Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Launching at the boat ramp (was: Langkawi Islands)

["Marsee Skidmore" <heyred@email.msn.com>]

Why IH, pray tell?

----- Original Message -----
From: D. Blake <dblake@bright.net>
To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2000 9:58 PM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Launching at the boat ramp (was: Langkawi
Islands)


>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Captain Nemo <vulcania@interpac.net>
> To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
> Date: Tuesday, February 01, 2000 3:58 PM
> Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Launching at the boat ramp (was: Langkawi
> Islands)
>
>
> >Mike,
>
> >I'm trying to visualize your catamaran idea.  I'm seeing an setup where
the
> >cat hulls are down low, and the sub is sitting up on them.  If the sub
was
> >suspended in a strong frame from, say, a couple winches, you could maybe
> >float it off the trailer in water shallow enough to support the cat
hulls,
> >and then crank the sub down into the water after she's afloat.  The first
> >thing I start wondering about is stability: wouldn't want it to go
> >"huli-over" on launch.  Keep in mind it's not always calm at the ramp.
But
> >if the cat was wide enough, maybe....
> >
> >I had thought of making a catamaran with a winch and platform to use as a
> >support vessel for my sub; would give us better safety when boat-towing
the
> >sub to distant divesites; and enable safer operations in open water
(since
> >the NAUTILUS' freeboard is only about a foot).  But that would be mated
to
> >the sub after being launched from the trailer, and wouldn't do anything
to
> >reduce my ramp-depth requirements.
>
> Why not make the trailer/catamaran one and the same?
> Use David's idea of a trailer with overarching crossmembers to hang the
sub
> from.  Except design it wide enough to fit the sub between, and yet only
> wide enough to still allow one-lane highway use using pontoons crafted
from
> used small diameter propane tanks attached to the frame for and aft of the
> axles for floatation with the minimum of ground clearance.
> Bulid a platform on the rear of the trailer as a helm, and add an outboard
> for propulsion.  Okay?  Now just launch the trailer and all !  The trailer
> is the support vessel !!
> After launch, motor to your dive location and lower the vessel into the
> abyss.  Afterwards, winch it up and motor back to the ramp.
> Hit the ramp with a head of steam.  Pull up the outboard to prevent damage
> to the prop, and apply the electric binders once up on the ramp.  Back the
> truck in and hitch it up.  Have a video camara handy cause I gotta see the
> expression on everybody's faces when this thing happens.  With practice it
> will become second nature to you, but not to those watching.
> Still,  This sort of trailer/support vehicle would probably be very heavy.
> Best start looking for a cheap used International Harvester Loadstar circa
> 1975-80 or equivelent.  I've seen 'em on the net for around 2-3k in good
> running condition.
>
> >>About those bassboaters: we always had locals snooping around.  One
time,
> I
> >had to warn one of them about my submerged trailer on the ramp; he
replied
> >"I don't care if I hit it"; to which I replied "Yeah, well I do!"  I
don't
> >think he was at all intimidated by my Hulk Hogan routine
>
> Did you tear your shirt off Hulkster style as you were saying it ?  No?
> Well you damn well should have!!
>
> ; and it was only
> >the fact that I had the area marked out with floats bearing the Diver
Down
> >Flag (we had a diver in the water), that enabled me to convince him to
take
> >his boat elsewhere.
>
> It's a wonder he even knew what the flags meant.
>
> Not all surface boaters appreciate submariners, but
> >most of them were pretty cool.  Particularly the guys in the rubber
ZODIAC
> >boats, who for some strange reason always kept a respectful distance from
> my
> >NAUTILUS.
>
> Could be these guys are future psubbers, and I welcome them into our fold.
> If it turns out they were scared by the pointy projections of the
Nautilus,
> well then they are at least intelligent enough to be careful.  I return
> their respect.
> As for the former care-less idiots, I give them the international
> middle-finger salute, and suggest they go back and replenish their cooler
of
> Old English and catch many more Carp for supper.
> Big Dave
> >
> >VBR,
> >
> >Pat Regan
> >vulcania@interpac.net
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>