Seeker Encyclopedia

Browse reviewed Seeker systems, structures, equipment, concepts, and other subjects, with the evidence behind each entry.

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Compartment

Cabin Cabin refers to Seeker’s sleeping quarters. There is a cabin with four berths in the bow and one with two berths in the aft. Each has a bathroom or head as it is called on a boat. The head has a toilet, sink and shower.
Cargo Hold The cargo hold is Seeker's large central interior space beneath the main deck. It provides room for building materials, fuel and water tanks in the floors, as well as dry battery compartments. Machinery, storage, and research equipment, with access through the main hatch and companionway is stored above the floors.
Engine Room The engine room contains the machinery that powers and supports Seeker. Major systems include the Cummins diesel, Allison transmission, NP205 transfer case, Hundested controls, hydraulic pumps, fuel system, watermaker, and electrical panels.
Pilothouse The pilothouse is Seeker's main navigation and control space. It contains the helm, chartplotters, radar and AIS displays, autopilot controls, radios, galley access, and sail-handling controls.
battery storage The main house batteries on Seeker are two donated, 550 amp hour 24 volt fork life batteries connected in parallel and charged by solar panels, generator and main engine alternator. They supply power to two Outback inverters that provided 110 volt and 220 volt AC for equipment on Seeker.
cabin tops cabin tops are raised sections of the top deck. They provide additional head room for the cargo hold and forward cabin. Additional strenght for the hull to support the mast and deck crane and are designed to catch rainwater for drinking, washing and bathing.
cargo Cargo aboard Seeker ranges from food and spare parts to research equipment and building materials. The large hold, wide main hatch, and deck crane let the vessel carry and handle loads that would be difficult on a conventional cruising boat.
cargo hold framing The cargo hold framing is the steel structure that supports the deck, cabin tops, mast loads, and hatch openings over Seeker's central hold. It was arranged to leave the interior open and accessible while still carrying heavy loads.
heads Seeker's heads combine toilets, showers, sinks, and washroom space. Their plumbing includes freshwater supply, sumps, sewage tanks, pump-out connections, and siphon protection.
hold The hold is Seeker's large central storage and machinery space beneath the main deck. It is designed for access and change, allowing equipment and supplies to be rearranged as the vessel's work evolves.
pilothouse fitout pilothouse fitout is part of Seeker's structure or interior arrangement. It supports the vessel's construction, operation, or access to onboard systems.

Electrical System

Batteries The main house batteries on Seeker are two donated, 550 amp hour 24 volt fork life batteries connected in parallel and charged by solar panels, generator and main engine alternator. They supply power to two Outback inverters that provided 110 volt and 220 volt AC for equipment on Seeker.
Battery The main house batteries on Seeker are two donated, 550 amp hour 24 volt fork life batteries connected in parallel and charged by solar panels, generator and main engine alternator. They supply power to two Outback inverters that provided 110 volt and 220 volt AC for equipment on Seeker.
Generator Seeker's diesel generator supplies DC electrical power for welding or to charge the batteries when solar panels are not enough. The VMAC can also supply AC voltage, compressed air, and power a hydraulic pump.
Lights Lights is a subject connected with the construction, operation, voyages, or research work of Seeker. This description needs a specific explanation of what it is and why it matters to Seeker.
Solar Solar panels are Seeker's primary source of electrical energy. They charge the 24-volt house batteries and reduce the need to run the generator.
Wiring Wiring distributes power and signals throughout Seeker for lights, pumps, controls, navigation equipment, communications, and machinery. Clear labeling and accessible routing matter because the system is constantly maintained and modified.
nife batteries Nickel-iron, or NiFe, batteries were considered and tested because of their long life and tolerance for abuse. Their disadvantages include low efficiency, high water use, and large size compared with more common battery types. Unfortunately the nickel plates were too old and corroded to be of piratical use on Seeker.
radio Seeker's radios provide voice communication, distress calling, and contact with nearby vessels and shore stations. They work alongside AIS, radar, GPS, and chartplotters as part of the navigation system.

