Vintage Scuba: My Underwater Scooter - S08E01

Someone just picked up a late 1950's underwater Porta-Sub. Alec shares the Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV) history and mechanicals of this special item before starting a restoration project.
Watch my "Alec Peirce at the Ranch" for ranch and home ideas. / @alecpeirceattheranch
**** Alec Peirce Scuba ****
SCUBA TECH TIPS playlists
▶︎ Series 9: • Scuba Tech Tips - Seri...
▶︎ Series 8: • Scuba Tech Tips - Seri...
▶︎ Series 7: • Scuba Tech Tips - Seri...
▶︎ Series 6: • Scuba Tech Tips - Seri...
▶︎ Series 5: • Scuba Tech Tips - Seri...
▶︎ Series 4: • Scuba Tech Tips - Seri...
▶︎ Series 1, 2 & 3: • Scuba Tech Tips - Seri...
VINTAGE SCUBA playlists
▶︎ Series 7: • Vintage Scuba - Series 7
▶︎ Series 6: • Vintage Scuba - Series 6
▶︎ Series 5: • Vintage Scuba - Series 5
▶︎ Series 4: • Vintage Scuba - Series 4
▶︎ Series 3: • Vintage Scuba - Series 3
▶︎ Series 2: • Vintage Scuba - Series 2
▶︎ Series 1: • Vintage Scuba - Series 1
SEA HUNT REMEMBERED playlists
▶︎ Series 3: • Sea Hunt Remembered - ...
▶︎ Series 2: • Sea Hunt Remembered - ...
▶︎ Series 1: • Sea Hunt Remembered - ...
SEA HUNT COLLECTOR
▶︎ Website: seahuntcollecto...

[@PROSTO4Tabal]

Hey Alec, I just discover your youtube channel. I've done recently PADI open water course and getting my own scuba gear, just yesterday watched your video about what to buy first, well I bought first BC single wing per good local deal. I don't like jaket style BCD's due to triming and buoyacy control. Anyway great video as always and you've earned another spectator. Thanks !

[@yHg57DsW93]

Thank you (and Kevin) for sharing all of your treasures, advice, and experience! It is a pleasure to hear and see your presentations!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Thanks for watching. Alec

[@markstengel7680]

Hi Alec, Very cool episode. I believe it was called Voit Rubber Company. In 1960s i had a outdoor basketball made by Voit i played with. These devises were wanted but as kids we didn't have funds to buy such admired products. I always watch for your episodes as they are enjoyable and informative. Bye

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Thanks for your support Mark. Very appreciated. Alec

[@casvanommeslaeghe]

Love the new shirt!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Pretty slick huh? We almost look professional. Alec

[@ts440s]

Alec Pierce Scuba the "GOAT".

[@kamhyip2200]

Hey Alec! I am your fan! Very good looking new T-Shirt!

[@robertjamesa2323]

Hi Alex Thank you so much for talking about this. On mysteries at the museum Monday night July 26 they said the first aqua scooter was invented in 1967. Like you said Mike used scooters long before that. So thanks for this video I loved sea hunt.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I'm guessing some folks don't research Sea Hunt material as diligently as I do. Thanks for the information Robert.

[@bristol8042]

.....more videos on this subject Alec its very interesting, you have now got my inventors thoughts working..... ......

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

There has always been and always will be a market for a decent, affordable underwater scooter. Alec

[@mechanikos84]

Very cool! But explain that to the cops when they look in the back of your car 😜 Seems to be heavy though. Could a diver lift it into a boat by himself? Thanks again for the vid Mechanikos

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

It's surprisingly light - without the battery. It is quite easy even for an old guy to pick up and move around. Maybe with the battery it would be more cumbersome. Alec

[@dmeyer6994]

Love your energy!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I'm just glad to have some energy after doing all my ranch chores.

[@gregverellen3693]

So cool

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

These were super cool (and heavy) back in the day. A

[@jesspeoples3292]

Great video. I would love to use a dpv one of these days.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

It's great fun for sure. Alec

[@johnthomas2070]

Awesome looks similar to the I sent to you in messenger. I’m glad you have my friend

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I believe it was you that told me about this one and I think you for that. I have had 3 of these but the first 2 were simply not worth their weight is dry mud. I re-sold them. This one stays. It's not perfect (although it sure could be) but it suits my purposes perfectly. Alec

[@johnthomas2070]

Alec Peirce Scuba glad I could help you my friend!

[@xinzhouliu]

Great video as always. Can you also do a session on the newer DPVs on the market in your Tech Tips series?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Great suggestion. Not a lot of stores have them in stock due to their cost but will add it to my ideas list Steven.

