I might differ with Sean’s opinion of Mark’s
underwater pilot’s course. After following the history of the
program through when Mark started hosting the course, there has been real value
added with what he offers. Spoke with him at length during the Raystown
Lake PSUBS Conference and you really get a lot of time to learn the ends and
outs of not only the K-250 but also sub operations in general.
Even after spending years on military subs, the same amount of time at EB as an
engineer, and time in a K-250 years ago at George’s facility in
Maine, I would still spend time with Mark and his course not only as a
refresher but to get a different perspective on sub ops. Hopefully he is
still offering the course as I would like to attend it in the near future and
take my brother with me (some of you have met him at previous PSUB Conferences)
so that he could attend the pilot’s course. There is a lot to be
learned here that will apply to a lot of other PSUB operations.
As for other experience, have held a 100 ton USCG Ocean Operator’s
License, Engineering Officer on a square-rigged training ship, nuclear mechanical
operator in the US Sub Service, and grew up in the commercial fisheries
industry. Mark Ragan’s course is a good value.
R/Jay
Respectfully,
Jay K. Jeffries
Andros Is., Bahamas
As scarce as the truth is, the supply has always been in excess of
the demand.
-Josh Billings
Date:
Thu, 12 Feb 2009 07:20:09 -0700
From: cast55@telus.net
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Subject: Re: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Pilot training for subs
I came to discover recently that my commercial mariner certificate
(Transport Canada - Master, vessels no greater than 60 GT, carrying passengers)
could be augmented with a passenger submersible craft endorsement. The
requirements are simply a commercial diving certification of any valid type -
(commercial SCUBA or surface supply), and proof of training / competency on the
vessel to be piloted. Vessel specific training would be provided and
documented by the manufacturer / owner. I am not familiar with the US
requirements, but they are probably along the same lines.
PSubs, as with any non-commercial small craft, are not governed by the same
rules. Here in Canada, any yokel can run a boat legally with an
"operator competency" card - a bit of a joke certification available
through an internet administered self-study course. I presume that there
are no special requirements for submersible craft in this category.
Again, I am unfamiliar with US requirements.
I do wonder how valuable a course on one specific K250 would be. Given
that these boats are so widely variant in design deviations, control schemes,
and other owner / builder customization, I would hazard a guess that while you
may get a feel for how such a craft behaves generally, the course may not be
entirely applicable to your own build, and that the training offered is likely
geared towards someone who wants a sub ride and a cool wall certificate, rather
than someone in the process of designing / building their own K250. YMMV.
If you are looking to get input on possible design changes or operational
issues, you might do well to poll the list members to see if there are K boats
you could examine, sit in, or possibly operate in order to guide your own
build. Exposure to a number of different boats can't hurt, and seems to
me to bear a greater potential benefit than this K250 course. Having said
that, I do not own a K sub, I have never been in a K sub, and I have never
dealt with the company in question, so take my comments with a grain of
salt. On the plus side, having a training certificate from a well
established company may have some bearing on insurance issues, so that may play
into your decision. Plus, certificates are cool. I was thinking of
pursuing the sub endorsement on mine just for conversational value, but a
commercial SCUBA course here in BC runs about $5K, and then I'd have to plead
with Phil to let me test dive a DeepWorker and write me a testimonial. ;-)
-Sean
On Feb 11, 2009, ShellyDalg@aol.com
wrote:
Thanks Ray. That's interesting. It sounds like a lot of fun. I
think I'll give them a call and see if the program still exists. I expect the
basic systems on my little sub will be fairly close in operation to the ones on
their K250, and it could help me on my first dives.
I would like to take one or two of my daughters to take the course
too, if they're interested. I wanted to get a little more info on it before I
approached them, and will share the experience with the guys.
If anyone else has thoughts on this thread, I'd be interested in
hearing them. Frank D.
The year's hottest artists on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards.
AOL Music takes
you there.
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