[PSUBS-MAILIST] Dome Hatch Protection Ideas

[Douglas Suhr via Personal_Submersibles]

I saw your dome on Facebook Steve, looks about as purdy as clear plastic
could ever look.

When I bought Snoopy from Alec, her dome was carried in a custom built
wooden crate that had latches and handles on the outside (padded with soft
foam on the inside). As part of Snoopster's overhaul, Alec helped me have
the dome and forward viewport refurbished through a cleaning and polishing
process (really needed it). Anyway, when I reinstall the dome, my intention
is to remove it from the hull as little as possible. My reasoning here is
that I seem to damage it (scratch dome / mess up landing O-ring) more in
the handling process than when the thing is actually attached to the hull.
Secondarily, when I'm taking the sub out on a mission, the car is
already packed to the brim with stuff (tanks, compressor, comms equipment,
spare parts, etc.) and having yet another big box to accommodate is too
tight (especially when the fam and I also have our normal luggage in the
car). I actually remember departing the Keys in 2017 with Snoopy in tow...
River Dolfi was hoping to catch a ride with us but we just didn't have
enough room in the car (if you're reading this River - my apologies for
that!).

There's definitely a need to protect the dome while transporting the sub
out on the open road. Lately I've been thinking that the best way to do so
might be to construct some sort of rigid cylindrical 'tent' that would fit
snuggly over the whole conning tower *without* touching the acrylic at all
(this idea based on the reasoning that the fewer things that actually make
contact the dome, the fewer chances for damage). I'll keep you updated on
the idea as it evolves. Meanwhile, progress on the 'Great Escape' is
looking awesome! ~ Doug



On Thu, Mar 19, 2020 at 12:39 PM David Colombo via Personal_Submersibles <
personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:

> Steve, I would take some .25" craft foam cut in orange slices. Wrap the
> dome, seal the entire surface with clear plastic tape. With the dome on a
> flat surface, lay up a fiberglass shell with a flat flange wide enough to
> bolt thru. Thickness of .25" should give you a nice protective shell that
> can be bolted to a plywd, or fiberglass disk for transportation, or to hang
> on your shop wall.  I am doing this as a transportation cover for my domes
> on the SeaQuestor.
> David
>
> On Thu, Mar 19, 2020, 7:29 AM Steve McQueen via Personal_Submersibles <
> personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:
>
>> So now that I am finished with my dome hatch assembly I want to come up
>> with a way to store it for transit/off season (I am not planning on towing
>> with the dome on or leaving it on in the garage during cold months).
>>
>> Looking to steal some ideas. My first thought was to cut down and old
>> sleeping bag and sew some carry handles on it. I know I can also make a
>> wooden crate style box.
>>
>> Curious how other dome owners have handled this.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Steve
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