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Chip,
Too funny. Your story
sounds AWEFULLY familiar. I was a "closet subber" until very
recently. I finally couldn't stand living with the FEAR, and REJECTION, of
not knowing if I would be made to look the fool as a result of my fixation on
submarines. I came out and said one day,
"Honey, guess what, I'm going to build a
sub."
"A what ?"
"A sub, you know, a submarine."
"
Ya, I know what a sub is. Why in the world do
you want to build a sub ? How are you going to build a sub ? What do
you know about subs ??"
"I want to build a sub because I love subs, need
subs, I want subs.....just like I love, want, and need you.....but not
more than you.....sweetie. (starting with the prioritizing list. It's a
hard pill to swallow but heh, you gotta do what you gotta do). I am going
to build a sub by doing a bunch of research first (she likes it when I do
"intellectual" stuff). I don't know much about subs right now but I'm
capable of learning and consider it a fantastic challenge (who can argue with
challenging oneself. It beats watching T.V. with a bag of
chips)."
"How much is this "sub" going to cost
?"
You see, now that's when I knew I had 'er
made. If she was adamant about "No way are you spending money on
this....this...."project", I would have had a lot tougher case to argue.
With the "How much" statement, it means she is actually interested in it and
wants to know more about this crazy idea. I've learned to read body
language and subtle cues in 7 years of marriage.
"I don't really know right now but I'm looking into
it."
Now I just need to get some facts, put them in a
nice binder like you said (that's a good idea, looks PRO), and promise I won't
kill myself, leaving her and the kids to fend for themselves. I hope I can
pull it off. I've got an "Ace in the hole" though. If I say I'll put
my '69 Camaro up for sale to fund the project, she'll know I'm serious. (I'm
still contemplating that very idea).
In any case......want to go for coffee sometime
?
Myles.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2005 2:44
PM
Subject: RE: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Another
nutcase here.
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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