Equipment

Anchor Two 220 pound steel anchors are carried on the bow, and are a piece of equipment used aboard Seeker or in work carried out from the vessel. They were home built and modified. Spares are carried below deck.
Camera Camera is a piece of equipment used aboard Seeker or in work carried out from the vessel. Its purpose should be refined from the related videos and project records.
ROV A remotely operated vehicle, now refered to a underwater drones, carry cameras and sonars underwater while remaining connected to Seeker by a tether. It can explore deep water in complete darkness and support research without putting a person in the water.
Tether A tether keeps underwater equipment connected to Seeker for power, control, data, recovery, or breathing air. Its strength, drag, buoyancy, and resistance to tangling can determine whether the equipment works at all.
Watermaker Seeker's watermaker produces fresh water from seawater by reverse osmosis. It supports life aboard while anchored away from shore services and feeds the vessel's freshwater storage system.
anchors Two 220 pound steel anchors are carried on the bow, and are a piece of equipment used aboard Seeker or in work carried out from the vessel. They were home built and modified. Spares are carried below deck.
casting furnace Built from a 55 gallon steel drum our casting furnace melted down aluminum, brass, or bronze that was poured into sand or block molds to create parts such as the propeller blades, bow rollers, anodes, cleats and more.
compressor Compressors aboard Seeker provide air for tools, cleaning, diving, and filling scuba cylinders. Compressed air has supported both construction work and underwater maintenance away from shore facilities.
crane Seeker's deck crane moves heavy equipment, stores, and research gear between the deck, tender, cargo hold and water. It lets a small crew handle hundred of pounds with the push of a button.
crane rebuild The deck crane came from an old City of Tulsa service truck purchased an auction. It was then stripped apart, rebuilt and mounted on Seeker deck beside the main mast.
davit winch The davit winch raises and lowers Seeker's tender from the stern. It was originally a 3-phase motor and great box salvaged from an elevator. It is powered from Seeker’s 220 volt AC fed through a Variable Frequency Drive, which can raise the tender while fully loaded.
deck crane Seeker's hydraulic deck crane was salvaged from a service truck and rebuilt. It handles heavy equipment and supplies. It can lift through the main cargo hatch, work over the side, and move research gear between the vessel and tender or in and out of the water.
dive helmet The dive helmet supplies breathing air and head protection for underwater work. Our first dive helmet was a recreation of Simon Lake’s helmet he used while diving the Argonaut Jr submarine. Today we use hookah and full face mask routinely to clean Seekers bottom of marine growth.
dive wing The dive wing is designed to fit onto the ROV and push the ROV deeper into the water while it is being towed through the water.
hyperbaric chamber A hyperbaric chamber was built to simulate ocean depths to 4000 feet in order to test underwater equipment such as seals, housings, and ROV components in a controlled environment.
metal casting furnace The homebuilt metal-casting furnace melted aluminum and bronze for custom parts. Building the furnace made it possible to experiment, fail, and recast until useful components could be produced.
osmosis watermaker Seeker's reverse-osmosis watermaker forces seawater through membranes to produce fresh water. It allows the vessel to remain anchored away from docks without relying on municipal water supplies.
plasma table The CNC plasma table follows computer drawings to cut full-size steel parts. It made complex shapes repeatable and reduced the amount of grinding and hand layout required.
raising raising is a piece of equipment used aboard Seeker or in work carried out from the vessel. Its purpose should be refined from the related videos and project records.
reel Reels organize and deploy long hoses, cables, and tethers without tangling them. Seeker's NURD reel handles hundreds of feet of hydraulic hose and data cable while the device is lowered and recovered.
reverse osmosis watermaker The reverse-osmosis watermaker produces fresh water from seawater for drinking, washing, and bathing. It reduces dependence on docks and lets Seeker remain anchored out for long periods.
robot robot is a piece of equipment used aboard Seeker or in work carried out from the vessel. Its purpose should be refined from the related videos and project records.
rov hyperbaric chamber The ROV hyperbaric chamber simulated underwater pressure before equipment is sent to depth. It is used to find leaks and weak housings in a safer and more repeatable way than open-water testing.
sail winch A hydraulic sail winch raises and controls Seeker's heavy junk sails. The same winch can be used manually and often is for making minor sail adjustments. It reduces manual effort and allow a single person to handle a rig that would otherwise require many people.
sampler Samplers collect water, organisms, plastics, or other material for scientific examination. Equipment carried by Seeker has ranged from simple surface trawls to NURD operating hundreds of feet below the surface.
sand blaster The sand blaster removes rust, mill scale, and old coatings from steel before painting. Seeker's unit was home built and modified for wet blasting to reduce dust while preparing the hull for epoxy coatings.
scuba compressor The scuba compressor fills high-pressure breathing-air cylinders aboard Seeker. It supports diving and underwater maintenance in places where commercial cylinder filling is unavailable.
thrusters Thrusters create controlled water flow to move or position equipment. NURD uses two hydraulic propeller motors so it can hold its attitude and pull water through filters below the surface.
vmac The VMAC is an engine-driven air-compressor system adapted for use aboard Seeker. It provides substantial compressed-air capacity for tools, maintenance, and diving support without relying only on electricity.

Hydraulic System

Hydraulic Hydraulic power moves heavy loads aboard Seeker by sending pressurized oil through hoses, valves, and motors. It is used where compact machinery and high force are more practical than electric motors or manual labor.
Hydraulic Steering Seeker's rudder moved by either manual effort or by hydraulic cylinders controlled by the autopilot. The system gives enough force to steer a large, heavy vessel while allowing controls to be placed far from the rudder.
Hydraulics Seeker uses hydraulics for steering, anchors, sails, the deck crane, and research equipment such as NURD. Several pumps and valve circuits share portions of the system while serving very different loads.

