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Thanks all
for the detailed answers. I was
definitely heading down the wrong path planning to make all ballast hard. I will instead plan to put smaller hard
tanks inside the soft tanks to “get slightly more than positive” when ready to
ascend. Once surfaced, I can use a
blower to fill the soft tanks and gain even more freeboard without sacrificing
bottled air. I never made the
connection that all soft ballast would be completely filled with water when
submerging and not affect buoyancy at different depths. Weight concerns get a lot simpler also
since the soft ballast only has to withstand surface travel stresses and
ambient pressures at depth. I also
loved the idea of keeping the trim weight inside the 1atm. compartment
(mentioned in one of the “bobber-sub” discussions). That really simplifies the trim adjustment mechanics, further
minimizes thru-hull connection/s and eliminates another outside structure that can
hangup, cause problems or be difficult to repair at sea. Thanks
Again, Cliff |