Hello again Doug. Thanks for the compliments. It is a rather different
design. I decided on the sphere shape because I want to sit side by side with a
passenger, or in the middle if sailing alone.
I will stay with the dual controller design for the rear thrusters
for a couple of reasons. First, I still want to be able to run them in opposite
directions, although in reality it probably won't add much to the turning
ability because the rudders on the outflow are connected in tandem.
Second, The controllers them selves are sealed in an epoxy block and would
be very difficult if not impossible to modify. Third, if one motor or
controller was to malfunction, I would basically have two separate drive
systems so if one breaks the other could still move the boat.
The two joysticks will be mounted very close together, much like the
throttle levers on a commercial jet airliner. By adjusting the setting on the
gear drives, I should be able to sync the two motors pretty closely. Experience
will prove if I have to run one joystick slightly ahead of the other or if they
are in sync well enough. I can also change the individual gear ratios on the
joysticks if the motors exhibit a large difference in power.
As far as the neutral switch, again, it will be hard to make any changes to
the controllers, so will use them ''as-is''.
I don't have it shown on the sketches, but I also have the ability to mount
a small outboard motor on the back plate, for surface running. As I plan on
having a surface boat with me when I dive ( gotta show my wife how to drive a
boat) I'll be able to motor to the dive site at 10 knots or so, pull the
outboard motor and put it in the surface boat, then dive. I think I can lift a
20 horse motor easily, and with an external gas tank, should have lots of
surface range.
We live in Calif. , have a beach house in Florida, and are looking at
buying a canal home in Michigan for access to the Great Lakes. As I'm newly
retired, I plan on spending a lot of time on or around the water.
I grew up on the beach on the Great Lakes near Toronto, and have always
been near some large body of water.
I'll put a concept sketch of the controller box on frappr soon to give
you a better idea of the set-up.
Thanks for the encouragement, I'm still pretty excited about the whole
thing although building is taking a lot longer than I thought. I'm really glad I
joined psubbs. It's a great bunch of guys.
Frank D.