upside down periscope

EASLOOP

EASLOOP

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 Dec 2001
Messages
694
Location
The Medway, Kent, UK
Visit site
Has anybody made an upside down periscope that allows one to inspect the underwater part of the hull from a tender?
A glass end in a tube no doubt but should it be magifying glass; should it be monocular or binocular etc etc.
Look forward to your replies
Please do not suggest swimmers and goggles!!!

John
 
Yea! buy them in Maplins, very basic . Just stick them in a cheap waterproof torch body and affix to a wire coat hanger with another waterproof torch for light. plug into your laptop and bobs your auntie.
Rob
 
Have done this on a couple of occasions: recall reading about the idea in PBO many years ago.

Take a 3 - 4 foot length of plastic in-ground drain pipe - the brown 5" size is better than smaller, 'cos you can use both eyes. Ideally, you will find a section with a 'flared' end, which is intended to admit another pipe section to connect.
Cut a disc of optically-clear plastic that will only just fit inside, and glue it in place with PVC cement.
Put some gaffer tape around the edge that your face will be pressed to, and tie or glue onto the tube something to act as a handle.
Job done.
 
The only problem that I have had with this arrangement is the force needed to keep it under the water.

2 foot of water depth is about 1 pound per square inch, so a 5 inch diameter tube will take about 40 pounds to keep it submerged, so it is quite difficult to hold it steady.

Ian
 
As I guessed. I will certainly give it a go. Simple ideas have uncomplicated solutions. Unable to find video stuff at maplins but will keep trying. A sophisticated solution but worth looking at.
Thanks
Rgds
John
 
Gidday

Yes - mine is called a fish-o-scope. Made pretty much the same as the bilbobaggins post except I cut an extra slice of PVC. Cut into a "C" so could be slid inside and glued to make a shoulder for the clear lens to resta against. Works a treat and kids love em. If you want to get fancy hit the face end with a heat gun and mold it to an oval with a cut out for the bridge of your nose. A couple of bits of hose riveited or taped make good handles.

As a child used a clear milk bottle and hung over the transom while out fishing.

Good for checking crabpots. Hmmm the Crab-o-scope.
 
That's nothing compared to the antics required to keep the rubber-dubber steady!
Of course, one could always follow the advice beloved of so many PBO articles over the years, and dry out alongside a harbour wall. And while that procedure has its own 'points of interest', Victoria Marina/Guernsey is well-endowed with suitable drying grids.....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top