Paul,
Yes, Dan is correct in the "reverse" thinking idea, I will apply that very concept. I still am looking at the main cabin as a ballast tank idea. I am envisioning interior space that has dual use as cabin and main ballast if that is possible.
You guys need to remember something. As a neophyte, some of my initial ideas will appear ridiculous only to be eventually discarded for what actually works. In the meantime, enjoy a little chuckle at my expense.
Joe
From: Paul Kreemer <paulkreemer@gmail.com>
Reply-To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] "Frankenboot"
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 11:46:06 -0800
Joe, just writing to put in a plug for Dan's suggestion: that you first consider the displacement of your minimally sized dry compartment and then treat the rest of the vessel as a fairing. The fairing would add some displacement, especially being built of plywood but you'd have to get the whole thing into your target displacement. The first step would be to choose your desired dry weight and/or crew compartment volume. (10,000lb? which is almost 160cf.)
You could add in your maybe 30% reserve buoyancy (48cf) for good surface operation but those are just variable ballast tanks, mostly for surface use and emergency surfacing, right? They wouldn't add to the displacement of the boat and the whole thing really would weigh 10,000lb on a trailer.
This seems like a better way to describe a WWII-style homebuilt that will be good on the surface - a modest pressure compartment with a big free-flooding fairing. You could do a big deck and superstructure like on that nice S-44 replica, but you would need some propulsion power to move such a rig submerged!
Please correct me if I'm wrong on this - certainly there are different ways to approach the design process.
Paul
-----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
Dan H. wrote:
Maybe your only planning to build a small pressure hull with a big fairing for your subs appearance. If so, then your displacement is only your pressure hull and the fairing can be free flooding and not part of your displacement equation at all.