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Published August 21 2009

Photo Gallery: Local man builds yellow submarine


Dean Ackman explains the problem with the ballast leak in his submarine to friends at the Knife River Marina Thursday. Ackman built the submarine himself and was attempting a test run when he discovered the leak. Bob King / rking@duluthnews.com

  • Dean Ackman explains the problem with the ballast leak in his submarine to friends at the Knife River Marina Thursday. Ackman built the submarine himself and was attempting a test run when he discovered the leak. Bob King / rking@duluthnews.com
  • Dean Ackman tests out his homemade submarine Thursday afternoon at the Knife River Marina. Bob King / rking@duluthnews.com
  • t8.20.09 Bob King -- kingSUB0821c4 -- Don Smith (right), a friend of Dean Ackman, helps steady the submarine as it's lifted out of the slip at Knife River Marina after a test run. The test was cut short because the sub had a ballast tank leak.Bob King / rking@duluthnews.com
  • Dean Ackman is undeterred by a ballast leak in his submarine Thursday. He's confident he'll have it fixed soon and be ready to go again. At top speed, he estimates the submarine can travel up to six knots per hour.Bob King / rking@duluthnews.com
  • The inside of Ackman's submarine fits one person -- maybe two -- at most. It's outfitted with air control valves and sonar. Three portholes form a front window of sorts. There are also portholes overhead.Bob King / rking@duluthnews.com
  • Dean Ackman keeps an eye on his homebuilt submarine as it's lifted from a slip at the Knife River Marina Thursday. At left is friend Don Smith, of Rochester, who came up to help Ackman with the test.Bob King / rking@duluthnews.com