[PSUBS-MAILIST] engine drive

Sun Aug 20 18:41:37 EDT 2017

Alec,Yes it may be to scary, I will give it more thought.  I need more range, and my boat will not be ready for the spring of 2018.  It is bad enough I missed this season ;-(  I need a working submarine with reliable range and batteries will not do it.    The danger is gas vapour reaching an explosive level.  That would mean a leak and no proper venting coupled with an ignition source.  Both these risks can be managed.  Diesel fuel in a hot enclosed environment is not as volatile but still not without risk.  In all fairness, you can't compare early antique engines with a modern-day Honda.  My options are limited with an 18 inch opening.  Hank

On Sunday, August 20, 2017, 4:21:51 PM MDT, Alec Smyth via Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:

Sorry to be critical, but yes, from an historical perspective a gas engine would be a big no-no as gas powered subs were death traps prior to the adoption of diesel. I always say my subs are at their most dangerous in the shop, not in the water. This could be a situation where the drained gas engine is not dangerous underwater but is dangerous during surface transit. And frankly storing the gas outboard sounds like a bit of a challenge in itself.  I applaud original solutions, but this isn't one that sounds like a good idea, at least to me.
Gamma seems to have pretty good range on batteries, and I recall you're planning on the trailerable landing craft. Would the landing craft not obviate the need for an onboard ICE?

Cheers,
Alec
On Sun, Aug 20, 2017 at 7:50 AM, hank pronk via Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:

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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