Argonaut Jr

Design & build articles

The original written record, drawings, calculations, photographs, and build notes.

• Shut Your Hatch!! Why internal air pressure tries to open the top hatch and how much load the latches carry.
• Simon Lake and Argonaut Jr The inventor, the 1894 wooden prototype, and the ideas recreated in 2010.
• Build log Chronological notes from the model, construction, launch, and dive work.
• Building Argonaut Jr The hull structure, laminated plywood, tanks, decks, fitout, and testing.
• Ballast and dive control Ballast tanks, anchors, drop weights, trimming, and controlled descent.
• Wood, plywood, and adhesives Material choices, glue tests, laminated panels, curved beams, and waterproofing.
• CAD design and CNC cutting Brent Hartwig's CAD work and the process used to turn the design into cut parts.
• Wheels and steering The bottom-running wheels, axle, tiller, and steering arrangement.
• Quarter-scale models Models used to check shape, construction, displacement, ballast, and freeboard.
• Electrical and underwater communication Electrical installation and the underwater telephone concept.