<html><head></head><body><div style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><span><p class="ydp7358b032MsoNormal">Good evening All,</p>
<p class="ydp7358b032MsoNormal">My name is Jim and I’ve been a lurker on this list for many
years now. Long before now I’ve intended
on making my presents known to the whole group (I’ve contacted several members
off list over the years) but have always seemed too busy to do so… Well, now
I’ve pretty much got all the time in the world and am using much of it to
finish building my sub…</p>
<p class="ydp7358b032MsoNormal">Here’s a little about me: I’m 56. Retired navy Chief (I was a corpsman). Just finished earning a BS in marine biology
thanks to the GI bill. Now I’m finally
finishing the behemoth that’s been sitting in my brother’s backyard for nearly
15 years now…</p>
<p class="ydp7358b032MsoNormal">My boat started as a modified K250 (for which I have
blueprints) but morphed into something of a money pit since the day I saw and
bought a “real bargain” (a giant pressure vessel) at a wrecking yard. The pressure vessel that I’m using for my
hull is 12.5’ long, 5’ in diameter and 5/8” thick. It would have cost about $15K new, but I got
it for $300! My boat will be named
“Pipedream” when it’s done because my original idea called for the hull section
being made from a piece of pipe. I don’t
plan on going deeper than 100 feet and will likely stay above 60 feet most of
the time.</p>
<div>One of the reasons I’ve finally surfaced on this list is to
ask for help. Does anyone have a working
plan / blueprint of a through hull connection for a drive shaft? Or can someone direct me to one? I’ve got a 10 horsepower motor for propulsion
that I plan on using to turn a 1 inch diameter, 5 foot long shaft with a 12”
propeller. I’ve read all I can find
about mechanical seals and watched all the youtube videos on them that I could
find…. Can anyone recommend specific mechanical seals and bearings
(manufacturer / source or catalog number)?
My nephew in Texas works at a machine shop and assured me that with the
equipment he has, that he can make anything I ask for if I can only get him a basic
blueprint or plans for a part with the seals and bearings that I need inside. I need to wrap up the issue with the through
hull ASAP as the guy who has done most of my welding is moving next month and I
don’t want to get someone new to put that part in (the welder I have is VERY
good at what he does). I would be very
grateful if someone could help me with this particular issue. Thanks in advance for any advice or help!</div><div>God bless, Jim</div></span><br><br></div></body></html>