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Hi Doug and all. The wider hull has some considerable draw backs. It's
pretty well established that the ''cigar'' shape is the best. My old tests
proved it also. But in terms of "real estate", more usable room in your
underwater environment is how the boat is sized to the intended task. Form
follows function. A tubular shape with limited headroom at each end has it's own
set of advantages and disadvantages.
Although the saucer shape lacks overall length, it is easily accessible
everywhere inside. ( It's real roomy sitting in the empty hull. )The real
disadvantage comes with it's hydrodynamic profile. Wider is definitely not
better. I'm trying to mitigate this disadvantage with fairings. I've done some
rough calcs ( not my specialty) and I hope to be able to hit 4 knots
submerged.
I've been struggling with the front fairing design for some months
now. I have the shape and dimensions, etc. ----but I just don't like having
my main window so exposed when I'm motoring on the surface.
I've narrowed it down to two probable solutions.
Like all things sub related, each has it's pluses and minus's(sp.?)
The original thought was to make a plexi fairing shaped like the bow
of a skiff. The water flow test came out real good on that. That's the
plus.
The problem is....bubbles on the inside when you're submerged. Don' know
how to fix that one yet.
Plan two is, have a steel cover that hydraulically lowers down over the
window, when you are surface traveling.
Problem is....Lousy water flow.
All this balanced against the costs for each, versus not doing
anything.
As to the onboard motor, I have a long range plan for that.
As I said earlier, the back plate is designed to accept an outboard motor
and that's only good for surface travel. Going a long distance has some costs
you just can't get away from.
My rear structure is a modular bolt on affair so that arrangement can be
modified with no changes to the pressure hull.
I have a few ideas on how to build an add-on motor/battery pod
This also would be a bolt-on module. Containing batteries,generator, motor,
fuel, air for compensation, and neutrally buoyant, with blowable ballast tanks,
just like the original stern section but with bigger tanks, and more HP air
storage.
The saucer hull shape lends itself to external modification quite easily.
And the longer it gets, the better the water flow around it.
As to my wife going in the sub ? Well....let me just say that's not
likely.
UPDATE:
I welded the hinges to my hatch today, and hope to weld on the
lock-down dogs tomorrow.
If I'm ever in your neighborhood, I'd like to see you. Thanks for the
invitation. Frank D. Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year. |