Argonaut Jr - Building and Diving a Wooden Submarine from 1894

We recreated Simon Lake's Argonaut Jr submarine, dove it for two weeks, and share the stories and lessons learned. See more at ArgonautJr.com
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[Copyright] This video is made available to supporters of SV Seeker without advertising as our way of saying thank you for your support. Please enjoy the video, but until it is made public you are not allowed to share it in any public forum. Thanks Again. -- Doug Jackson
[ Music ]
"Trickin Pickin" performed by Doug Waterman

[@McCarlKnoxville]

I’d trust this thing more than the Oceangate Titan 😅

[@tastydaddy69]

​@@lonewolfwildernesssurvival9443 hes got a point tho

[@SuperMrHiggins]

@@lonewolfwildernesssurvival9443 It's not quite, he's calling attention. The only good thing about the Titan disaster is the guy who replied "No, my submersible is perfect, couldn't be safe" was on the thing as well. The sad thing is that a nineteen year old boy who was terrified of going went and died in an attempt to bond with his father. The villain isn't people making jokes, even if we think they are disrespectful, no, the villain is the asshole who said "I know better than literally dozens of experts."

[@mauribonada2425]

Rust in peace

[@misdelivereddishwasher1011]

@@lonewolfwildernesssurvival9443 comic book supervillian vibes. motherfucker reminded me of justin hammer

[@Fallibleandflawed]

Was looking for this comment.

[@alec4672]

Well this is pretty coincidentally timed 😂😂

[@andytheturtle87]

Exactly what though. Haha

[@player_unknown963]

Never let a crisis go to waste.

[@sips3812]

@@andytheturtle87the incident of the OceanGate Titan submarine imploding with 5 people inside.

[@MaNNeRz91]

There's so many sub and high pressure testing videos coming up since that happened 😂

[@irishcajun85]

@@player_unknown963I doubt it took him just a few weeks to do all this.

[@jgatkinson744]

As a ship builder for 30 years, I found it quite interesting . And I never got away from boats. I have a 38 foot endeavor sailing vessel now I am 81.

[@Thomas-xn6em]

Fascinating! What was your occupation before shipbuilding? Starting a new profession at age 50 is quite inspiring!

[@earlwright9715]

Did you ever concider he may have retired in his 50's? Because he stated he was 81 and been a ship builder for 30 years. Wow, you took what he said literally.he went to school till 18. He then went to collage or an apprentacship 4 years .unless he did 8 years of collage. Making him 22 -26 yrs. Old plus 30 yrs. Of ship building making him nearly 60 yrs old. Thats not accounting for any trying to decide what he wanted to do with his life.some one retiring at 60 is not unheard of. I may be all wrong. Why are you assuming he started shipbuilding at 51? Maybe so😢

[@Thomas-xn6em]

@@earlwright9715 Haha you are probably right, what a mind blunder i had :D

[@earlwright9715]

@@Thomas-xn6em i hope i didnt come across as a n arse. I was a we bit inebriated and found your comment to be oddly funny. Have a great day.

[@hate-chan4369]

I too, have a 40 footer, except mine is in my pants

[@maeton-gaming]

To build a time machine and bring Simon to the present to see his creation remade now with modern fancibilities.... amazing...

[@abitofapickle6255]

He would shit himself if he ever saw the USS Ohio submarine.

[@AndrewRGross]

I was thinking this too, and what the equivalent will look like in 2150: "Hey guys: today I'm going to be building a working replica of the classic 1980's Space Transport System. Now, keep in mind that they didn't have the benefit of graphine paste or microlete, and this was before metalprinting, but the overall design is the same."

[@petergregorypottery5476]

I love it, a wooden submarine with wheels! It actually looked rather beautiful and very happy out on the water. What a wonderful way to bring history to life again. Sad that the schools didn't find a place for this, but I'm glad that the project has been immortalised to some degree by this great documentary.

[@UnitSe7en]

You're a brave man for trusting your safety to Harbour Freight.

[@fraaggl]

What an incredible experience !! There is not enough footage of the interior while diving, but man what an amazing thing to see !!

[@chrismayo4902]

More thought went into just the ballast on this sub then the whole Oceangate debacle!

[@SVSeeker]

Thanks, but not even close.

[@Klaus_Klavier]

The issue with Oceangate Titan is it simply was not built correctly to deal with the absolutely INCREDIBLE pressures at deep ocean…this little wooden fella doesn’t go much deeper than a person dives. If Titan was going to the depths this little sub went to there never would have been an issue it would have been perfectly fine forever

[@herzogsbuick]

Someone else commented this was captivating. I second that. You told the story effortlessly, you didn't over-dwell on anything, and holy shit when that trailer broke loose! My god man!!! Anyway -- subscribed!

