Re: variable ballast

[Rick Lucertini <empiricus@sprint.ca>]

VBra676539@aol.com wrote:

> Rilck,
>         Nice to hear from you.  Interesting concept but doesn't that turn my
> nice 1-atm boat into a dry sort of wet sub?  350 feet seems extreme for that
> kind of diving.  i have, in fact, locked out at nearly that depth, but I
> didn't get to drive home.
> Regards,
> Vance

Hi, Vance . . . and All!

Actually, what I had in mind was more of a separate VBT - something physically
outside of the one-at hull in your case.  Assuming of course that any trim
adjustments would be minor and therefore using "minimal" air reserves even at depth
(350 ft.).

I was adapting my own VBT idea for a one-at application.  For sure, I won't be
heading much beyond 4 ats with my ambient sub.

BTW, "a dry sort of wet sub" is appropriate.  The c.pit will be sealed from ambient
seawater, except when using the c.pit as a trim tank.  Interfaces will be thru the 2"
flood (ball valve), 1" vent (ball again) and compensating regs or industrial
equivalent.  Occupant portion of the c.pit is kept dry using a kayak body sock.  The
wet side is the VBT and the dry is the personnel side.  The sock conforms to the
pilot's lower body to keep c.pit volumes to a minimum, but, acts just like a dry suit
or set fishing waders.  The dry half is more or less a big hat on mobile skids.

In the case of a sealed ambient c.pit, the reg exhaust ports would have to be blocked
to avoid constant compensation and continued loss of air during ascents.

Rick




--
Rick Lucertini
empiricus@sprint.ca
(Vancouver, Canada)
________________________

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Inside of a dog there isn't enough light to read."

   Groucho Marx