Material

Aluminum Aluminum is a material used during Seeker's construction and is often cut and welded onboard to fabrication items like NURD’s hydraulic hose reel.
Cedar Eastern red cedar, a small juniper common in Oklahoma and Arkansas, was inexpensive, light weight, rot resistant and smells great. The trees are small and so are the boards but not a problem for lining the insides of a steel boat creating the idea that you are inside of a wooden boat.
Chain Heavy 5/8” chain connects Seeker's bow anchors to the vessel and adds weight along the seabed. That weight helps keep the pull on the anchors low and nearly horizontal, improving their holding power.
Epoxy Epoxy coatings and adhesives protect steel, seal surfaces, and bond materials throughout Seeker. Their durability depends on correct mixing, clean surfaces, and keeping moisture and contamination out during application.
Foam One inch thick insulation foam boards were was used for insulation, flotation, patterns, and sculpture during Seeker's construction. It is light and easy to shape, fire resistant, but easily dammaged and unattractive so it is covered by cedar planking through out Seeker.
Fuel Diesel fuel powers Seeker's main engine and generator. It is stored in several tanks and moved through filters, polishing equipment, manifolds, and a day tank before reaching the engines.
Lead About 12 tons of lead ballast was melted down largely from automobile wheel weights. The lead was then poured low in Seeker's twin keels to resist the heeling force of the sails.
Metal Metalworking is central to Seeker's construction and continuing modification. Steel forms the vessel, while aluminum, bronze, stainless steel, and other metals are used where weight, corrosion resistance, or machinability matter.
Paint Paint often referred to as industrial coatings, protects Seeker's steel from corrosion and gives the vessel its finished appearance. Surface preparation, compatible primers, and proper curing are more important than the final color.
Plastics Plastics aboard Seeker appear as hose, insulation, tanks, printed parts, coatings, and research samples. The vessel also supports scientists studying how discarded plastics break down and move through the ocean.
Plywood Plywood was used for patterns, temporary structures, interior work, and Doug's wooden submarine. It provided a cheap, predictable sheet material that could be easily cut.
Steel Steel is the primary material in Seeker's hull, decks, bulkheads, masts, and many fittings. It is strong, weldable, repairable almost anywhere, and well suited to a vessel expected to be modified throughout its life.
coal tar Coal-tar is much like black roofing tar but today it is formulated into a two part epoxy paint. Still black, thick and somewhat flexible it is the durable coating for the exterior for Seekers hull, and the interior beneath the insulation and cedar planking. Like every coating on a steel boat, their success depended on thorough cleaning and surface preparation.
coal tar epoxy Descended from coal-tar, coal-tar epoxy is much like black roofing tar, but today it is formulated into a two part epoxy paint. Still black, thick and somewhat flexible it is the durable coating for the exterior for Seekers hull, and the interior beneath the insulation and cedar planking. Like every coating on a steel boat, their success depended on thorough cleaning and surface preparation.
industrial coatings Industrial coatings, a fancy work for epoxy paint, protect Seeker's steel from saltwater, weather, abrasion, and corrosion. The work depends as much on blasting, cleaning, and surface preparation as on the coating itself.
marine plywood Marine plywood is tested and determined to not be worth the cost. None was used on Seeker but the testing was primarily done for the construction of a replica of Simon Lake’s 1894 wooden submarine, Argonaut Jr.
red cedar Red cedar was used for furring, interior construction, and other lightweight woodwork aboard Seeker. It is easy to shape and naturally resists decay in damp conditions.
tar epoxy tar epoxy is a material used during Seeker's construction, fabrication, or maintenance. Its specific use should be refined from the related construction records.