[@anklebiterwoodworks2818]

What an amazing side quest. Such an amazing story. Regardless of what happened and where the sub ultimately ended up, I can tell by the look in your eyes and that smile on your face: you would NEVER trade this experience for anything. My hat is off to you, sir! You truly are a modern day pioneer. Please, never lose that pioneering spirit. Virtual fist bump from this internet stranger!

[@NutNRun_]

As a submariner I’m loving all the submarine videos KZbin’s been recommending 😏

[@charliekill88]

this is one of my most favorite videos I've ever watched on youtube, I loved it

[@bigxadventures3165]

Very cool video. I built a sailing car years ago. It was so enjoyable working out how to make the pontoons fold up on top of the car and then fold down to float in the water. Love this sort of stuff.

[@FCWW87]

The launch story was insane!!!

[@kellydclear]

This is amazing! I learned a lot about Simon Lake and the Argonaut Jr (as well as his other boats) back when I was a teenager in the 90s. He was one of my favorite inventors, and I really appreciate the thought and patience that went into this recreation. It also was a great memory refresher for me. :) I used to sketch out plans for my own submarine attempts (not that I ever did anything with them), so it was really neat to see someone actually use his designs and make it for real.

[@Elyon113]

you have impeccable timing

[@Glenn-em3hv]

That helm is just beautiful!!!! I loved our brass helm on my ship in the Navy but that one with the octopus is incredible!!!!

[@et5222]

Wood submarines, boats made out ofheavy metal.... love this guy !

[@brendenlothamer1680]

Perfect timing

[@adilsonlegalyt9647]

Yes life is short and I am glad you are enjoying yours and provide us with such amazing history.

[@budm9982]

Absolutely captivating story. I had no idea you had done that. All I've seen is your construction of Seeker. That was great!

[@modusworks6291]

Incredible life you’ve lived so far, inspiring and motivating. I cant wait to see what adventures sailing seeker holds.

[@modusworks6291]

Ive found myself doing things and wanting things that others find odd, the standard stuff is boring. Paper napkin engineering and curiosity are what made the world what it is today, technologically speaking.

[@anthonygreenblatt3484]

I grew up in a town in Connecticut, Milford, Connecticut, to be exact. One of the primary schools near us was named Simon Lake School. As a twenty, something man in a canoe in the Milford Harbor, We found an iron proto submarine and were told it was an early attempt built by Simon Lake. It may well still be there for all I know. I enjoyed your video ( yes, I subscribed). Thank you 😊 and I look forward to your next. Cheers!

[@ABosch-lg2pr]

If you wrapped your sub in carbon fiber you could probably dive really deep. You could even offer rides to your friends.

[@philosoraptor777]

You mean charge them 250k for the privilege.

[@Meatball2022]

Key word is probably

[@MrIgottap]

Would have been more profitable last month

[@evanr648]

Oof.

[@McCarlKnoxville]

😂 haha. I love the internet

[@stulynn2005]

That's something a big kid would build 👍. I love it

[@internaman]

That was great!!!!!! Thank you so much for sharing,, I’m glad y’all are safe,, 👏😉

[@EasternSunset007]

I loved this episode! What an awesome project! You did a great job! Best dock launch ever!🤣🤘🏼😎

[@cheesegrater..]

This is pretty rad and cool. I wish I had the knowledge and tools to do cool stuff like this

[@SVSeeker]

Start today. There are literally thousands of small jobs that will save you money to but the tools, and the skills come with time on task. Not time watching KZbin. : )

[@johneken2056]

A good read is" Argonaut, the submarine legacy of Simon Lake" by John J. Poluhowich. My town, Toms River, Nj was where he spent his childhood and spent many hours experimenting on the Toms River. He graduated from Toms River High School in 1882.

[@TheEudaemonicPlague]

Just grabbed a copy, thanks for suggesting it! The intro is well-written and makes me want to keep reading (I'm saving it for later).

[@shykj8892]

You're a true mechanic. How marvelously your eyes spark as you talk about what you love to do.

[@captainmoretokin2172]

That is like a dream of mine as a little kid growing up in the early sixties. I remember seeing an ad in the back of a comic book of a backyard submarine to have to play in and pretend your under water. But it got me thinking. What if you could actually be in water and able to dive. My imagination carried me into all kinds of different adventures. You took it to the real deal and lived it. That is doing what most would say is impossible. kudos to you.

