting better at controlling it.
It still bobs some as I'm submerging, but I now keep that down to no
more then four degrees fore and aft. Running a straight line when going
top speed (don't ask me how fast but it's faster then one could row) is
still difficult. The faster I go the easier it is to get in a quick
unintentional turn. I know a tail fin would help but I don't think I
want to add one yet.
The other thing that I need to do is install some sort of directional
device. I'm thinking a gyro compass. Once I loose sight through the
conning tower viewports, I'm traveling blind. Even near the surface,
unless the sun is shining through the top view port, I can't get
oriented and keep it there.
Does anyone know where I can get a gyro compass or anything else to tell
direction with, other then a new gyro for an airplane out of the
catalogue at $1600 a pop? Also, most airplane gyros seem to be vacuum
powered. I need either 12, 24 or 36 volt powered.
How do you other guys tell direction ? Keep in mind I've been diving in
pea soup where vis is no better then four feet. To give you an idea how
many pees are in the soup around here, at forty feet, there is ZERO
light coming from the surface. With the lights off, IT'S DARK!!!!
Thanks for any help, Dan H.