Mechanical System

Allison AT545 Allison AT545 automatic transmission taken from a school bus and used in Seeker's drivetrain. It allows the propeller to be shifted into forward, neutral, and reverse. And provides a 3.5:1 reduction in 1st gear.
Bearing Critical parts in the Transfer Case, Hundested Variable Pitch Propeller system and other machinery.
Cutlass Bearing The cutlass bearing is a made from rubber inside a short brass pipe. It supports the stainless steel propeller shaft near the point where it leaves the hull. Water lubricates and cools the bearing while the shaft rotates inside it.
Engine Seeker's main engine is a Cummins 5.9-liter diesel taken from a school bus. It drives the propeller through an Allison transmission, NP205 transfer case, and Hundested variable-pitch system.
Hundested The Hundested system controls Seeker's variable-pitch propeller. It changes blade angle to control thrust and compensate for power coming from both wind on the sails and diesel engine power.
Motor Motors aboard Seeker turn electrical or hydraulic power into motion. They operate pumps, winches, thrusters, tools, and other machinery throughout the vessel.
NP200 The New Process NP200 was the first divorced transfer case tried in Seeker's drivetrain. Experience with it led to the later use and continued development of the NP205 installation.
NP205 The NP205 is mounted between Seeker's Allison transmission and Hundested propeller system to provide additional 2:1 reduction. Repeated failures led to changes in bearings, mounting, lubrication, cooling, and alignment. Like most things tried out on Seeker the efforts will continue until all options are exhausted or like so many other systems; it becomes reliable.
Propeller Seeker's bronze propeller was designed, patterned, cast one blade at a time, machined, and balanced. The blades attach to a Hundested variable-pitch hub so their angle can be changed while underway.
Pump Pumps move water, fuel, hydraulic oil, sewage, and other fluids throughout Seeker. Each pump is selected for the pressure, flow, material, and duty required by its system.
Shaft The 65 mm propeller shaft carries torque from the Hundested unit to Seeker's propeller. Alignment, bearings, seals, and couplings must all work together to prevent vibration and wear.
Transfer Case The NP205 transfer case provides extra 2:1 gear reduction between Seeker's Allison transmission and Hundested propeller system. Failures, fixes and testing are ongoing.
Transmission Seeker's Allison AT545 automatic transmission came from a school bus. It provides forward, neutral, reverse, and gear reduction before power reaches the NP205 and Hundested system.
Winch Winches multiply pulling force to handle anchors, sails, the tender, and heavy equipment. Seeker uses hydraulic and other winches where loads would be unsafe or impractical to move by hand.
anchor winch A hydraulically powered spool on the forward deck to deploy and retrieve Seeker’s two bow anchors. It is part of the open-center hydraulic system that also powers other deck machinery.
coolant Coolant carries heat away from Seeker's diesel engine and other machinery. Commonly called Keel Cooling the coolant on Seeker is actually stored in and circulates through the Skeg where it is cooled by the ocean water.
divorced transfer A divorced transfer case is mounted separately from the transmission and connected by a short driveshaft. That layout made it possible to add reduction between Seeker's Allison transmission and Hundested propeller system.
divorced transfer case Seeker uses a separately mounted, or divorced, transfer case in the drivetrain. It provides additional gear reduction and can be removed or changed without being built into the transmission.
drop weights Drop weights are heavy pieces that can be released quickly to reduce weight or bring submerged equipment back toward the surface. They are a simple method used in submarine and underwater-equipment work.
exhaust Exhaust systems carry combustion gases from Seeker's engines to a common dry stack the ends at the aft davits. They must handle heat, vibration, and movement while keeping fumes out of the vessel.
hundested variable pitch The Hundested system controls Seeker's variable-pitch propeller. It changes blade angle to control thrust and compensate for power coming from both wind on the sails and diesel engine power.
mount improvement mount improvement is part of Seeker's mechanical or propulsion system. Its role and connections should be confirmed from the related build and operating records.
power steering Seeker as both chain-and-cable steering system for manual control, as well as a hydraulic power steering lets the helm move under the direction of the autopilot, named “Bob”.
power steering pump A power-steering pump on the Cummins supplies pressurized oil to the Hundested variable pitch control propeller. Automotive and industrial components were adapted where they could do the job reliably and remain easy to replace.
pumps Seeker depends on many pumps for cooling, steering, hydraulics, watermaking, bilges, fuel transfer, and sanitation. Redundancy and accessible plumbing matter because a failed pump at sea cannot always be replaced immediately.
reverse osmosis Reverse osmosis removes salt by forcing seawater through membranes that pass water molecules but reject most dissolved minerals. It is the process used by Seeker's watermaker.
transfer transfer is part of Seeker's mechanical or propulsion system. Its role and connections should be confirmed from the related build and operating records.
transfer case mount The transfer-case mount holds the NP205 in alignment between two short driveshafts. It must resist torque while preventing movement and misalignment that can damage bearings and housings.

Navigation System

Autopilot Referred to as “Bob” on Seeker the autopilot uses GPS and a digital compass to automaticlly steer Seeker on a set heading or to a way-point set on the Chartplotter. Bob frequently has the helm, freeing crew to relax or preform other task.
Sonar Sonar uses sound to measure depth and detect objects or structure underwater. On Seeker it supports navigation, anchoring, research, and avoiding hazards that cannot be seen from the surface.

Organization

seachestfoundation Sea Chest Foundation is a 501C3 non-profit that supports Seeker’s expidition work as well as other science on the water. https://seachestfoundation.org/