[@misawajason]

Hell yeah. I had no clue about this project of yours, even though I've followed seeker's progression for years and years. You're such a badass, Doug!!

[@norwegiangadgetman]

That's a sweet little sub. I bet that Simon Lake would have approved the update. He only used the materials he did because that's what was available to him.

[@philiprae-scott713]

What a fantastic project with so much work involved. Well done to you, excellent!

[@SVSeeker]

Many thanks!

[@bambibooza4921]

Finally, good news about a submarine.

[@geoffburrill9850]

Very interesting. You are one brave man.

[@cryptofxalgorithms]

The sub was so eager for the dive

[@thewoodpost]

That is a shame that nobody wanted to take it but it's awesome that you are putting your stories on video

[@jameswilliams4695]

Thank you for this!

[@bossdog1480]

That was really interesting. I read up on Simon Lake when I was much younger. I would say he was truly visionary with the idea of having wheels on his sub. He used to collect oysters from off the bottom of the harbor, or wherever he was demonstrating his Argonaut.

[@snertlegrubber]

What a great pace for an article - very watchable! No long periods of boring technical stuff with nothing happening and the presenter doing his "I'm a film star" routine! have subscribed and ready for more....

[@FPVMystique]

Fascinating! It has both the characteristics of a submarine and also a platform.

[@savingsusanna]

Wow, What a brilliant video! Thanks so much. What a bloody crazy notion to build this submarine - and then to actually do it :) Your explanation of , well, submarine stuff, was so engaging & educational. Fascinating, gripping, entertaining, and inspiring. Again, brilliant, Appreciated -Thank you!

[@iforce2d]

Very interesting. It's amazing how much knowledge and experience is crammed into that good looking baldy head of yours Doug.

[@SVSeeker]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@sixtyfiveford]

Always wondered what happened to the sub. Thanks for the video

[@combatmedic1980]

VERY cool Doug, I loved how you went through step bt step your failures and how to overcome them. As a kid I was fasinated by SEA HUNT and wanted to be a diver. Well I had a snorkle and a lenght of garden hose which I attached to it. My friends dad had a small boat and took us out in the river. My friend an I hung some rock on a rope and put them over my shoulders , and I went down about 6 feet to only discover I could not suck air through a gargen hose 6 feet under, I came FLYING back to the surface out of breath. LOL It sounded good. Later as a adult I did get certified as a diver. Nice story Doug

[@SVSeeker]

Love it. I tried the same thing. : )

[@combatmedic1980]

@@SVSeeker Now I thought I was the only fool. My friends dad laughed his ass of, He knew all the long what was going to happen. Youmust be very bored to be replying at this hour.

[@SVSeeker]

@@combatmedic1980 : ) Not bored at all. Anchor watch. There was a thunderstorm passing over.

[@bossdog1480]

Yup, even from about 18 inches you can't get enough air through a garden hose. I experimented with tire tubes to provide pressure but that will only work to about two feet. 😁

[@woodsmn8047]

this is something I started thinking about when I was in grade school ... but never did anything about ... this story is the literal fulfillment of a dream ... now I know what happens next ...Thanks ...!

[@caseyj.1332]

I dreamed about building a sub as a 12 year old. I drew pictures and diagrams and I'm still here 60 years later so obviously gave up on the idea.

[@Glenn-em3hv]

It's actually a really awesome sub!!!

[@jowah]

What an incredible story. Simon Lake would be proud!

[@Real_Moon-Moon]

Welp. I've officially fallen in love with your channel. Subbed and I'm going to go binge your videos.

[@lukehorning3404]

I love that ship’s wheel on your boat

[@billyjean9484]

Amazing. Excellent content.

[@Gukworks]

I'd trust this more then "other" subs.

[@JoesCaribbeanVanLife]

🌊 Oceangate Vibes ✨️

[@Davidbirdman101]

Sir you have my total admiration

[@Dangineering]

I’m speechless. Simply amazing, from the story telling to the idea itself. Thank you so much for sharing this

[@v8falconute46]

Wonderful, hat's off to you sir. 😎👍

[@darreno9874]

Fantastic adventure. God bless

[@MoltenHelium]

Shoulda gone to a museum :/ Awesome video though!

[@eligebrown8998]

Thats some great engineering to get wood so water tight you dive with it.

