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Hello Frank, The inflatable's also allow me to have yet another way to surface in a emergency as well. I'll have a small aluminum deck above them that they suck up into when deflated, and I can also stand on those decks for easier boarding. The aluminum tube deck frame will be a part of the side tangle guard that also protects the side thrusters, and all of that would be coated with a Rhino liner type coating. They also afford me some wave protection. I have not finalized what inflatable pontoons I will purchase. I have to be able to add some new inlets and outlets to them, and so I have to have my friend that makes plastic welding machines for these type of floats approve my choice and assembly models, since he will be the one installing the new hardware onto them. I have many ready made choices like the below unit. Right now I'm thinking that a seven foot pair of floats will work nicely. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0052743320236a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntk=Products&QueryText=pontoon+boat&sort=all&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form23&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1 I'm changing a lot of odds and ends over to SS, like Alec, and Dan did on there K subs. I'm thinking of having Greg bond on two small acrylic flanges to the acrylic cylinder I plan to use, much like what is on the dome I have. This way I can attach the cylinder without five long SS bolts going from the lower steel flange and the top hatch like was done on the S-101. So I will have a even better view. It's not as strong of an assembly, but since I plan to have a new aluminum conning tower crash guard sorta like the old one but formed like a ski boat tow rack, I'm more comfortable with that configuration. But I would like peoples opinions on it. I've been thinking since I've been wanting some FRP practice that I would make a set of molds off these original FRP MBT's as they are currently, and then make a pair of new ones in them, then use those to make plug molds out of and add on the curved in lower part and make molds off them. This way I'll have the originals left be as they are, and two sets of new molds that people can have me make them either type of tanks from if they like. The other option is to use the tanks I have and add some flat FRP stock in a couple of areas under the lower edge of the tanks horizontally and seal them to that said lower edge, and leaving the center area open. Regards, Szybowski From: ShellyDalg@aol.com Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:18:17 -0500 Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Removing Front MBT To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org Hi Brent. I like the inflatable pontoon idea. That makes a lot of sense.
You should be able to fabricate FRP ballast tanks easily in any shape you like using the existing ballast tanks as a partial mold so the new ones fit the hull. That way you can save the originals for historical reasons.
With the new stainless straps replacing the old steel ones, the seal should work. George designed a simple and strong method of attachment that has worked for many years. Upgrading to stainless is relatively inexpensive while maintaining the simplicity of his design. Still, I'd consider a full envelope design and eliminate the seal altogether. It could be fairly simple to just add a bottom and end to the tanks using the same attachment design, just eliminating the need for an airtight seal at the hull.
I look forward to seeing your new tower assembly. That has to be great addition if you can get it to work.
Greg C. told me about his testing that design in his pool and said it worked great. Good luck and keep the great pictures coming. Frank D. |