Talking about legality of psubs,

Here in Canada, I tried to register my sub but nobody, and I mean nobody, police, costum officers, transport ministry agent, could point me to any law regarding psubs registry.

So it fell into the canoe / kayak category because it is very small and have an engine below 9.9hp. And can go without registration...

But I have yet to see a lake police officer...

Pierre

I registered my 20 ton 9m autonomous yacht submarine in AUSTRIA as a "floating water toy below 10m length electric powered" - no registration needed - no licence needed - back in 1996.

I had a fellow submariner who had a trailerable sub of kittrige size whose project was shut down a year ago in 1995 due to police intervention when he towed it out of his garage on a trailer.

The argument - in his case - was "Austria is not permitted by Constitution law to have "SUBMARINES"

This passus was written by the british in austrias post war constitution and meant to avoid any future u-boat threat to the british islands in the future.

So wherever you live when you build a sub (be aware that you might trigger a certain grade of paranoia) - it can make a hell of difference to the authorities depending what WORD you choose for your hobby. Take "water toy" instead of "submarine" you will be fine - in austria .

Here in Colombia a yacht submarine will get registered as a boat - no difference.

P sub building is not only reading the tech papers it is also: authority, register and related problems - management.

Don´t get surprised - know the law text when police FBI etc come on board - and pierre - do not fear in most cases it tends to be easier than you would expect.

When i had police comming on board my submarine yacht in austria first question was "what is this" (i knew my text - avoid submarine) "a electric powered watertoy below 10m with no registration duty" - ah - -interesting- may i sit for a moment in the driver seat... and police never returned when i was out for a nice submarine yachting weekend.

Authorities do not want nor seek "problems" they just want a way to FIT you in somewhere in their existing rules - make sure that this happens convenienty - in any case avoid that authorities are obligated to act - due to a nasty roumor - somehow - and against you - be proactive - be a open book chat with them - meet your local navy commander - port captain - talk nicly to FBI when opportunity arise - as we have seen sometimes it will.

Be a good embassador of your sport.

I remember the time when ultralight flight was whiped out in Austria by a law that said "all flying vehicle that does not fit into existing airline regulations is forbidden and not wanted in austrian airspace" - this was later reviesed by lobbying from a powerful hobby industry - and integration of european laws - be aware that psubbers does´nt have a lobby yet...

Peter, great boat you have built - my honest reference on that - keep your dream going !!!

Cheers Wil
(concretesubmarine.com)

Thank you for taking the time to give us that information Wil,

I've been thinking about that subject with regards to taking a live aboard submarine abroad, and having to deal with allot of different countries, there different laws and/or paranoia's. I had to do the same sort of thing with regards to using safe terminology in my tropical bird farm. I needed to use the wording of tropical birds, instead of exotic birds. I liked the wording of exotic birds more, just like I like the the wording of private submarine more. But it can be a very paranoid world some times.

I'm designing my live aboard sub to look none military, so I avoid allot of fuss.

I liked your advice.

Regards,
Brent Hartwig

A submarine yacht with live aboard capability and long range capability is not a thing you will see on a everyday base. All countries i know (and checked so far) have no "special regulations" about that. You simply get treated as a yacht.

Which means in practice :
When you come from sea touch land in a declared port of entry for customs and immigration and visa reasons. Run the proper flags. have the required nav lights. Bring a passport. Do it on surface. Yellow paint instead of military look. No driving licence required. If doubts arise help the officer to fill right paperwork talk about your yacht more than submarine.

I like the wording - submarine yacht - i am nr.3 on google for "affordable submarine yachting" therefore -

Paranoia is frequently on both sides - everybody expects authorities to be hostile or abusive to shut peoples dreams down when they go for uncharted and unregulated territory - that is (frequently) not true.

Many people think ocean crossing live aboard submarine yachting is not possible due to the problems you would get with authorities - the contrary is true. If you can build it you will have surprisingly little authority problems to enjoy it. As Mr.Smith says - there is nothing illegal about it.

Anyhow - the problems and solutions for autonomous submarine yachts are not necessarily interesting for the K-sub community so i am not sure that we are on the right forum to discuss this...

Cheers, Wil
(concretesubmarine.com)