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I have
been doing my sub design on and off for about a year. I have about half of the
systems draw up in AutoCAD in 3-D. I have yet to look at the budget real close
but I would guess $10-15K. Figure 2-3 years build time with my schedule. All
this and the wife doesn't even know I want to do this. I'll get up the nerve to
ask her someday. Figured I need to have it all figured out and budgeted on paper
to even approach her on it. Maybe a nice presentation binder and such.
Or it
may die a lingering death on my hard drive. Who knows. We are self employed so
it's not like I have all this free time. I always laugh at people who say they
are going to start a business so they can work their own hours....yeah right!
Try mon-sat 8 AM to 8 PM... The business comes first! It pays the
bills!
Chip
Chip,
I hear what you're
saying. Us guys that are bound and determined to make their
marriages work often have to put their prides on hold, step back, and decide
what is important. The situation with the sub is a little
different. I understand having to justify several thousands of dollars
of the house hold budget for some pipes welded together that will sink in
water (no shit). She wants to know roughly how much, I can appreciate
that. I'm just thankful she's the responsible one.
Since we're ordering, I'll take a
large double, double.
Myles.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2005 1:43
PM
Subject: RE: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Another
nutcase here.
Medium, non-fat mocha for me please.... hold the whipped
cream
Chip
Hi, Again . . .
Yeah, trains and prairies go hand in
hand :-)
This is my first sub. I'm keeping it
simple with straight electrics - trolling motors and lots of
batts.
The Typhoon hull form I will be using is
about as cheap as I can get it. Making it a dry ambient boat
eliminates the complexity and expense of a one-at boat and yet provides
for beautiful panoramic underwater views. Plywood for the simple
curves is dirt cheap. Cockpit is heavier ply - cheap.
Fiberglass & epoxy, not so cheap. Canopy less than
$500. Seats - cheap. Motors less than $600. Batts about
$500-$600. Gauges simple. Air tanks will be rentals. Regs
second hand. Will use a second hand boat trailer for hauling to the
boat launch. Tuxedo rental, espresso maker and martini glass to
impress onlookers - priceless.
Rick
Vancouver
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2005
7:33 AM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST]
Another nutcase here.
Rick,
Im a bit of a train guy as
well as sub guy so yes, I was aware that locomotives were in fact diesel
/ electrics.
I am leaning towards the
diesel / electric method in an effort to keep things as simple and
reliable as possible. I see shafts,bearings and
clutches as sources of mechanical breakdown. In the end, the
cost would likely ballance out anyway if a person was to factor in
maintenance and replacement of these parts. The thought of messing
around with them once they are installed is not appealing, pretty tight
quarters in there.
At this point, I'm still in
"dreamer / planner " mode, wondering if I can get the funding together
to make something like this happen. There are many other factors
that I'm thinking about as in simply being able to transport and launch
a sub that weighs about 7000 lbs. (but that's a whole other
topic). I need to come up with a financial proposal for the board
of directors (my wife) which is what I'm trying to figure
out.
By the way, I'm about 3 hours
south east of North Battleford. Quite arguably as far away from
the ocean that a person can get. .....I'm looking at
making the sub for fresh water lakes anyway.
Thanks for the
response.
Myles.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005
11:52 PM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST]
Another nutcase here.
Hi, Myles - anywhere near North
Battleford?
Thanks for all the warm sub
thoughts. You have now entered the hallowed halls of the
I-wanna-dive-around-the-world-in-a-sub crowd.
Rather than re-inventing the wheel, I'd
opt for the diesel electric model myself and for much the same
reasoning as you presented: simplicity.
It works in subs and locomotives well
enough. Many people don't realize that locomotives are not
diesel operated they are electric. Those chugga-chugga sounds
are diesel generators.
Rick Lucertini
Vancouver
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, October 26,
2005 1:19 PM
Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST]
Another nutcase here.
Hello all,
Like all of us here, I
have this wierd fettish with subs. U-Boats are my
"thing". (Peter Madsen is cool in my book) I have
dreamt of building one for years but always thought it beyond my
scope. That was until I stumbled upon PSUBS.org. By
tuning into discussions and reading everything I can get my hands
on, I am coming to the realization that "normal / average" (perhaps
that isn't the right term) people build these things and not
some excentric millionaires or something. (you know, the same guys
that take solo hot air balloons around the world). Over the
period of several months, my confidence has grown to the point now
where I tell myself, "I could build one of those."
The group here at PSUBS is indeed
"special". I admire each and every one of them for following
their passion, whether they bring it to fruition or not. The
guys that actually get something in the water have really
accomplished something unique.
Does anybody have any thoughts on
direct drive diesel / electric propulsion ? I am still
contemplating whether that is the way to go, or whether a guy should
use the diesel / electric as a generator to power the thrust motor
? I like the direct drive method for it's added efficiency,
price (Only have to buy one motor/generator instead of two, one
generator and one thruster) and generally more "U-Boat" like,
but I am wondering if the engineering required to get the shaft
connected in line with the clutches and bearings through the
pressure hull while maintaining pressure hull integrity is
worth it. (what does it take to seal that shaft ?). I
also have concerns with the mechanical dependability of the
two clutches that would be required. (Could be a real
bugger to get in there for maintenance and replace). The other
way would simply mean connecting an external electric thruster to
the battery source that is being charged by the diesel which I
believe would be easier to do. (Am I right here ?).
I'm more interested in
building a 1ATM U-Boat resembling sub that has decent surface
performance rather than something that will dive deep. I'm
aiming for an operation depth of 35M.
Thoughts / opinions on propulsion
?
Myles Hall
Saskatchewan Canada.
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