Re: HP, weight and visability

[Jon@huv.com (Jon Hylands)]

On Fri, 10 Apr 1998 10:46:30 -0600, "Sean Walinga"
<swalinga@telusplanet.net> wrote:

>     Does anyone remember or know the hp or cc that the bionic dolphin was (is)?

Here is some Bionic Dolphin (VASH) information.

 - about 12' long
 - 600 lbs (very positively buoyant)
 - carbon/kevlar/spectra outer shell
 - fiberglass inner shell around pilot
 - closed cell hard foam filler (sprayed in)
 - kevlar/foam composite bulkheads
 - partial F-16 canopy
 - 200 HP two-stroke V6
 - cut-off tail flat, which created a vortex while moving submerged
    -- helped to draw out the exhaust
 - builder has had it down to 50 feet
 - could stay down for two minutes - engine had a compressed air supply
 - did not have any type of scrubber, cockpit air just got stale
 - hydroplaned on surface at 85 mph, submerged up to 35 mph

The project was a success from a mechanical standpoint, but they were not
able to market it. The Coast Guard requires certification of any dry
one-atmosphere submersible being sold to the public, and they will not
certify anything that has a fiberglass inner hull. It has to be steel,
aluminum, titanium, etc.

The VASH prototype is currently owned by a company 'Planet Hydrosphere'
(the original investers) in Florida.

It was designed by Thomas Rowe, and the prototype was built by Dennis
Kaiser <VashDusty@frenetweb.com>.

If you check out http://frenetweb.com/bd/pictures/images/, you'll see some
pictures of it.

Later,
Jon

--------------------------------------------------------------
   Jon Hylands      Jon@huv.com      http://www.huv.com/jon

  Project: Micro Seeker (Micro Autonomous Underwater Vehicle)
           http://www.huv.com