Oh that sneakey Trapped Air - Trapped Air in my Sub

[nelix6030]

Hello,
Before I loose every bit of my sanity I thought I would turn to the experts of the subcommittee.

I have an Albacore sub with a Scratch built WTC. It runs great!!! no leaks and long run times.. makes me gitty... here is my problem. When I put my sub in the water I usually blow the tank then shake it to get all the trapped air out. But as soon as I blow the ballast (which I have venting into the sub) Some of the air seems to be getting trapped in back area of the sub. So when I try to fill the tank again the tail raises out of the water. If I give it some time it will slowly (most of the time) drop back down in the water and I see bubbles out of one of my vent holes. I already feel I have poked to many holes in the top of my sub and I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem. I have looked at other members photo's and it doesn't appear that they are drilling holes in the top of their subs.

I was also thinking that maybe I should hook a tube up to the blow valve and try venting out the top of the sub... I don't really want to do this unless I have to though.

Ok I am done rambling... Any advice would be great.

Kyle

[sam reichart]

This isn't that unusual of

This isn't that unusual of a problem. Actually, many people poke holes in the tops of their hulls because of the same issue, especially in boats likes the Typhoon, with all that flat hull area.
I rermember someone telling me that when I opened holes up in the aft end of the hull, I should make them large enough, and concave from the bottom of the hull, so the air could exit. (something about surface tension, if I recall...)

Poke away, right above the area where that air bubble sits.

[ron]

Kyle,

What a lot of Albacore

Kyle,

What a lot of Albacore owners do is drill another hole under the rudder. It should be small enough not to be seen when the rudder is sitting centered. This should probably help out.

Ron

[nelix6030]

Thanks for the advice. I

Thanks for the advice. I Drilled a small hole under the rudder like you suggested and that seemed to help alot.

Kyle