[PSUBS-MAILIST] deep test

Sun Apr 24 11:20:25 EDT 2016

Brian,That is right, no real harm done.  All the troubles were my own fault.Hank 

    On Sunday, April 24, 2016 9:02 AM, Brian Cox via Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:

 Hank,    What an ordeal !   At least you made it back with the sub and got it out of the water.  Probably some unpredictable weather in that area.  Around here the Channel Islands will get changes really fast.  I'm in the process of getting my sailboat rigged for any eventually.   Brian  

--- personal_submersibles at psubs.org wrote:

From: hank pronk via Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs.org>
To: Personal Submersibles General Discussion <personal_submersibles at psubs.org>
Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] deep test
Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2016 13:35:33 +0000 (UTC)

We decided to go for the test a day early because the weather forecast was more favourable for Saturday.  We arrived at the lake at 12;30 and the lake was almost dead calm.  Imagine my joy!  we backed the sub into the lake and found the ramp angle not steep enough for my usual slick launch.  The sub would not float off on its own, I was not going to let that stop this operation.  I figured I will deal with loading the sub later.   I pushed the sub off by hand and got her situated and the boat loaded.  The boat was very heavily loaded with all the spare stuff and emergency stuff I may need.  I was off!  after about 20 minutes of towing, my dive site was in sight.  I calculated it would take 46 min to get to the deepest spot in the lake.  Without warning the wind went from a gentle cooling breeze to a strong wind and I was in white caps.  I thought it might blow over so I pressed on for another 10 minutes or so, but finally the following swells were coming over the transom and I was bailing because I could not out run the waves with the sub in tow.   I decided to turn around and go back to the dock.  It kept getting worse, if I did not have the sub in tow it would be no big deal.  I just could not maneuver on the waves and I had no speed.  The sail was almost submerged when the waves hit the sub, quite impressive really.  Well I made it back to the dock to find my wife practicing backing up the trailer.  She needs work LOL.  Okay,, time to load the sub and try again in the morning.  The lake is typically the calmest early in the morning.  I backed into the lake and submerged my bumper hoping to get the depth.  I emptied the sub of temporary ballast earlier to get her higher.  I pulled the sub onto the first cross member of the trailer and pulled it on part way.  I do not have a deck on the trailer, the sub just sits on the cross members.  Well that is bad! if the launch is shallow.  The sub tipped forward on the rear cross member as slid forward so my landing skids went under the next cross member.  Now it was stuck because I have a groovy rake to the front of the skids.  I decided to secure the sub and pull it out of the lake because I was getting worried about my truck being submerged.   I dragged it all out and I spent two hrs with help from a guy from Prince George BC  to get it on the trailer properly.    All this could have been avoided if I left the front idler wheel on the trailer and I could have rolled the trailer in further with a tow strap like I used to.  I have been spoiled at Premier lake and forgot the misery at other ramps.  Clearly I need a change to the trailer before I try again.  We made it home at 10;30 last night with slight damage to the sub and no injuries except to my pride.  Hank_______________________________________________Personal_Submersibles mailing listPersonal_Submersibles at psubs.orghttp://www.psubs.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/personal_submersibles
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