SOLD!!! Subs for sale: K250 project

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About the K250 in general

The K250 is a one person submarine with 250foot operating depthing designed by Captain George Kittredge in 1970s. It's possibly one of the most common person submersibles in existence. On top of those build and sold by Kittredge, he also sold plans to the K250 which has enabled many hobbyists and small scale manufacturers to make their own.

The K250 offers a great entry point to personal submersibles. Weighing around 1 ton (2200lbs) it can easily be towed by many passenger vehicles. Can be launched from most boat ramps. Nice visibility.

About this K250

I believe this was one of the 3 K250s Captain Kittredge took with him when he parted ways with VAST (Vocalized Air Sea Technology Inc). This would technically make it a VAST MK3, but Kittredge sold it as a K250 while starting his own company. The main difference is that a VAST MK3 has a ballast tanks integrated into the interior which also serves as hull reinforcement, while the modern K250 has a series of reinforcement hoops on the interior and no ballast system integrated into the hull.

Although I don't have confirmation, I believe Kittredge originally sold this one to Bob Tostenson of Bob's Diver Shop in the mid-1970s. Sadly Bob Tostenson died in tragic diving accident (unrelated to the submarine). After his death, his wife Mary(?) ask Kittredge to help resell the submarine. I believe Kittredge sold the submarine to the father of the person I bought the sub from. The son of the second owner insisted the sub was bought from Kittredge and he had the related paperwork. The seller promised to mail me the paperwork once they found it, but never follow though with the promise.

I purchased this K250 in Fresno, California (spring 2013) with the intention of resto-modding (modernizing in accordance with the latest version of the K250 plans or beyond). I would describe the condition as needing a total restoration, motors were seized, rotating thru-hulls (for motor rotation, front gripper arm and rear rudder) were seized, it was dirty, some light rust, no batteries or air tanks, the dome appears to need restoring or replacing, paint is old and faded.

I've spent the last few years slowly dismantling it, removing fittings, motors, everything not welded down. I would estimate it's half dismantled. I removed the tail section and much internal piping. I've kept all the parts and will include them in the sale.

For sale

Paid around $2500 for the sub and trailer, I would like to recoup this. If $2500 is too much of a barrier for entering a submarine hobby, I'd have concerns about how the project would be safely completed with such budget constraints. That said, I'd love to see it go to a good home. Especially interested in good-causes, education project, museum display, ocean awareness and such things.

Q: Why are you selling it?

Because I'm getting another sub and need space in my workshop.

Q: Is there any warranty?

No warranty provided or implied. Purchase at your own risk.

Optional extras

Over the last few years, I've picked up a number of items (parts and tools) to restore the sub. While I'm not particularly interested in selling them, I am interested in helping the next owner get a head start on the project. The "extras" prices are rough estimates of what I paid and I'll need to confirm the prices before selling. I am not interested in selling them at the discount. All items are unused.

It might be cheaper to buy your own

About the buyer

I would like to see the sub go to a good home and will give priority to people who can give it a good home. I would like to see it made operational again, or possibly restored for static display, in a museum, or part of long term industrial arts technical college/school project. I would like to think that if the new owner(s) makes the sub operational, it would be done carefully, and operated carefully and safely.

About the project

TODO: Add current project pictures and description of potential work needed.
2013 Fresno pick up