[@mostfunnestchannel]

This video was better than 99% of Netflix

[@racerboyeddie]

what a great, clever and humble video, worth every minute of watching, thank you so much

[@AbstractAggregate]

Damn Doug. I've been watching you a long time and had no idea you did anything with Submarines. That was a pretty epic tale and also speaks to why you prefer metal hulls to wooden ones lol

[@DerKrawallkeks]

Wait for the video on his other sub:) it was metal hulled. Just didn't get quite as far as this one here

[@justinboen3516]

I came across your video randomly. I was hooked. I learned some new things. Then at the end of the video I realized you were from tulsa. I live a couple miles from oolagah lake. I wish you all the success and I hope I see you around one of the lakes.

[@SVSeeker]

Sold my house, moved onto the boat we build, took it down the Mississippi and I'm anchored off Pensacola while we learn to sail her. Check out the other videos.

[@Rowow]

thanks alot for revisiting this in detail! very interesting

[@boxall587]

Amazing engineering, your a brave man, hi from UK, d

[@shadbanta14]

Youve earned the subscription from me, and ive only just finished your explanation and the history on the subarine, now to see how it turns out. may god be with you

[@joek511]

Looked like a fun project. Lots of memories made

[@setrocar]

A bbbiiiggg old u-boat is wwaayyyyy Better den a floaten pill!!

[@BWTIII]

Doug, I knew about the Argonaut Jr, but like any good story, it needs to be shared ever once in a while. Thanks again

[@CheapCheerful]

Incredible work! Well done.

[@SVSeeker]

Thanks a lot

[@bambibooza4921]

This is actually an amazing video, super cool and you're so knowledgable and good at communicating your stories, you def deserve much more love on the platform

[@ThunderClawShocktrix]

the timing of this video right before the wreck of the titan is spooky

[@mikef.1000]

Full marks for realising the idea, Doug!

[@Cowboys-bm4wh]

This guy is a genius. This project was well thought out and put together very professionally. Nice work the sub looks great and worked really well. 👍

[@benjaminandersen1097]

wow, what an adventure, thanks for letting us tag along! good stuff, i subbed :)

[@budgiefriend]

Thank you.

[@kevinleee3408]

Very neat video

[@TheCybrKnyf]

What an adventure - Brilliant... Much respect to you.

[@HoosierHacker]

This is was so interesting. Impressive understanding on physics and engineering. Great story telling as well. I learned alot in this episode. I love your outlook on life.

[@jednevada]

Yeah, I build submarines in my spare time too…That was awesome!!!

[@c150gpilot]

Love this!

[@CharlieTooker]

Awesome video.

[@marcmelvin3010]

Crazy cool!

[@matthewmctaff2022]

Excellent video Doug, (they’re all good) but particularly liked this one..M

[@DonnDIY]

This was very educating. Thanks Doug!

[@davidladdie1025]

What an amazing vid .

[@outdoormatt2177]

Fantastic Doug thankyou

[@rod8823]

Thanks so much - I enjoyed that - so have 'subscribed' 😊

[@Nigel2Zoom]

These are the type of videos that I get disappointed when they end. Completely wrapped up in the story. Very interesting experience.

[@DRMEEKS]

What an amazingly interesting movie about your build and the outcome. Thank you for sharing this it is an inspiring creation and well done to everyone involved in this ambitious project.

[@bobbylong4443]

❤ awesome love what you did

[@lukehorning3404]

Amazing idea for the time and still a great backyard project

[@Chilly383]

Great video

[@ontheroadwithjohn]

great story

[@garrettmandujano2996]

That is a cool project and story!

[@wtechboy18]

this was such a great video. I love the idea of being able to just walk out the bottom of the submarine on the bottom of the lake.

[@funinthesun777]

Super cool

[@Ogsonofgroo]

OMG man that is one of the most awesome sub projects I think I've ever seen, brilliant work, a tonne of fun it looks like, and I am smiling from ear-to-ear for you and with you, thanks so much for sharing this with us all! Now, how about the 'Turtle' for a next project :P Cheers from BC Canada! Edit/thought ~ I had to stop at @ 21:40 because it occurred to me that this would be hella fun with an water-proof metal detector and you could troll just off shore for treasure, basically have some simple tolls to reach down and find something, I love this project!

[@maxboonkittypoison]

I am designing my own underwater vessel. But it takes a long time. Because i want it to be safe. And when built testing it unmanned to about 60 meters and then newer go deeper then 10 meters. Because i dont wanna die. I just wanna look at the amazing underwater world. It is great if i have some kind of claw so if i find some rubbish i can take it out. Great story and a great video. Greetings,, Kitty.