Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Newbie

["Sean T. Stevenson" <cast55@telus.net>]

Note also that whether your boat is ABS compliant or not, you may be subject 
to regional requirements for safety, distress and navigation equipment which 
must be carried on board (e.g. the Canadian Small Vessel Regulations), and in 
all cases must comply with the International Regulations for the Prevention 
of Collisions at Sea, as far as those rules are applicable to surface vessels 
of comparable length.

-Sean


On May 29, 2008 19:30:50 jonw@psubs.org wrote:
> Don,
>
> The "Hull Calculator" can be found as follows:
> Go to www.psubs.org
> Click on "Design and Fabrication"
> Click on "Design Tools"
> Click on "Calculators"
>
> Information regarding regulations in the USA and how they affect you are
> available as follows:
> Go to www.psubs.org
> Click on "Design and Fabrication"
> Click on "Standards/Guidelines"
>
>
> The hull calculator is not in the ABS documents, but was derived from the
> information located within them.  The formulas were taken from the
> documents and written into a spreadsheet format to help people understand
> the capabilities of their design.
>
> In regards to regulations and requirements for regulating entities,
> building a sub for personal use will be nothing like your requirements for
> Langley. ABS/ASME certification is required only if you are building a
> submersible to carry passengers for hire.  If you are building a
> submersible for
> recreational use, the US Govt doesn't care whether you use cardboard for
> the hull, or 3 inch tungsten carbide.  If you want to build it according to
> ABS standards, the US Govt doesn't care.  If you want to "wing-it" and just
> dream up your own standards, the US Govt doesn't care.  Once you cross the
> boundary of recreational use and carry a passenger for hire (federal law
> defines this...see the link above), now the US Govt cares what materials
> you used, your construction methods, your components, and your piloting
> skills.
>
> PSUBS.ORG on the other hand, always cares about how subs are built and
> operated, even recreational ones.  It is our official and stated policy
> that submersibles should always be built to ABS/ASME standards.  We
> understand the cost for certification is usually well above what a
> home-builder can afford, and therefore do not insist on such certification.
>  But we do recommend you build to the ABS/ASME standards whether using an
> existing design or making your own design.
>
> When it comes to operation of your sub, in general, in the US, the Coast
> Guard rules the coastline and inland waterways.  They have different rules
> as well depending upon the size of your vessel and it's intended use. 
> Since the vast majority of submersibles we see built are 16 feet or
> smaller, and used for recreational purposes, your sub is a simple boat in
> the eyes of the Coast Guard.  I need to add their rules to the
> "standards/guidelines" link, but for now you can view them at 2008
> Convention headquarters at
> http://www.psubs.org/convention/2008 and then clicking on "Dive
> Operations".
>
> One last thing, US Federal Law allows states to come up with their own
> additional (or strictor) rules.  We are not aware of any states that have
> rules or regulations regarding submersibles, but you should check with your
> own state government to be sure.
>
> I hope that helps.
>
> Jon





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