Propulsion

bus transmission bus transmission is part of Seeker's mechanical or propulsion system. Its role and connections should be confirmed from the related build and operating records.
cutlass The cutlass bearing is a made from rubber inside a short brass pipe. It supports the stainless steel propeller shaft near the point where it leaves the hull. Water lubricates and cools the bearing while the shaft rotates inside it.
engine rebuild Before venturing to Sea I (Doug) felt it imperative to know more about diesel engines than where to add oil. So as part another submarine project I partially rebuilt a Ford 7.3 diesel. The work reflects Seeker's preference for understandable, repairable machinery built from commonly available parts.
engines Seeker's diesel engines provide propulsion and electrical generation. They were selected and adapted from industrial or automotive equipment rather than bought as complete marine packages.
hundested variable The Hundested system controls Seeker's variable-pitch propeller. It changes blade angle to control thrust and compensate for power coming from both wind on the sails and diesel engine power.
pitch controller The pitch controller links to the Hundested mechanism that changes the angle of Seeker's propeller blades. Moving the control changes thrust from ahead to feathered for sailing or back to flat for greater pulling force from the engine.
pitch prop Seeker's pitch-controlled propeller changes blade angle instead of relying only on engine speed. This gives fine control of thrust and lets the engine operate near a useful load when combined with power from the sails.
pitch propeller Seeker's pitch-controlled propeller changes blade angle instead of relying only on engine speed. This gives fine control of thrust and lets the engine operate near a useful load when combined with power from the sails.
school bus School-bus components supplied parts for Seeker. Including the Cummins 5.9 diesel, Allison 545 automatic transmission and windows for the pilothouse.
school bus transmission The Allison AT545 automatic transmission came from a school bus and was adapted to Seeker's drivetrain. It was modified with a torque converter elimator to reduce heat from constantly running in 1st gear. The transmission provides forward, neutral, reverse, and 3.5:1 gear reduction before power reaches the transfer case.
torque converter The Allison transmission originally used a torque converter to multiply torque and allow smooth engagement. Seeker soon replaced it with a torque converter eliminator which uses a mechanical connection with damping springs. The modification greatly reduced the heat and power loss.
variable pitch Variable pitch means the propeller blades can rotate in the hub to change their angle. Seeker uses this to adjust load and thrust to balance engine load with power coming from the sails while motosailing.
variable pitch propeller Seeker's variable-pitch propeller uses individually cast bronze blades attached to a Hundested hub. Blade angle can be changed underway to balance engine load with power coming from the sails while motosailing.

Research

NURD NURD, the Nanoplastics Underwater Retrieval Device, was built aboard Seeker to collect suspended and negatively buoyant plastic particles below the surface. It uses hydraulic thrusters and a pair of nets which seawater is forced through. Sensors, and a long hydraulic hose and data umbilical connect NURD to Seeker.
nanoplastics expedition Seeker is supporting a multi-year expedition to study plastics. A Manta Trawl is used to collect samplers as same as 50 microns from the sufface at multiple sites around Key West and the Dry Tortugas. The work with Sail and Explore led to the development and testing of NURD to collect samples from depths down to 100 meters.
nanoplastics research Nanoplastics research aboard Seeker looks beyond floating debris to particles suspended below the surface or sinking through the water column. The vessel provides space, power, fabrication tools, and access to offshore sampling sites.
nanoplastics sampler Nanoplastics are sampled in two ways on Seeker. The common approach is Manta Trawl that is towed beside Seeker and has nets to collect the sample. Seeker is also developing NURD – Nanoplastics Underwater Retrieval Device, the name fits Doug’s computer nerd background. NURD is lowered over the side to a target depth as much as 100 meters below the surface and hydraulic motors push water through collection nets the same as those used on the Manta Trawl.
ocean plastics Ocean plastics include visible debris, microscopic particles, and material suspended below the surface. Seeker's research work focuses on collecting samples that conventional surface-only methods can miss.
ocean plastics research Seeker serves as a free platform for scientists studying plastic pollution at sea. Research has included surface surveys, manta trawls, and development of NURD for deeper sampling.
plastics research Plastic-pollution research aboard Seeker has examined particles at the surface and below it. The vessel provides a stable platform, fabrication shop, hydraulic power, and space for scientists and sampling gear.
plastics sampler Plastic samplers used from Seeker include a Manta Trawl and the deeper-running NURD system. Different equipment is required because floating, suspended, and sinking particles occupy different parts of the water column.
whales Whale research from Seeker has included towing a hydrophone while searching for sperm whales in the Caribbean. The vessel provides a quiet drifting platform, power, crew space, and the ability to remain offshore for extended work.

