Sub-Log.com - Modern

UC3 Rollout!

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:54:05 -0400

What's the largest homebuilt sub in the world? That nicely styled and full-featured Kraka, based in Copenhagen? Well yes, she's the largest operational homebuilt that I know of. But her builder Peter Madsen has been working on his next project...

Alabama wet sub project

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 20:12:27 -0400

I just received a note and photos from Mark Smith of Hamilton, Alabama about his wet sub project. Mark is an experienced diver and long time undersea enthusiast, and he's tackled an ambitious wet sub project.

Odyssey brings home the booty

Fri, 18 May 2007 13:46:30 -0400

Not too many details on this, but Odyssey Marine Exploration has brought an estimated 500,000 coins into the United States from a shipwreck in the Atlantic. The company isn't describing the wreck or its location but there are clues that the treasure may be from a 400 yr old ship sunk some 40 miles off the southwest coast of England. That puts it in international waters, and Odyssey has a court order granting them rights to salvage.

MSNBC story...

South Florida Homebuilt Submersibles

Sun, 13 May 2007 14:25:50 -0400

An article about a few homebuilt sub enthusiasts down in South Florida and the sub Antipodes. It has some interesting photos and a little video. I like the shot titled "Waiting Around", where the pilot is sitting in the open hatch but two thirds of the photo is an underwater view of the sub at the surface.

And a good quote from Patrick Lahey, a Vero Beach underwater consultant. "When the paperwork weighs as much as the submarine, you're done."

the Sun Sentinel article...

Submarine for sale - Kraka!

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 11:18:05 -0400

Just saw this announcement about Kraka from the PSUBS group:

Kraka, the diesel-electric submersible designed and built by Peter Madsen and Claus Norregaard is currently for sale on PSUBS.ORG.

"Kraka" is a sea-going, diesel-electric submersible originally launched April 12th 2005. She is capable of charging her own batteries and compressed air tank, hence only dependent on supply of diesel oil. A 2-3 man crew can sleep on-board in turns. With the sail hatch closed and air intake through the snorkel it is possible to navigate in quite rough weather. She is equipped with a button hatch for deploying and retrieving divers while submerged. She is also equipped with a GPS chart plotter, a gyro compass, and echo sounder. She also has a photo optical mast ( periscope) with four cameras, each covering a 90 degree view and providing 360 degrees of visibility outside the sub.

The price for the submarine is negotiable and offers are being accepted. Please visit http://www.psubs.org/forsale for more information and photos.

New K-350 Submarine Project

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:55:04 -0400

Here's a new website documenting the construction of a Kittredge K-350 submersible. James is putting together a nice collection of photos and notes. Check it out:

Guernsey Submarines

Snoopy video

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 12:50:05 -0500

Great video of Alex Smyth operating his "Snoopy", a K-250 personal (one person) submarine. Watch for the collision!

Austrian Concrete Submarine

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 12:53:28 -0500

Here's a impressive, and exciting submarine project. Well, it's exciting if you're interested in building pressure vessels with concrete. Now that's an obscure branch of nerd...

Back in 1996, Wilfried Ellmer built, tested and used a 20 ton concrete submarine on an Alpine lake. Residents of Lake Atter in Austria witnessed the launch of a pristine, streamlined, white vessel. The photo at right shows the boat at launching before the fitting out of sail, rudders and propellers.

Wilfried states that the 18cm (7 inches) thick hull gives an operational depth of 300m (~1000ft) and an estimated crush depth of about 900m. He used portland cement reinforced with 4mm and 6mm steel in a 10 cm mesh.

This is a large personal submarine, weighing in a 14 tons before ballasting. Check out the interior photo on the website which shows a roomy cabin. Unfortunately missing are any photos of the sub actually diving or even maneuvering on the surface under its own power.

Concrete Sub page

Updated Velosub

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 12:25:40 -0500

Velosub of Lyon, France has announced a new version of their human powered water craft. Updates include a shrouded prop and a larger front float which looks more comfortable.

Velosub.com

Original Sub-Log posting

PSUBS 2006 Convention

Wed, 28 Jun 2006 11:53:29 -0400

Some press coverage of the 2006 PSUBS Convention, held June 23-25 this year at Raystown Lake, Pennsylvania. I believe around eight subs (and their owners) attended, along with dozens of other sub enthusiasts and a number of locals. Sounds like it was a great event!

Altoona Mirror article...

Aquanauts practice for moon trips

Fri, 21 Apr 2006 12:30:08 -0400

A NASA team of six is wrapping up an 18 underwater mission after testing, among other things, how astronauts might interact with robotic space explorers. The team, designated NEEMO 9, has lived in the Aquarius undersea habitat near Key Largo, in the Florida Keys.

Activities have included simulated moonwalks and remote, robotic surgery with an artificial two second Earth-to-Moon communications delay. The surgery was performed by a doctor 1300 miles distant in the city of Hamilton, Ontario Canada.

MSNBC Story...

Older NEEMO 7 story on Space.com...

The Return of the U-Boat

Thu, 06 Apr 2006 11:49:20 -0400

Here's a short article that raises an alarm because of the increasing number of submarines under construction around the world. A mention of how non-nuclear sub effectiveness may be increasing with air independent propulsion and newer weapons.

American Thinker article...

A Concept of Operations for a New Deep-Diving Submarine

Wed, 30 Nov 2005 14:16:36 -0500

- larger image -	ASIN: B0000A2WF1 Binding: Digital List price: $30.00 USD Amazon price: $30.00 USD

Description

Advanced Submarine Technology And Antisubmarine Warfare

Mon, 07 Nov 2005 14:34:09 -0500

- larger image -	ASIN: 1410224317 Binding: Paperback List price: $25.00 USD Amazon price: $22.50 USD

Description

Underwater Gliders

Fri, 04 Nov 2005 12:31:11 -0500

You can build a glider that works underwater, much like a sailplane works in the air. Really. It'll fly like a glider too, with gravity pulling it along as it descends. Sure there are differences between an air and a water glider. The underwater version will have smaller wings than you might expect because of how dense water is compared to air. And it's probably not going to move that fast...

In terms of suitability for a people-carrying, homebuilt type project, well I don't know. One apparently very successful example is Karl Stanley's CBUG which he's used for years as a tourist sub. See the link below and check out Mr. Stanley's photos and track record as a tourist sub builder and operator...