Subcommittee Mare Island 2026 Fun Run

[timsenecal]

I actually live in Colorado, but every year i take the time to visit some good friends in California, they are nice enough to hold an annual event that gives me an excuse to go out there for a weekend. I have been slowly working out the problems in my largest submarine, basically i have taken it out there for the last 3 years in a row, fixing issues as they crop up.

Its a 1/32 scale 32nd parallel type XXI uboat, I THINK i am the third owner, Its original internals have been removed, and a custom built OTW dive module put in it. Hopefully next year it will have working lights, periscopes/snorkel, and torpedoes, as well as a new more accurate paint job.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UzTKAbeIFM

[trout]

Tim, this year got messed up with jury duty, I hope we can run again. This event does not get enough exposure or credit. Over a decade ago (maybe two now), Will Oudmayer had me play with one of his subs. It is a piston dive system and his instructions were simple, get it to neutral buoyancy and then take it out for a spin. I spent maybe 10 minutes getting it dialed in and took it out and about. When I brought it back, it was still at that same depth that I sent it out at. It sat there not caring about diving deeper or rising to expose itself. Stayed at the same depth, truly a work of art. I was hooked.
Anyways we need to meet up and run some subs. Depending on when events happen, I intend to make several runs across the USA and maybe one overseas (we will see). Your XXI looks great!

[Fishb0y]

I'd love to attend this if it weren't the same weekend as Subfest! It's only a "short" 15-hour drive from Seattle, and the upside is that I could bring my bigger boats that won't fit on a plane.

[timsenecal]

A few things:

1) This has been going on for decades. SubronMI is one of the oldest clubs, dating back 30+ years*, so it should be one of the few that EVERYONE knows about.
2) Some of us can't go to more than one or two events every year, so go to this one one year, and subfest the next...
3) I agree, i have a "go bag" with a small submarine and accessories that will fit in an airplane as overhead baggage. It isn't the same as being able to rent a suburban and show up with everything you own.

I don't want to start a war here, but It was not SubronMI's fault that subfest got scheduled for the same weekend... MI's fun run gets scheduled early enough for me to request time off half a year in advance.

*Tom Anderson and i talked for a bit at this years fun run, i think he said he started MI in 93

[Fishb0y]

I get what you're saying, and just to be clear, I'm not criticizing you or your decision in any way. I'm also not blaming SubronMI for the scheduling conflict.

My point is simply that, given the choice between the two events, I've chosen SubFest, and you chose the other. Nothing wrong with either decision. We all have our preferences, priorities, and limitations when it comes to attending events.

I completely understand why you chose the SubronMI event, just as I hope you understand why I'd choose SubFest. Neither choice is right or wrong, and neither is a criticism of the other.

I'm certainly not looking to start a war over this. I just think we should recognize that people are going to support the events that appeal most to them, regardless of how long they've been around or when they're scheduled.