[PSUBS-MAILIST] engine drive

Wed Aug 23 06:33:42 EDT 2017

Hi JamesI would be worried about the boat heaving in waves while the sub is relatively stable and trying to marry the two together.  Lots of pinched fingers in bad weather.  I suppose if the weather is bad and it is to difficult to get the sub inside the pontoons, you could simply tow it until it is safe to capture.It seems the last consideration in designing a sub is how well it will tow.  I think a semi submersible  support boat is the answer, at least that is what I am working toward.Hank

On Wednesday, August 23, 2017, 1:58:25 AM MDT, James Frankland via Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:

Hank.  Just an idea but I had thought of some sort of pontoon thing, a bit like a catermaran that's you drive the sub into.  Pontoon is then firmly attached to the sub so it becomes one surface boat.  Pontoon can have a decent outboard, fuel, stores, BBQ etc.  Drive to the dive site. Detach, dive and re attach when done.  Thoughts?James

On Tuesday, 22 August 2017, hank pronk via Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:

Alan,Have you towed a sub with a small boat?  It sucks real bad.  I hate it !!! ;-)    Packing the sub with batteries is an option up to 260 lbs.  That is not cheap.  My batteries are almost 600 dollars each here in Canada.  Lots to think about I guess.Hank

On Tuesday, August 22, 2017, 3:47:29 PM MDT, Alan via Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs. org> wrote:

Hank,you would have to turn off & on the motor in the inflatable &detach the power cord which may be more difficult than justtowing with the inflatable & boarding the sub.I know you disliked towing because of the unpredictableweather, but have you been in the bad weather with the inflatable! They can take anything! If you pulled the nose ofthe inflatable in to the submarine with a rope, you should beable to board in foul weather. ( my theory anyway )Is the outboard going to be an over-kill as you will be limited by your thrusters as to how much power you required!   What about buying more batteries to extend the range!Pack them in if it's a long journey. They may come in handydriving a heater or air con on shorter dives. Other than that maybe make a pod with a diesel engine in itthat can replace your escape pod!Cheers Alan 

Sent from my iPad
On 23/08/2017, at 9:00 AM, hank pronk via Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs. org> wrote:

Hi All,Well I had an idea that I could put a small diesel engine in my escape pod and it would be a quick easy modification.  Turns out a diesel that will fit is not readily available, so I looked at my  gas engine.  That fits but is full of hazards that will take to much time to address.  So I give up!  Now onto the new idea.  I thought about putting a 36V generator in my inflatable since I am towing it anyways.  I can just tie the boat to the side of Gamma and run a power line over to the sub to power a drive motor.  That will work but I have improved on that idea.  The boat will have a Johnson 9.5 hp outboard on it, so why not machine a hub onto the outboard motor flywheel and drive a 36V alternator( generator)  directly, then  the same motor can do two jobs.  It has to be direct drive to the alternator because the crank bearing in the motor can not take a side load for a pulley and belt.  This could work!Hank.  

On Tuesday, August 22, 2017, 9:49:18 AM MDT, Juergen Guerrero Kommritz via Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs. org> wrote:

Hello HankEthanol do not explode like gasoline. It will burn but do not cause a burst explosion like gasoline. It is safer and if there is an accident and it spill over the enviroment, you get some drunk fishes but nothing serious, after a hangover they will be fine.  
As far as I know in some states in the US is possible also to destill your own ethanol for fuel, of course you must get the permit. 
Is a ideaBest wishesJuergen

    hank pronk via Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs. org> schrieb am 14:31 Montag, 21.August 2017:

 Juergen,That is interesting, what makes Ethanol safer?  does it have a lower flash point?  No worries with the passengers drinking the fuel, I will post a sign that says" if you drink the fuel you have to swim home"  ;-)Hank

On Monday, August 21, 2017, 9:24:42 AM MDT, Juergen Guerrero Kommritz via Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs. org> wrote:

Hi Hank,An idea is to convert the motor to ethanol, it looses 10% power, but ethanol is saver than gasoline. The greatest problem is to avoid that the passengers drink the fuel :-).Best wishesJuergen

    hank pronk via Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs. org> schrieb am 6:52 Sonntag, 20.August 2017:

 Hi All,My diesel engine did not work out in the end, and 6 hp I suspect is a bit skinny.   I do have a beautiful 15 hp 4 stroke Honda outboard that has been converted to run a hydraulic pump inboard.  I converted it many years ago to power my sternwheeler but ended up with an antique engine. The engine is stripped down to a bare engine with external water pump and internal oil cooler.  The problem is, it is a gas engine, and that is a big NO NO or is it?   If the fuel supply is outside the hull and the engine is run out of fuel before a dive, then there is no fuel at all inside the sub while it dives.  An engine compartment blower fan can constantly circulate air through a duct to the outside of the sub.  I know as a rule it is considered a bad idea but with careful   installation it could be a very nice drive system.  This would be much quieter and smoother than a diesel engine.  The Honda would be very easy to remove from the escape pod if I need to escape.  The Honda 4 stroke is as reliable as even a Yanmar diesel.   I was bragging to a Honda mechanic one time that the Honda starts with two pulls in the spring.  He said it must need a tune up LOL  it should start in one pull.  Hank______________________________ _________________
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