----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2005 5:26
PM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Another
nutcase here.
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.