Structure

Bow Bow is forward part of Seeker's structure where the anchors, forward mast and anchor winch is located.
Deck Seeker's deck is the main outdoor working area aboard the vessel. It supports the masts, crane, anchor gear, cabin tops, hatches, and sail-handling equipment while giving crew protected access around the boat.
Frames Steel frames to reinforce Seeker's folded hull are almost entirely missing in place of logintuadinals and four bulkheads that segment and stiffen the hull against sea and rigging loads. Most were installed after the large hull plates had already been pulled into their basic form.
Hatch Hatches provide access through Seeker's decks while keeping water out when closed. Their sizes and locations reflect the need to move people, machinery, and cargo through a steel vessel.
Hull Seeker's steel hull was formed by folding and pulling large plates into shape in a process called Origami Boat Building. So the hull is formed before much of the framing and bulkheads were installed. The hull carries the rig, machinery, living spaces, ballast, and every load imposed by offshore operation.
Mast Seeker has three freestanding or “unstayed” masts supporting a Chinese junk rig. Dividing the sail area among three masts keeps individual sails manageable and spreads rigging loads along the hull.
Rudder Seeker's rudder turns water flow into the force needed to change course. Hydraulic cylinders controlled by the autopilot can direct its movement or it can be moved manually with the wheel through a chain and cable system.
Sail A sail converts wind into the force that moves and steers a vessel. Seeker divides her sail area among three fully battened junk sails so each can be handled and reefed from the pilothouse.
Sails Seeker carries three fully battened junk sails on three masts. Together they provide a large sail area while keeping each individual sail small enough to reef and lower from the deck.
Skeg The skeg is the steel structure ahead of Seeker's rudder and propeller. It adds directional stability, protects underwater gear, and forms the keel-cooling system where heat from the engine and components is cooled by the ocean water.
Tanks Seeker carries multiple tanks for fuel, fresh water, sewage, and other fluids. Spreading them through the hull makes use of available space and allows weight and systems to be managed independently.
anchoring Seeker is rarely at a dock or on a mooring ball. Setting one or two anchors is normal when not underway.
anodes Aluminum and zinc where cast into blocks and the bolted to Seekers hull below the waterline to serve as sacrificial anodes to prevent galvanic corrosion on the hull.
ballast ballast is weight placed low in the hull. It counters the force of the wind on the sails and prevents Seeker from being pushed over, beyond her limits. Seeker’s ballast is 12 tons of lead from melted down car wheel weights poured into the bottom of the keels during construction.
battens battens is part of Seeker's Chinese Junk sails. Multiple batten in each of the three sails allow the sail to be must longer. This provides sufficient sail area without the sails being as tall as other type of rigs.
bow roller Rollers where cast from bronze to guide chain and anchors onto the front of Seeker.
bow rollers Patterns were made and rollers where cast from bronze to guide chain and anchors onto the front of Seeker
bulkheads A dividing wall inside the hull that runs from one side of the boat to the other and from the bottom to the top dividing Seeker into compartments. Watertight doors can be closed to seal each compartment to prevent fire or flooding from spreading.
bulwarks Sides of the hull that rise above the top deck providing protection from wind, and waves for crew working on deck. It is closely associated with Hull.
chinese junk sails Seeker's three fully battened junk sails provide her sailing power. The battens support the cloth, control the sail's shape, and divide each sail into several sections, making them more manageable and allows easy reefing and lowering.
davit The stern davits carry Seeker's Whaly tender when it is not in the water. They allow the boat to be launched and recovered using and electric motor and gear box salvaged from an elevator.
davits The davits are the lifting arms at Seeker's stern that support the tender. Together with their winch and rigging, they make the tender a practical everyday boat rather than deck cargo.
decks Seeker's steel decks form the roof of the hull and the working surface for most operations aboard.
door Doors divide Seeker's interior spaces and provide access between compartments. Seekers doors below deck are quick acting watertight doors so flooding or fire can be contained instead of spreading through the vessel.
dragon The dragons on Seeker are sculpted decorative figures originally made from shaped foam and protective coatings. After one dragon was severely damaged they remaining dragon was 3D scanned, improved, and 3D printed. They add character to a vessel whose construction was never intended to be purely functional.
dragons SThe dragons on Seeker are sculpted decorative figures originally made from shaped foam and protective coatings. After one dragon was severely damaged they remaining dragon was 3D scanned, improved, and 3D printed. They add character to a vessel whose construction was never intended to be purely functional.
engine exhaust The main engine and generator exhausts carry hot gases safely above the vessel through a dry stack. The system keeps exhaust out of occupied spaces and avoids routing hot salt water through the machinery.
floor Interior floors provide level walking and working surfaces above Seeker's curved steel hull and tanks. Every floor panels can be removed so machinery, wiring, plumbing, and storage remain accessible.
foam sculpture Foam sculpture was used to create Seeker's dragons, mermaids, and other decorative shapes. The lightweight forms were carved, coated, and finished so they could survive outdoors on a working vessel.
folding Folding large steel plates into the shape of a hull is the central idea behind Seeker's origami construction. It reduced the amount of framing needed before the hull took shape and allowed much of the shell to be formed from only a few large plates.
