Gene Golden Loc: Gettysburg PA

You know my story, now here's my plan:

I have an abundance of wide PVC Pipe, and lots of Plexi and Adhesives.
I'm seriously considering constructing an "Underwater Scope".
Since I only need to see about five or six feet below the surface of the water, this may be doable.

--- By attaching a clear Plexi window to the bottom of a PVC tube, I could lower it into the water, and have a viewer.
--- One major issue, would be to have enough weight at the bottom, to compensate for the buoyancy of a submerged tube.
--- I have 6", and maybe 8", PVC pipe, in six or eight feet lengths.
--- I'm considering attaching several 2" PVC pipes around the lower 24", with the bottoms capped - and I can just drop lead weights into them, as needed, to use as ballast.
--- A couple of rope, or plastic handles at the top, to hold and control the aim.
--- Maybe a ring, or a full sleeve of wider PVC pipe, to enable the viewer to slide down, to prevent the bottom from wanting to float upward.
--- Maybe a flotation ring, and rope tied off at the top.
--- Since most metal detectors are only about 4 to 5 foot long, I could possibly find a large enough diameter tube, to allow me to slide the detector to the bottom, and not become submerged below the "non-waterproof" display box.
--- I can test it in a 55 gallon barrel of water.

I believe that, by using lead ballast, I won't be forcing the scope into the water by hand.
Pushing a closed-ended tube, five feet into the water, would cause a counter-pressure situation, that could cause the boat to list to the opposite side.
I think the weights, attached at the base, will compensate for that action/reaction.

I'm sure there are other things I haven't considered yet, but I'll work out the kinks as I build it.

What are your thoughts?
Have any of you made anything like this?
What are the pitfalls to avoid?

Thanks.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Sounds like a plan. I have never considered an underwater scope. Just Sayin...RJS

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

I believe you are ready for a prototype.
I hope it works as planned…good luck!

Barnacles Loc: Northern California

Uh, one problem! Looking through a 5 or 6 foot long PVC pipe would be like looking at a movie screen through a soda straw. You'll have a really narrow field of view, even with an 8 inch diameter pipe!

charlykilo Loc: Garden Valley Ca

18 inches is the max you need. Just get below the surfus.

mistred64 Loc: Grayslake, illinois

When you're on Shark Tank give us a shout out.

Will1027 Loc: Hood Canal

What are you looking for???

Will1027 Loc: Hood Canal

What are you looking for???

Gene Golden Loc: Gettysburg PA

Will,
Last week, I capsized my 10' Jon Boat, in about six feet of water, at a lake.
Rods; reels; anchors; rope; tools; and a FULL tackle box, with some legacy lures I've had since I was a kid.

Jeremy Loc: America

You could have a dry chamber at the tip and fill the majority with sand or antifreeze so it wont self destruct in winter if forgotten Sand won't care about temps. 3.14R squared can be used to figure out volume meaning exact weight etc. I would just do what your thinking. There is fishing cameras though you can put on down riggers. There is waterproof stuff these days. Practically attach to a pole or selfy stick etc.

Jeremy Loc: America

I just clicked for a minute for 140 bucks lowrance has a cam with over 40' of lead. No engineering needed just put on heavy braided line on down rigger or meat rod etc. What is value of what you lost? Isn't there a Scuba class or something somewhere at a college you could hook up with Instructor or students etc?

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

Did you put an X on the water to mark the spot? Any current?

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

Gene here Bass Pro choice of cameras

Jeremy Loc: America

What is estimated value of what you want to recover?

Engineering the thing your thinking up sounds like something I would want to do or previous employer would ask me to invent but heck you can even have GPS etc recorded to bring Scuba kids back to it.

I wondering if there is not some SCUBA certified that would really enjoy the challenge with you.

Jungle Ranch Fish Camp Loc: Punta Gorda, FL

My off the shelf fish finder can readily see Gators on the bottom at 10 -20 feet, it would seem like any late model fish finder would see the debris field easily.

If it’s really that shallow, maybe a homemade boroscope would see it just fine. Main thing you need is to light it up brightly.

I always liked that lake, drove by it a lot, had a place in Etters, lived in Gburg for years. If I was still around there, would love to boat on that lake