Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] launch ramp

["Gary R. Boucher" <engineer@sport.rr.com>]

I have some experience with this.  A small sub must be placed far
back on most ramps to get enough draft to float it off, if that is your
method of launching.  The problem is simple; you can not usually do
this with a standard trailer.  I constructed a 10-foot detachable
tongue on my trailer that I built.  This was not enough for a sub of
my size.  So, I finally resorted to taking a 10,000 pound test nylon
strap and creating a fitting on the truck hitch and the tongue of the
trailer to lower it back via strap.  This worked very well, but you
still have to have a location where the trailer can go that far down a
submerged ramp.  Many ramps just terminate at a level that where the
wheels will get caught and you can not pull it out.  You may need to
walk the ramp before launching.

The alternative is to create a winch where you can roll it off and roll
it back on by winch.  Also a strong wenche may be used. 
:-)

Gary Boucher


At 06:51 PM 3/23/2003 +0100, you wrote:
> Hello
> all,
>  
> Does anyone have expirience with launching a
> psub from a small ramp?? As considering te size for an eventually to
> built sub, I wonder if it is still possible to launch a 1500 kg, 1 meter
> draugt sub. I guess I need a specially constructed trailer.
>  
> Groet, Emile van
> Essen