foresail The foresail is the forward sail and most often used sail in Seeker's three-masted junk rig.
framing Steel frames to reinforce Seeker's folded hull are almost entirely missing in place of logintuadinals and four bulkheads that segment and stiffen the hull against sea and rigging loads. Most were installed after the large hull plates had already been pulled into their basic form. The most significant framing is the partitions that also divide the area beneath the cargo hold floors into tanks and storage areas.
fuel system Seeker's fuel system stores, transfers, filters, and delivers diesel to the main engine and generator. A manifold, polishing system, pumps, filters, and day tank allow contaminated fuel to be cleaned and tanks to be managed independently.
fuel tank A fuel tank stores diesel low in Seeker's hull. Fuel is transferred from the larger storage tanks through a series of filters and into a day tank before being supplied to the engines.
fuel tanks Several fuel tanks store diesel below the cargo hold floor. Rather than relying on one large tank Seeker’s arrangement provides useful capacity while allowing fuel to be transferred for trimming the boat, polished, and isolated as needed.
furring strips Cedar furring strips were attached inside the steel hull but welded on stainless steel studs. Insulation was installed beside and over the furring strips and the exterior ceder planking is then fastened to the furring strips with stainless steel screws. They create a workable surface without requiring every finish piece to be fastened directly to steel.
gangway The gangway provides can provide a path between Seeker and a dock or shore landing, but it is most often used to access the water for swimming, diving and cleaning the hull.
hatches Seeker has hatches for crew access, cargo handling, ventilation, and maintenance. Coamings, seals, and closures are designed to keep rain and boarding water from entering the hull.
hull model Scale hull models were built to test the origami folding process before full-size steel was cut. They helped reveal how plate shapes, folds, and pulls would create the final hull.
junk rig Seeker's three-masted junk rig uses fully battened sails that can be raised, reefed, and lowered from the deck. It was chosen for simple handling, distributed sail area, and the ability to build much of it from readily available materials.
junk sails Junk sails where sewn in our shop from heavy commercial awning material. They are divided by battens that support the cloth from front to back. On Seeker, this lets the sails be reefed in steps and keeps each panel controlled while it is raised or lowered.
keels Seeker has twin steel keels containing much of her lead ballast, and diesel fuel above the lead. They provide stability and directional resistance, protect the hull bottom, and allow the vessel to stand upright when sitting on shore on in a tidal basin.
main hatch The main hatch is the large opening above Seeker's cargo hold. The deck crane can lift machinery, tanks, supplies, and research equipment directly through it.
main mast The main mast is the largest of Seeker's three masts and carries the central junk sail. Its loads are transferred through the cabin-top framing and mast step into the hull.
mainsail The mainsail is the largest of Seeker's three fully battened junk sails. It provides much of the vessel's sailing power while remaining reefable and controllable from inside the pilothouse.
origami folding Origami folding forms a hull by bending and pulling large steel plates rather than building a complete frame first. Seeker's construction used this method to create the basic hull shape before adding most internal framing.
origami folding hull Seeker's origami hull began as large flat steel plates cut to developed shapes. Chains, jacks, welding, and careful pulling brought the plates together to be welded into a three-dimensional vessel.
origami hull The origami hull method reduced the number of seams and most frames needed to form Seeker. Once the shell held its shape, bulkheads and internal structure were added to carry concentrated loads.
origami hull model Small origami hull models were folded before full-size construction began. They provided a practical way to test plate shapes and understand how the steel would move during assembly.
plate Large steel plate forms Seeker's hull, decks, bulkheads, and much of her structure. Cutting, folding, fitting, and welding those plates transformed flat material into the vessel.
rigging Rigging supports and controls Seeker's sails. It includes halyards, sheets, lazy jacks, blocks, winches, and the fittings that carry sail loads into the hull and controls into the pilothouse.
sail crutch Sail crutches support lowered battens and sail bundles above the deck. They keep the heavy junk sails controlled, protect equipment below, and give the crew room to work around them.
sail rigging Seeker's sail rigging raises, lowers, reefs, and controls the three junk sails. Blocks, lines, a hydraulic winch, and attachment points spread the loads and keep most work at deck level.
sailmaking Seeker's sails were built as part of the project rather than ordered as finished products. Sailmaking involved cutting cloth, sewing large panels, fitting battens, and adjusting the shape through repeated use.
sewing Heavy sewing was required to build and repair Seeker's junk rig sails, covers, and nets for plastic sampling. For the sails, large panels and reinforced seams demanded machines and techniques beyond ordinary household sewing.
tank A tank contains one of the fluids needed aboard Seeker, such as fuel, fresh water, sewage, or hydraulic oil. Tank location, access, venting, and plumbing are as important as capacity.
watertight doors Watertight doors divide Seeker into compartments that can be sealed during flooding or fire. They help keep one damaged space from threatening the entire vessel.
weld distortion Welding heats and shrinks steel unevenly, causing plates and structures to bend or pull out of shape. Seeker's construction required sequencing, bracing, temporary strongbacks, and sometimes deliberate correction to control that movement.

