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Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Introduction

Chris,
I actually just went swimming in Lake Michigan today at Warren Dunes. I am on vacation and heading back tomorrow. You remind me a lot of myself when I started several years ago. I couldn't weld, I didn't know a whole lot about the nuts and bots of submarines, I wasn't scuba certified, etc. Half of the fun is learning how to do it all and it's awesome because there is always more to learn. Some of the guys on psubs gave me some great advice back when I started. They said if you ever get frustrated with it (and you will) take a break and come back to it, otherwise you won't enjoy it. Psubs is a great wealth of knowledge and so many guys in it are very knowledgeable! I still have more to go to finish my sub, but I will be at the psubs conference (I'll be the real young guy, haha). I look forward to meeting you!
Thanks,
Scott Waters
Sent from my U.S. Cellular BlackBerry® smartphone
From: Christopher Graca <cgraca2@gmail.com>
Sender: owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2012 13:27:18 -0500
To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
ReplyTo: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Introduction

Hi all,

I've been lurking since early '09 and have just been taking in info from all the e-mails in addition to the reading and research I've done. My friend and I are planning on building a 2-3 person sub primarily to explore Lake Michigan, but we may design it to have a depth capability for Lake Superior too. We've worked on conceptual 2D drawings off and on, but just recently I began to create a 3D model the design.

A little about myself. I grew up in Chicago and currently live in the area. I've enjoyed working on cars for a while, and even rebuilt an engine. I've graduated from UIUC in '09 with a BS in electrical engineering and am currently working in an A/E firm working on building HVAC and lighting control systems. I have no diving experience, but it has been on my to-do list for quite some time. I've done some flux core welding, but not much. I do plan on taking a class to learn the basic welding principles, and then purchase a welder to practice at home. Not sure if in the end I would trust myself with critical welds, so that might be contracted to a professional and followed up with x-raying. Machining is another thing I'm not familiar with, so either I would learn how and buy the equipment or contract that out too.

I'll be attending this year's PSUBS convention, and will bring some of my design drawings .I'm looking forward to meeting some of you and seeing some subs!

-Chris