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Hi Rick. Welcome to the group. Several guys are currently building their
own small subs ( me too ) and quite a few guys have completed subs so there is a
wealth of information available here. All the guys are helpful, and the psubs
web site has a LOT of information on pretty much every aspect of building and
operating your own sub. Jon and Ray are the founders of the group, and have a
wide range of knowledge about the sport, and all the other guys each possess
their own unique talents and interests, with submarines being the glue that
bonds the group.
In the beginning, you will have many questions and most of these
early questions can be answered by researching the archives on the psubs site.
Generally, a low end sub can be made for about $20K, and of course the sky
is the limit. My approach was first to decide what purpose the sub was to
accomplish, and that drove the design.
The K boat designs available from psubs are a good place to
start. Even if your design is much different, many of the materials and basic
parts are the same, and a lot of time and money can be saved. There are several
books you'll need, and some skills like welding, electrical, plumbing,
machining, scuba diving,and many others but you won't need to become an expert
in any of them. Just a basic understanding for most of them will do. Obviously,
the more work you can do yourself, the cheaper it will be, and the more
satisfaction you'll get out of building your own sub.
There are as many different designs as there are builders, with every one
building their sub according to their own needs. Take the time in the beginning
to learn what has already been done, what works, and how they got there. You'll
save a lot of time and money, and ultimately have more fun.
Again, welcome and good luck. Feel free to ask questions and almost always
you'll get several answers.
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