[@lbaronXL]

We want to watch you drive YOUR portasub :)

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Well, that may never happen. But, I have several friends in the Sea Hunt Forever group with them and they are fun to ride. You can see them at work on the Sea Hunt Forever website. Alec

[@owenmougenot712]

Hi Alec. You talked about a wet switch in the handle? I have never heard of any switch that lasts when it gets wet, when water or salt water gets into spaces that cannot be rinsed out crud builds up?I recall seeing a few electronic things with switches and dials used on seahunt and just figured they were props that only had to look good and not work. Ps you must have a closet full of T shirts from all the dive shops you visit as a "heavy hitter" Take care Owen m

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I have a few. Occasionally I take them out and reminisce. The wet switch is just a cheap push-button type of thing. I once used a short piece of hacksaw blade attached with a rubber-grommeted nut and bolt. Squeezing the blade against the steel handle shorted it out, closed the circuit to the motor and off I went. Any cheap switch will work. It's best to slap some grease on it to prolong its life but, you're right, it will not last a long time. Alec

[@ArgosWarrior]

It certainly looks like its made to last

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Yes. It is very sturdy, not like some of them. Alec

[@lilyflower762]

...and I'm still waiting for someone to invent water-drone fins- already been done! How much for the shirt (not yours of course)? if you still have some, I'm a buyer!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I'm not sure what you mean by 'water-drone fins'. I don't think there are extras of the shirts. Maybe we can get some. I'll check it out. Alec

[@lilyflower762]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter ...well, self-propelled fins, like Iron mam, but underwater :) actually it's kind of a inside joke I have with a diving buddy, since I never got around a pair of fins (at the time they were turbo-flex by Dacor I think-still have them but thinking of drasticaly modify them with lots of holes just to show them who's the boss!) that wouln't give me ankles or calfs cramps, so I slowed every body down & on a dive trip while climbing back on the deck after a practice or pre-dive in a quarry in NB, I told someone who was waiting his turn to climb & watching me take all my time because of the pain: 'sorry but, I forgot my self-propelled fins at home'...he didn't appreciate much my joke (especialy with my accent) but my buddy did. As for your shirt, I'm sure they will sell like hot rolls & you can start a fan club :) & thanks for the reply!

[@rmod42]

Clearly a cover for Alec's unlicensed atom bomb collection

[@casvanommeslaeghe]

That's what I thought! :p

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Huh?? Alec

[@rmod42]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter the outer casing of the DPV looks not unlike that of a "classic" (eg Fat Man, Little Boy) A-Bomb

[@deepairdiving]

I really like your content. Russian instructor =)

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Canada and Russia have almost the same weather and love of hockey. Thanks for watching Antony. Alec

[@haydnjenkins7607]

Love your Videos, what is that figure with the orange waistcoat on your mantle.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

That's just a goofy little doll, a rabbit actually, which is dressed up as a hunter with a camouflage suit, orange vest and rifle. Kinda silly but it's cute. Besides, Diana gave it to me so I have to display it! Alec

[@haydnjenkins7607]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter it was just bugging me I needed to ask thanks for your reply and extremely interesting videos, only had a try dive once but couldn't get my head around breathing under water, unfortunately the instructor was more interested in those that just did as told, and left me to it, that's when I decided I was safer on the Dock, but your video's are inspiring me to try again.

[@casvanommeslaeghe]

@@haydnjenkins7607 you should try again. A good instructor is worth his/her weight in gold. I joined a local diving club, my instructor gave me private lessons and she was very friendly.

[@cristinacarrasco3751]

hi, could you meet someone who sold an old fashioned scuba, or an old fashioned diver suit?

[@boottothebums]

Voit DPV looks a lot like the Fat Man atomic bomb. How about a show on the annoying Scubapro Mark 7 honker. Hated those things.

[@pricediver]

i feel like DPVs are negatively buoyant, will it sink when the divers holding on to them underwater

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Most are slightly negative. Each dive scenario is different and the diver can adjust the buoyancy to suit. So in deep water, he might like it slightly positive so it doesn't disappear into the depths if he lets go for some reason. One can buy or make a "lifejacket" for the DPV. It's really just a belt of neoprene that fits snugly around the DPV body and makes it slightly positive. Or he can put a 2, 3 or 4-pound lead weight inside if needed. Most commonly the diver is in a site where there is a bottom, say a wreck, and he can park the DPV on the wreck, maybe tied to a spar or under a beam, so he can fin round and then come back to the DPV later for his ride home. Alec

[@cristinacarrasco3751]

if anyone knows where to buy an old- fashioned scuba or an old fashioned diver suit, please let me know, thanks.

[@wrengaming1519]

when you say old fashioned, how old fashioned? like early scuba old fashioned, or helmet diving old fashioned?

[@scubaclient355]

I thought an East German was the first to invent a scooter when he crossed into West Germany while under Soviet occupation.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I know that story. His used a snorkel for air I believe.

[@benheckendorn2696]

It's just amazing what they could build. This days I don't really wonder, but what they could create at the stone age of diving is just incredible. 🫶

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

It was really a necessity to self build as there were no local dive shops. Want a mask? Carve it out of an old fire hose. Want underwater pics? Make your own from Popular Science plans for your film/movie camera. Need to fill your own tank? Get a Cornelius compressor and make your own filling station, and so on. It was only when manufactured products from Healthways, Aqua-Lung, Voit and others became available in stores or catalogues that self-making gear started to fade. We are mostly captive to manufactures today to supply everything we need when we buy something from them. As a kid who make his own lead weights, it was fun but I prefer to buy my lead today. A