Dan with "Das Boot"'
I don't get on line very often, so this comment is not very timely.
However, I would have to agree with John Friese - To wit: When I first started
swimming with my 67, I took in a certain amount of water and I presumed this
was both normal and to be expected. I could actually see it trickle in at the
front of the driver's door. Then a year later, I put self-stick weatherstrip
around both doors making for VERY EFFECTIVE double seals. That was 3 years ago.
Except for testing my 2 bilge pumps every so often by putting water in with a
hose, I haven't taken enough water aboard since to turn the pumps on, one of
which is automatic. I think I take more water aboard from spray and splashing.
I actually do take on a minor amount - I measured about 2 quarts after about 4
hours in the water recently, but I can live with that. As to the comments re
brakes: I have been using the "Split Personality" in the water significantly
now for the last 4 years and other than a bit of "fade" right after I come
out, I have had no failure or even worry yet. That doesn't mean they shouldn't
be
gone through. One of the front half cylinders is frozen, so it's on the
schedule! I do recommend, however, that you be sure that your emergency brakes
are
functional in the event of a fluid failure.
I had a neat experience this past weekend which might interest some of
you. Someone recently referred to the thrill of taking first timers in as
being a bit of a rush with which I would readily agree. This past weekend,
however, I took a 98% blind and about 80% deaf man "swimming." (He uses 2
hearing
aids and can hear some, but only with difficulty. Due to his hearing impairment,
he didn't hear the splash as I "zoomed in" as is my custom and after we were
away from the ramp and motoring out, he asked "are we in the water yet?" I
said "Reach your hand down and feel the water" which he immediately did and he
got so excited - he couldn't get over it. Someone with a double impairment such
as he has doesn't probably benefit from as many thrills as most of us, so this
was really special for him - and likewise, then for me.
Victor "Splash" Nelson with the "Split Personality" near
Daytona Beach
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