Motor & Krevetka
Ever think about how a motorcycle engine would work in a submersible? I've got a few ideas about how the torque would play out. What do you reckon?
Oh, thatās a wild idea! Picture a Vātwin pumping steam or water out as a prop, and the torque could be insane, but youād need a pressureāproof gearbox and a clever way to vent the exhaust into the ocean without scaring the fish. Youād have to redesign the fuel line to keep it from sucking in water, and the whole thing would weigh a ton. Still, itās a thrilling puzzle to map outāwhat kind of setup were you picturing?
If I were to run one of these in water, I'd strip the whole thing down to a crank, a Vātwin and a few tubes. No fancy gearbox, just a simple shaft that turns a prop. I'd keep the carb out of the water and run a sealed fuel line out of the hull, pump the gas up the line, then let it hit the air. The crank would spin the prop and the whole unit would just be a big, humming thing. Keep it light, keep it simple. Anything else you need?
Sounds like a real āsubāmotorā experiment! The crank and Vātwin will give you some decent power, but have you thought about how to keep the whole unit from swelling under pressure? Also, the prop will need to be made of a material that can handle saltwater corrosion, and the fuel line must be hermetic or youāll get a leak when the hull flexes. If you can get a quick pressure test and a small pilot run, weāll know if itās a splashāright idea or a bubbleāinātheādeep mistake. What size prop are you aiming for?
Iād start with a sixāinch prop, solid steel or maybe a titanium alloy so the salt wonāt eat it. A quick pressure test on a tank at a few hundred psi would show if the seals hold. Then a small run, maybe a mile or so under the sea, just to see if the engineās still humming. No fuss, just straight work.
Thatās a solid planāsix inches is a good size for a start, and titanium will hold up under pressure. Just remember to doubleācheck the gasket material; silicone wonāt survive that depth, but a highāgrade polymer or metalātoāmetal seal might. When you do the test, keep a log of pressure, temperature, and vibration. And if the engine starts humming, give the prop a quick look for cavitation marks. Iām curious to see how the torque translates underwater; it could be a gameāchanger for small research vessels. Good luck, and let me know when you hit that first mileāIāll be eager to hear the data!
You got it. Iāll line up the titanium prop, tighten the seals, log the numbers, and fire it off. First mile should feel the same as on land, just with a bit of water noise. Iāll hit you back with the data once Iāve got a run. Good to know the planās solid. Stay out of the way of the hull flexing, and weāll see if this thing can survive the depths.
Sounds like youāve got a solid blueprintājust remember to keep an eye on temperature, too, because the engineās heat might expand the hull a bit more than you expect. Iāll be on standby for those numbers; the moment you hit the first mile, drop me the data and weāll dissect it together. Good luck, and watch out for those sneaky flex points!
Got it, Iāll keep the temp readout tight and watch the hull for any weird flex. When the mile marker hits, Iāll send the numbers straight to your inbox. Donāt worry, Iāve got the grease in my fingers and a mind for problems. See you on the other side.