# Makeshift submarine **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 18, 2008, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeshift-submarine/456998 "2008-07-18T22:12:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2008, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeshift-submarine/456998/1 "2008-07-18T22:12:58Z")
Remember those ads in the back of _Popular Mechanics_, ‘Build Your Own Submarine!’? There was always a crude line-drawing of one. When I was a kid I really wanted one of those! Well, [Mexico seizes drug submarine in Pacific](http://www.miamiherald.com/915/story/607417.html) > [@](#): > > HUATULCO, Mexico – Mexico’s navy seized a homemade submarine carrying a drug shipment off the Pacific coast on Wednesday and arrested its four-man crew. > Similar vessels carrying cocaine have been discovered off Colombia and Central America, but navy spokesman Capt. Benjamin Mar said the seizure is a first for Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2008, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeshift-submarine/456998/2 "2008-07-18T22:19:53Z")
So much for building a wall along the southern border to keep out ‘Terrorists’. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeshift-submarine/456998/3 "2008-07-18T23:04:01Z")
OOOOH! Beatles song runnin’ through my head. And it’s _I Wanna Hold Your Hand_. I wonder why? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Carson\_O\_Genic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Carson\_O\_Genic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carson_O_Genic)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2008, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeshift-submarine/456998/4 "2008-07-19T02:14:55Z")
They aren’t true submersibles, more a low boat.I’m surprised monoxide poisoning doesn’t get them faster than the Coast Guard. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2008, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeshift-submarine/456998/5 "2008-07-19T13:27:53Z")
[QUOTE=Carson O’Genic] They aren’t true submersibles, more a low boat.I’m surprised monoxide poisoning doesn’t get them faster than the Coast Guard. [/QUOTE] It might. We have no idea how many are lost at sea. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2008, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeshift-submarine/456998/6 "2008-07-19T13:33:27Z")
[QUOTE=Carson O’Genic] They aren’t true submersibles, more a low boat.I’m surprised monoxide poisoning doesn’t get them faster than the Coast Guard. [/QUOTE] Building one’s own submarine isn’t _illegal_, is it? I mean, I know boats aren’t regulated as stringently as aircraft are, but if I want to build a full-size, demilitarized replica _Gato_ class, I should be able to . . . shouldn’t I? Tripler Yeah, call it for research. Metallurgical research. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2008, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeshift-submarine/456998/7 "2008-07-19T14:07:12Z")
[QUOTE=Tripler] Building one’s own submarine isn’t _illegal_, is it? I mean, I know boats aren’t regulated as stringently as aircraft are, but if I want to build a full-size, demilitarized replica _Gato_ class, I should be able to . . . shouldn’t I? Tripler Yeah, call it for research. Metallurgical research. [/QUOTE] WHEE! Do-it-yourself is _fun!!_ [http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\07\18\story\_18-7-2008\_pg9\_8](http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C07%5C18%5Cstory_18-7-2008_pg9_8) 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Carson\_O\_Genic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Carson\_O\_Genic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carson_O_Genic)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeshift-submarine/456998/8 "2008-07-20T10:59:32Z")
[QUOTE=Tripler] Building one’s own submarine isn’t _illegal_, is it? I mean, I know boats aren’t regulated as stringently as aircraft are, but if I want to build a full-size, demilitarized replica _Gato_ class, I should be able to . . . shouldn’t I? Tripler Yeah, call it for research. Metallurgical research. [/QUOTE] ``` Legalities, unknown. I suppose licence would depend on the body of water one intends to dive into. If you intend building a Gato, take a tip and use only stainless or Cor-Ten for outer decking/hull and the structurals attaching. Rusting here is a major maintenance issue for boats displayed in the water. The original pine tar holds up fairly well in cold water but some curators thought modern coatings would prove superior and are now paying the price. ``` ---
**Author:** ![Carson\_O\_Genic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Carson\_O\_Genic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carson_O_Genic)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeshift-submarine/456998/9 "2008-07-20T11:03:14Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] WHEE! Do-it-yourself is _fun!!_ [http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\07\18\story\_18-7-2008\_pg9\_8](http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C07%5C18%5Cstory_18-7-2008_pg9_8) 🆒 [/QUOTE] ``` That's admirable. But ten metres in metal cooperage has me thinking he'll be a sardine packed without the water. ``` ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeshift-submarine/456998/10 "2008-07-20T11:09:52Z")
I’m sure building a submarine is fine legally. So is making a long distance swimming attempt. Or driving an amphibian Volkswagen Beetle. It’s the notification procedures you’d be screwing with, unless you want to radio the US (or other country) with, “Hi, I’m a Central American drug running submarine wishing to make landfall. That cool with you guys?” ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeshift-submarine/456998/11 "2008-07-20T12:22:55Z")
[QUOTE=Carson O’Genic] That’s admirable. But ten metres in metal cooperage has me thinking he’ll be a sardine packed without the water. [/QUOTE] Oh, I guarantee there will be water in there with him. :rolleyes: