Any one ever play with the "build your own submarine" idea?

PGFISHER

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jul 21, 2009
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321
Re: Any one ever play with the "build your own submarine" idea?

well, there was one during the civil war, round, propulsion was hand cranked props, balast was water, eother let in tasnks or pumped put, had an auger on the top to drill into the bottom of ships... was just a simple round ball with the rudimentary devices. didnt even have any back up air, once the person was inside, they had bout an hour.

That sub was built during the American revolution. It was called the turtle and failed it's mission because the british used copper cladding on their hulls, so the drill wouldn't go into the hull. Way ahead of it's time though.
 

PGFISHER

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Re: Any one ever play with the "build your own submarine" idea?

Yup,
and they "stuck" what could be described as the first torpedo on the hull of the old Virginia if I'm not mistaken and fled the scene, and dissapeared for a few decades 'till just recently when the thing was discovered I think, might have been one of the dreadnaughts too, can't recollect.
But I do know that a replica of what you describe was found unmanned and bobbing around in long island sound or there abouts recently.

Take care,
Thx, john.

That one WAS during the civil war, It was the Housatonic and 8 men hand turned a long crankshaft to the propeller. The "torpedo" was a charge mounted on a long boom mounted on the bow. It is generaly agreed that the boom wasn't long enough, and the sub sank itself along with the Virginia. It was however the first sinking by a submarine.
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
27,468
Re: Any one ever play with the "build your own submarine" idea?

Another thing you might want to think about, as well as oxygen use, is carbon diode build up. Get yourself a bucket of 'Soda-sorb'. It's the CO2 scrubber used in the commercial diving industry.

For propulsion consider magnetically coupled shafts. That saves having to make holes in the pressure vessel and the associated seals and glands.

Good luck, and keep us updated, 6 years isn't all that long away... :D

Chris............
 

vhuevos7

Seaman
Joined
Jun 22, 2010
Messages
50
Re: Any one ever play with the "build your own submarine" idea?

I did try this once whenI was in my early twenties. I got the materials together and it didnt take long. I took the sub down to the lake and it went under just fine but didnt come up. My neighbors were right.... Making a sub out of adobe will not work:D. Sorry i couldnt resist
 

mudslinging79

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 18, 2008
Messages
374
Re: Any one ever play with the "build your own submarine" idea?

thats the one i wa thinking of , the turtle. should be easy to make a copy of, it had the basic needs...
 

projecthog

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 20, 2008
Messages
272
Re: Any one ever play with the "build your own submarine" idea?

Another thing you might want to think about, as well as oxygen use, is carbon diode build up. Get yourself a bucket of 'Soda-sorb'. It's the CO2 scrubber used in the commercial diving industry.

For propulsion consider magnetically coupled shafts. That saves having to make holes in the pressure vessel and the associated seals and glands.

Good luck, and keep us updated, 6 years isn't all that long away... :D

Chris............

Hey Chris,

Good call, I'll just get a few Carbon Diode buildup Resistors :D :D, I was forced to say that! :D Just pulling yer leg.
Things like "Soda 'sorb" are items that I wouldn't have thought of, but may have merit.

I was more or less willing to put up with just venting the constant feed of Oxygen, Medigas or what ever will end up doing the job, seeing that I probably wouldn't be submerged for "hours" at first, and at that, I wouldn't be deep enough to have to worry about a lot of pressure to do the venting too much.

The magnetically coupled shaft idea is interesting but most likely will not materialize, as the budget is constantly squealing for grease, and my methods of collecting things and materials is definitely related to the volume of squealing of that budget!

The drive system will be electric and will be housed in a compartment separate from the "pressurized pilot compartment" which (The drive system compartment) will flood up to a point and then stop as it will be air tight, the design will not allow water to come anywhere near the electrics or drive motor, and if I can manage to succeed with that design, I will not have seals and pressure related problems to think of for the drive system as pressures will be balanced at shaft level thru the hull. (Wet shaft and sealed bearings.)
Still working on that one!

I collect most of the would be (very) expensive items through my business as a trucker, delivering and loading of heavy pipe, shafting, plate and machinery and things.
I also scrounge around in the steel yards that are stocked with stuff that I can load on my trailer after hounding the owners or officials for freebees or cheapo purchases.
Amazing what you can scrounge if you are hooked on doing the looking and dreaming!

Thanks for the comments,
Take care, John.
 

Tim Frank

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 29, 2008
Messages
5,346
Re: Any one ever play with the "build your own submarine" idea?

Hey Chris,

Good call, I'll just get a few Carbon Diode buildup Resistors :D :D, I was forced to say that! :D Just pulling yer leg.
Things like "Soda 'sorb" are items that I wouldn't have thought of, but may have merit.

I was more or less willing to put up with just venting the constant feed of Oxygen, Medigas or what ever will end up doing the job, seeing that I probably wouldn't be submerged for "hours" at first, and at that, I wouldn't be deep enough to have to worry about a lot of pressure to do the venting too much.

I don't think you want to feed pure O2....would be the same as scuba diving with that in your tanks. Modified atmosphere is a lot more complicated to monitor and operate.
Use compressed air at the depths you are talking about...and deal with the extra CO2 as suggested.
 

muskyone

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 17, 2003
Messages
814
Re: Any one ever play with the "build your own submarine" idea?

theres a small sub for sale on hwy 35 just south of st paul if you get in the area you should stop and look at it for ideas
 

muskyone

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 17, 2003
Messages
814
Re: Any one ever play with the "build your own submarine" idea?

thats st paul mn
 

avenger79

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
May 5, 2008
Messages
1,792
Re: Any one ever play with the "build your own submarine" idea?

batteries and electronics should be placed in a water tight enclosure. spray and submersion test before installation in the sub. we submerge our cabs 3 feet with no problem.
venting the batt could be something to think of.

air cavities is a good idea.
 

vhuevos7

Seaman
Joined
Jun 22, 2010
Messages
50
Re: Any one ever play with the "build your own submarine" idea?

That one WAS during the civil war, It was the Housatonic and 8 men hand turned a long crankshaft to the propeller. The "torpedo" was a charge mounted on a long boom mounted on the bow. It is generaly agreed that the boom wasn't long enough, and the sub sank itself along with the Virginia. It was however the first sinking by a submarine.

PG,

There was an article on Yahoo news Today about the Civil war sub the Hunley. The people that are preserving it ar goin to roll it over to determin exactly what sank it or if they had died from lack of oxygen.
 

JasonBo

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 18, 2010
Messages
103
Re: Any one ever play with the "build your own submarine" idea?

The only people that need subs are the military and drug dealers oh and recovery teams
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
27,468
Re: Any one ever play with the "build your own submarine" idea?

The only people that need subs are the military and drug dealers oh and recovery teams

How about researchers and treasure hunters?
 
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