Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Buoy release

[Carlos Del Valle <carlosd072657@gmail.com>]

Hi gang,

I'm a newby to psubs, decided that living on a boat, sans garage, lathe, welder, or metal working skills,

I've downsized to an ROV vs a semi-dry. However, I'm an open water cert diver with lots of experience

and have had my share of "at depth" near misses. I'm also a Respiratory Therapist with 30 years

experience including decomp/dive medicine.

The drum deal in theory seems like a viable option, but as pointed out, any of the rescue work

envisioned would be very difficult at best, and very dangerous to the divers. If the disabled sub

was deeper than 100fsw divers would be "bottom time" limited. Your math is probably right

regarding buoyancy, but if that sub is on a silt or other soft bottom there is an initial

 suction effect on the hull that would have to be overcome. The Coast Guard has no provision

for a "sub salvage", so you guys (me included) have to come up with something for self rescue.

As a wreck diver I carry tri-redundancy for my air supply. I hope you sub pilots do the same.

 The subject of sub rescue is the most important of all and deserves our attention.

Be safe and good luck to all

Best Regards,  Carlos

On Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 5:25 PM, Jay K. Jeffries <bottomgun@mindspring.com> wrote:

Frank,

For last year’s Conference, we made a estimation that it would take about 6 drums to get the conning tower of a partially flooded K-350 safely above the surface to disembark crew safely.  As part of an exercise in the parking lot, attendees rigged several drums to George’s sub and it was their conclusion that this would be a difficult exercise underwater especially if deep and even more difficult if the water was cold (visibility would be quickly stirred up if it wasn’t already murky).  This was with a group of people familiar with PSUBS and who had just attended a class in rigging the sub.  Another determination was that pre-established attachment points down low on the sub (i.e. skids) would be very advantageous.  No matter what, the drums would have to be attached at the skids to get the conning tower clear.  Towing this disabled PSUB with drums supporting it would open up a bunch of other issues.

 

If I remember correctly, your PSUB has a lot more internal space than a K-350 so much more salvage lift would be required for a partially flooded sub.

R/Jay

 

 

Resepectfully,

Jay K. Jeffries

Andros Is., Bahamas

 

Save the whales, collect the whole set.

 

 

 

From: owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org [mailto:owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org] On Behalf Of ShellyDalg@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 1:13 PM
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Buoy release

 

Hi Jon and Ray. Yes, 55 gallons of displacement will weigh about 8 pounds per gallon, but items weigh a lot less when submerged, so 55 gallons of air will raise more than the "dry weight" of an object when submerged. Now a 55 gallon drum ( not counting the drum itself ) could raise 400 plus, clear of the water, but just getting it off the bottom is what I was referencing. We're talking about getting a psub to come back to the surface, not get it up on the trailer. Frank D.

 

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