Have you got a friggin' Typhoon? That's big by psubs standards isn't it?
David Bartsch
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 05:36:21 -0600
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] 2010 PSUBS Conference - Ft. Pierce, FL
From: kocpnt@tds.net
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Hi All,
Good thoughts Alec!
Just wondering about how long the transit to the dive site is?
My sub will be about 14,000 pounds. Is this something that the barge can handle?
I should be able to transit quite a distance with my batteries if my calcs are correct.
Best Regards,
Jim K
On Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 11:16 PM, Smyth, Alec <Alec.Smyth@compuware.com> wrote:
Hi Jay and Vance,
First of all thanks for all the hard work! I just wanted to submit a couple of comments for your consideration. What makes this convention really, really special in my view is the prospect of ocean dives from a proper platform, because of my bad experiences in Florida attempting to tow the sub to dive sites. In discussions with other sub owners, I note they're all really interested in the dive opportunities, and I suspect the sentiment may be shared by those without subs. We will surely be offering rides, and even if I had no sub and no ride I'd rather spend the day in the warm water snorkeling or diving around subs than watching a slide show, no matter how interesting the slide show. Particularly after all this snow. But I digress, I have two suggestions:
1. You may want to bias the allocation of time in the agenda more toward sub operations relative to conventions we've had in the past. Not just because the ocean is more interesting than a lake and infinitely more appealing than a hotel conference room, but also because we're likely to get a lot more subs. More subs mean more time required for prepping, launching, etc. We're not quite as efficient as Phil's pit crew.
2. A barge is ESSENTIAL, to the point I wonder whether I should even take the sub if there wasn't one. That sounds a bit dramatic, so I should explain why. A K250 has 8" of freeboard at best, and you can open the hatch for quick ventilation in good conditions, but switching crew afloat on open water is downright dangerous. I could do solo tow dives, but couldn't switch places with anyone or get passengers on or off. That would be rather selfish at a meeting of friends, to just go disappearing on my own all day, so I'd confine myself to the turning basin where others might share the experience. Then consider Cliff's R300. From photos, I think he may have even less freeboard and be unable to even open the hatch for ventilation in any sort of wave condition. In July temperatures, he'd roast during a tow before reaching a dive site. So he too would be confined to the basin and wouldn't even have the option of a tow dive. I just wonder if sub owners would trailer for thousands of miles to end up in a basin.
Maybe I'm way off base here, and I'd invite others to let me know if they think so. Pardon my enthusiasm for the sub dives, but you may recall from that article about the last convention -- I'm the excitable guy who pees in his lederhosen at the prospect of diving his sub!
:)
Alec
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Here is an update on the upcoming 2010 PSUBS Conference to be held in Ft. Pierce, FL from July 14th through the 18th.
Had expected to get back to the States prior to this to finalize Conference plans but work schedule has not allow. Later this week I will be visiting Ft. Pierce to make the hotel, conference room, and tour arrangements. Vance is still working on confirming a barge to support PSUB ops at the Conference. Worse comes to worse, we have about 25 ft. of water in the turning basin at Ft. Pierce and those members that want to tow their subs offshore can make arrangements (will have some contact info available for boat rentals). We should have several boats at the Conference in addition to those members that bring subs. An inflatable or RIB run about would be handy for tending PSUBS in the water if any member would have one available. Volunteers for safety divers are always welcome, there is a local dive shop that will provide air.
We are looking at a hotel located on the beach at the mouth of the inlet to the ocean. The hotel has a pool, BBQ pit, and dockage. There are plenty of eateries (and watering holes) in the immediate vicinity. The local US Coast Guard Station is a few doors down from the hotel. For family members not interested in PSUBS, there is an excellent beach by the hotel. Disney World is within drivable distance.
A tour of the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute is being arranged. Several world-class research submersibles have been developed, built, and operate from this facility. Hopefully we will have a speaker from HBOI as one of the presenters. A visit to the Undersea Demolition Team (UDT)/SEAL (SEa Air Land) Museum which was the home to the original frogmen is being fitted into the schedule.
Hotel pricing and conference fees will be available shortly.
Resepectfully,
Jay K. Jeffries
Andros Is., Bahamas
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