Snoopy was built to the original K-250 plan, with the side thrusters and a rudder, but no rear thruster. The side thrusters work great, but the boat has insufficient speed for the rudder to have any perceptible effect. I'm considering removing the rudder and replacing with a stern thruster, but another option would be to leave the existing rudder in place, and cut a piece out of it to mount the thruster in. hopefully that way I'd still have the use of the rudder when being towed, and also increase the effectiveness of the rudder if the thruster prop wash is flowing past it. Of course doing this cutout job is more work than just putting in a third thruster. What d'you guys think, would it be worth the extra trouble? thanks, Alec -----Original Message----- From: Dan H. [mailto:jmachine@adelphia.net] Sent: Wed 12/22/2004 11:45 PM To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org Cc: Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Tail Feathers Hi Vance, I know what you mean about the K-350 being hard to hold on course when cruising. The foot controlled rear thruster steering works smoothly enough, but it's still difficult to keep on course. It's not bad until you open it up with all the thrust it has. It gets going and then ends up in a 180 quicker then I can steer out of it. It's easy to control with only the side thrusters but not with the rear thruster at full power. I see the captain played around with a tail fin on one of his. Are you planning to do away with the steering on the rear thruster all together and install a rudder? Since the lakes are already iced over up here, there's time for alterations. I was thinking about adding a fin. What do you think? I like your idea of tying the two side thrusters together. It seems I have both of them at the same angle all the time anyway. I think I may try keeping them in their present location and tying them together within the hull though. The turned under part of my MBT's seem to lessen the burping air loss when the hull is rocking. Dan H.
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