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Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] submarine kit-builder's society



Hey, Wil!
Err - Phil didn't 'recommend not to go for ABS' (or any other certifying agencies, for that matter). I do question the value of having a classed sub if you don't plan to take passengers for hire or those who would not be willing to sign a 'draconian' waiver to dive in your sub. The cost of initial 'plan approval' and then the many visits by surveyors during the construction phase, pressure tests and sea-trials can easily chew up a hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The prices vary, but all are expensive for a home-built - where you can't pass the cost on to a customer. We have actually had potential customers change their minds about buying a semi-custom sub from us, when they found that certification of a new build could easily bet ten percent of the purchase price.   
I believe that a home-built should should follow the accepted PVHO and MTS guidlines for construction, however innovative the design.
Just be prepared that if your rad new concept is subject to plan approval by a classing agency because you want it classed, for whatever reason, you may have to open a small vein!
The alternative? Put the sub under regular insurance for theft, fire, etc. and self-insure for total loss. This doesn't cut it for liability, however, and though your iron-clad waiver may carry the day, you can't stop the victim or his estate from bringing an action if he/they so choose - and defense can be expensive, with no guarantee that you'll recover legal costs, even if you win.
For the record, our subs are classed variously by Lloyds, ABS, Cayman, and DNV.
Also for the record, I've been personally responsible for the classing of more than 90 'submersibles' of one type or another, so it's not terribly accurate to say that I don't believe in sub classification,
period!
Or, if you want to avoid all paperwork hassles - maybe move to Roatan!  
 
 
---- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2010 2:38 PM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] submarine kit-builder's society

Hello Jon,

I have not been on this forum for quite a while...just a few inputs.

Doing something PIONEER while staying within STANDARDS is like putting edges on a circle.

If you want to be a "explorer" and keep a "defensive legal position" all the time - how will that work?

Safety is NOT the same as "Standard conform" - safety does not come from stamping - safety comes from solid testing and solid overbuild. No matter if it is standard conform or not.

The sea does not know if your hull is stamped, approved, standard conform...whatever...it just finds your crush depth - stay sufficiently away from it - 1:3 - testing is the key.

If you want to build a sub according to a "industrial pressure vessel standard" it will look, feel, and basicly - be, a "industrial pressure vessel" - who is really dreaming about "industrial pressure vessels" ?

Who wants to have one? Sail one?

What is psubs.org good for if it is only a pointer to a "industrial pressure vessel standard" ? - if you restrict free concepts you are basicly out of business.

Why does Phil Nuytten who really has built a lot of subs recommend not to go for ABS (not worth it) ?

Wil
concretesubmarine.com





2010/6/5 Jon Wallace <jonw@psubs.org>
Jens Laland wrote:
Is this forum meant to be an exclusive "submarine kit-builder's society"
 


No, however I don't think Greg was insinuating that either, rather he was simply trying to rally potential builders out there to "git kraken" as Frank would say.



Or, will there still be room for people taking the time required to work
on new design or technology, and who needs a forum where they can present
their work in a multitude of forms; like figments, dreams, ideas,
questions, proposals, concepts, sketches, images, stories, discussions,
mock-ups, scale models, etc.?
 


New design and technology discussions are fine as long as they are both practical and discussed responsibly.  Practical means in the context of home-builders and responsible means having resources to back up assertions and proposals, or demonstrating that you are following a safe path towards your goal.  Of utmost import is safety and it must be applied diligently to all discussion including concepts, proposals, design, fabrication and operation.  This list is public and we have a responsibility to be careful how we present "new" concepts and "unproven" technology so that casual readers or well-intentioned but undisciplined sub-builders don't take those concepts as definitive alternatives to traditional materials or procedures that are known to work reliably.  Enforcing this discipline upon ourselves strengthens us as a group and projects a positive image to the public as well as government entities and our industry partners.

Figments and dreams not based in practical application to home builders, or that cannot be shown to be (or include) safe practices, are not appropriate for this public list and should be discussed in the "experimental" mailing list available to members through your PSUBS accounts.  The experimental mailing list was created specifically to allow discussion of unproven ideas and concepts, and to let those with minds who want to wander free, do so.
I assume we have gotten here from the FRP discussion.  I know nothing about FRP or its viability for PVHO, however it seems to be indisputable that FRP for such use is not mainstream.  However, the fact remains that research is being done on the material for use as cylinders under external pressure as evidenced by the experiments conducted by Carl Ross in the UK.  The fact that ABS has no certification available for FRP pressure hulls should not be discarded so lightly.  While it is possible that ABS is just behind the times as has been suggested, it is also as equally possible and plausible that they know a bit of something about the material in terms of fabrication for PVHO and have valid reasons for not creating standards for it.

At PSUBS we have adopted and promote the philosophy that home-built subs should be built according to ABS standards.  The primary reason for doing so is to promote the safe design, fabrication, and operation of small home-built submarines based upon proven industry standards accepted by almost everyone.  This gives us credibility and projects us in a positive light to both the public and those authorities for which these things matter and whom have the ability to regulate us.  It also binds us to a common standard when the need arises to justify our decision for a particular fabrication method or operational procedure.  Unfortunately, there are too many people in the world who would want to "save us" from ourselves.  Not adopting any standard puts us on the defensive when challenged about the safety of our vessels.  Associating ourselves with industry standards such as ABS gives us the upper-hand in any such confrontation.

Now perhaps it may be more obvious why some people are challenging the use of FRP for a submarine hull.  The fact that ABS does not have standards for FRP when used for a PVHO doesn't mean we shouldn't discuss it, but it does mean we need to discuss it responsibly and cautiously.  I think Alan has been taking pains to do both when discussing his plans for using FPR, including using a composite engineer, talking about the expense and weight, and suggesting that he will abandon the idea if it is either economically unfeasible or otherwise impractical.  Alan has not employed the typical topic structure we've seen in the past where someone throws out an idea as if it is fact and then defends it with something like "nothing is impossible".  It sounds like he is taking a measured approach and doing some significant research into the feasibility of the material for his specific design criteria.  As long as it continues in that manner I don't see a problem with having Alan update us on his progress.  Challenging new designs and materials is good medicine for those embarking on projects that do not conform to ABS standards, and in my opinion those designers need to "step up to the plate" and accept it.  As I have said before to others, don't take offense to being challenged about your ideas or plans, especially by a group that has a duty to further safe practices for an inherently dangerous hobby.  If you really believe in what you are doing, accept the criticisms as a challenge to drive your project to complete success and show us that you were right.

Jon







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