Submarine

Argonaut Jr. Argonaut Jr. is Doug Jackson's wooden recreation of Simon Lake's experimental submarine built in 1894. It was built before hull construction started on Seeker but after sufficient lead for ballast had been collected.
submarine Doug's wooden submarine was a recreation of Simon Lake's 1894 Argonaut Junior. Building it provided practical experience in fabrication, machining, hydraulics, pressure, and problem-solving before Seeker was started. Doug build another submarine before Seeker that was also named Seeker, but the Sailing Vessel Seeker replaced the Submarine Seeker before work on it was completed.
wooden submarine The wooden submarine was Doug's recreation of Simon Lake's 1894 Argonaut Junior. It came before Seeker and served as a practical school for fabrication, machinery, hydraulics, diving, and learning through failure.

Tool

3D Printer 3D Printer is a tool used to build plastic parts for Seeker. Items are first drawn in CAD and then sent to the printer where they become real parts formed from plastic.
3d printing 3d printing is a tool used to build parts for Seeker and her equipment.
CNC Computer numerical control machines turn drawings made in CAD into accurately cut or machined parts. CNC equipment was used throughout Seeker's construction for cutting steel on a plasma table, cutting and engraving floor tiles and cabinets and cutting parts like the large bearings for the rudder.
Lathe A lathe shapes round metal parts by rotating the work against a cutting tool. It was used to make shafts, bushings, fittings, and other custom pieces throughout Seeker's construction and maintenance.
Mill A milling machine cuts flat surfaces, slots, holes, and complex shapes in metal. It has been used for custom drivetrain, ROV parts and fabrication work that could not be bought off the shelf.
Plasma Plasma cutting uses an electrical arc and compressed gas to slice through steel and other conductive metals. It was one of the primary ways plate was cut during Seeker's construction and is still used onboard for fabrication.
Printer A 3D printer turns CAD models into physical plastic parts aboard Seeker. It is useful for prototypes, brackets, covers, guides, and replacement pieces that can be produced without waiting for shore delivery.
Tormach The Tormach mill brought computer-controlled machining into the Seeker workshop. It made accurate custom parts possible without depending on outside machine shops.
Welder Welders joined nearly every steel part of Seeker and remain essential for repairs and modifications. MIG, TIG, and stick processes are each used where their speed, control, or portability is most useful.
blaster blaster is a tool designed, built, and modified into a wet blaster for sand blasting the steel hull prior to the application of epoxy coatings to protect the steel from the salt water environment.
cnc mill The CNC mill machines aluminum and stainless steel parts from computer drawings with greater precision and repeatability than hand work alone. It has been used for drivetrain, hydraulic, and research-equipment parts built specifically for Seeker.
cnc plasma The CNC plasma table cuts steel plate directly from CAD drawings. It made it practical to produce accurate structural pieces, brackets, and decorative parts during Seeker's construction.
cnc routing The CNC router cuts wood, foam, and pattern material from computer drawings. It was especially useful for propeller patterns, casting patterns, templates, and repeated shapes.
dewalt DeWalt power tools were among the everyday tools used during Seeker's construction and maintenance and are still frequently in use. Drills, saws, and grinders allowed work to continue wherever it was needed.
miller miller is a tool used to build, modify, or maintain Seeker and her equipment. It represents the hands-on fabrication approach used throughout the project.
miller treme12vs suitcase The Miller 12VS suitcase wire feeder carries welding wire and controls close to the work while receiving power from a larger welding source. Its portability was useful when welding throughout Seeker's large steel hull.
qidi The QIDI Plus 4 printer is used aboard Seeker to make plastic parts from CAD models. It expands the onboard workshop by allowing prototypes and replacement parts to be produced while away from shore.
sandblaster Sandblasting creates a clean, rough steel surface that coatings can grip. The work is dirty and demanding, but poor preparation would allow corrosion to continue beneath the paint.
suitcase welder A suitcase wire feeder carries welding wire and controls close to the work while receiving power from a larger machine. It made welding practical in distant corners of Seeker's hull and on work outside the shop.
tig TIG welding provides precise control for stainless steel, aluminum, and other work where a clean weld matters. It complements the faster MIG and stick welding used on Seeker's heavier steel construction.
tormach 770 The Tormach 770 is the compact CNC milling machine used to make and modify parts for Seeker. With tooling and a lathe attachment, it handles a wide range of small precision jobs.

Vessel

SV Seeker SV Seeker is an 83-foot, three-masted, homebuilt steel motorsailer created as a home at sea and a free platform for exploration, engineering, and research. She was built in Tulsa by volunteers from all over the world, and traveled down the river system to the Gulf of Mexico, and continues to evolve through use.
chinese junk Seeker was designed around a thousand year old three-masted Chinese junk rig. The rig spreads is fully battened, which divides each sail into several sections making them more manageable and allows easy reefing and lowering.
dinghy Seeker carries two boats. The smaller boat, referred to as the dingy or the “Wee Whaly” is stowed on the cabin top and launched and recovered using the deck crane. The dinghy is Seeker's connection to shore while the vessel remains anchored. It carries crew, supplies, and equipment through water too shallow or confined for Seeker. It is 13 feet long and so can be used at restrictive dingy docks like those in Key West.
tender Seeker's primary tender is the Whaly carried on stern davits. It moves people, supplies, and equipment between the anchored vessel and shore, and is often the practical way to reach shallow water.
whaly The Whaly is Seeker's tough polyethylene tender carried on stern davits. It is used for shore trips, moving equipment, diving support, and work in water too shallow for Seeker.