[PSUBS-MAILIST] Looking at starting up a Submersible project

Mon Nov 21 23:08:05 EST 2016

I think all of you guys made some very good points and I do plan on visiting Scott in the next few weeks.

I think what I will do is go the semi-dry sub route.  Have a mix between a wet and a dry ambient sub!

Has anyone here built a semi-dry sub?  What building material should I use?  Should I go with steel or fiberglass?

-Ludwig

-----Original Message-----
From: Douglas Suhr via Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs.org>
To: Personal Submersibles General Discussion <personal_submersibles at psubs.org>
Sent: Mon, Nov 21, 2016 9:53 pm
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Looking at starting up a Submersible project

Welcome to PSUBS Ludwig! You will definitely find some awesome, informative people here who can help you answer questions and make design / fabrication decisions along the way. If possible, a visit to Scott Waters is definitely recommended.  

Bear in mind that I am a novice PSUBBER, but I'll give you my two cents on your situation: If you are a scuba diver and comfortable diving ambient, go for a wet or semi-dry sub, not full on dry ambient. I say this because there are still an infinite number of learning opportunities with a wet sub, but you aren't dealing with the ballast weight needed to sink an entire air-filled hull. If you really want to go dry, go one atmosphere. 

If you are going to be leaving the states in 18-24 months, a wet sub (like a DPU / scooter or a bubble sub) seems like it's just the ticket... whatever you decide, good luck on your journey. Don't forget to pop back on to the list occasionally and give us updates on your progress.  ~ Douglas S.  

On Mon, Nov 21, 2016 at 3:59 PM, Alan James via Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:

Ludwig,
I believe Brent wasn't that happy with his dry ambient, & there
are aspects that I didn't like, like his large square hatch.
You are only ambient at a certain point between the bottom of
your hull & the top. Everything below this point is under external pressure
& everything above is under internal pressure. This can put a lot
of internal force on the hatch. To visualize it, mentally flip your sub upside
down and fill it with water to ambient point. The weight of water on your hatch
will be equivalent to the internal air pressure on it when diving. 
There are modifications to the batteries that need doing if you want them
in the hull, as they typically crush at about 15ft.
You have 20 liters of air per person flowing in to the hull for life support
plus the air for equalization, which is 4 x the volume of your sub at 100ft.
So a lot of air needed.
 You need to watch that any electronics can handle the pressure you are
diving to. 
I made an ambient that is unofficially the World's smallest submarine as 
a model for a 1 atm. http://www.psubs.org/projects/1235435392/ambientsub/
I can help you if you are set on a dry ambient.
Regards Alan

 From: via Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs.org>
 To: personal_submersibles at psubs.org 
 Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2016 8:52 AM

 Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Looking at starting up a Submersible project

I was talking with Scott and he also mentioned that it would take longer then two years to built a 1 atm sub.

What I'm looking at now is building a dry ambient submarine.  I would learn a lot with building it plus when I move aboard, I can set down and start building a 1 atm sub.  I found a 3 man dry ambient submarine built in New Zealand by Brent Shaw that I'm looking at down scaling for one person.

I should also probably mention that I'm also a scuba diver so a dry ambient submarine won't be much of a problem.

-Ludwig

-----Original Message-----
From: Alan James via Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs.org>
To: Personal Submersibles General Discussion <personal_submersibles at psubs.org>
Sent: Mon, Nov 21, 2016 1:28 pm
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Looking at starting up a Submersible project

Hi Ludwig, welcome.
If you only have 2 years you won't have enough time to finish
a 1 atmosphere submarine. Small or large, it will still need 
a similar amount of time. I built a dry ambient, which was a 
great learning experience, but is not as safe as a 1 atmosphere.
    Take up Scotts offer of a visit, you will learn a lot from that.
Also read through the "Busby manned submersibles" book. 
There is a link on the Psub site o an online version, but most
psubbers end up buying a copy of it.
Cheers Alan
New Zealand

 From: via Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs.org>
 To: personal_submersibles at psubs.org 
 Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2016 3:55 AM
 Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Looking at starting up a Submersible project

That really doesn't help me much because I'm planning on moving across the pond in around two years!

I'm looking at a small project that would teach me all the systems so when I move across the pond, I would like to build something along the Euronaut size or a tiny bit smaller.

I've also debated if I should do a wet-sub instead because if I go that route, I wouldn't have to build a pressure hull.  That would only limit me down to 130 foot allowed for recreational diving.

-Ludwig

-----Original Message-----
From: James Frankland via Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs.org>
To: Personal Submersibles General Discussion <personal_submersibles at psubs.org>
Sent: Mon, Nov 21, 2016 8:44 am
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Looking at starting up a Submersible project

I think emile has a small ish boat requiring refurbishment for sale?  Probably worth the cost of shipping it over the pond to not have to build from scratch.

On 21 November 2016 at 13:51, Brian Hughes via Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:

I know of an original VAST boat someone is trying to sell out here on the East Coast.

Get Outlook for Android

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