Launching on shallow ramps, was Re: [bolger] Re: U.K. narrowboats?
Always good to see that LONG MICRO. I look
forward to video of her in the coastal conditions you mentioned.
The problems always is that it would be great to have a stable video-chaseboat
to document her action. Unfortunately, what are the odds for
that...?
Long lens and tripod on a cliff or jetty and staged 'passages' back and forth ?
As to launching on a shallowish ramp, we've proposed and used another option with a regular trailer-tongue-length and moderate tractor-vehicle:
- Modify the fold-down trailer-tongue jack by cutting off the solid caster.
- Replace by welding onto the jack a much larger castering pneumatic tire set-up that can handle the tongue-weight and imperfections of the ramp and even compacted gravel/mussel-shells etc..
- While staying on the level, align the car/truck&trailer rig with the ramp and put chocks under the trailer-wheels.
- Connect with shackles a rope/strap to tractor and trailer.
- Unhitch the trailer and pull the tractor forward until strap/rope is with little slack.
- Kick out the chocks and give the trailer&boat a nudge by hand to let gravity take them down the ramp.
- With rope/strap taut, back tractor slowly as trailer rolls down towards and into the tidal 'slime'-line until the boat floats.
- Imperfections of the ramp will make that tongue move laterally while getting re-centered by the rope/strap and corrected by Second Hand.
- Float the boat off under control of Second Hand.
- The driver then pulls the submersed trailer out reliably, since the 2 or 4 drive-wheels are never not on wet/slimy ground. The castering wheel and thus the tongue under tow will need watching as it will veer around if you let it. Ergo slow motion.
- Then rechock the trailer against any movement and disconnect the rope/strap.
- Back the tractor up against the tongue and reconnect.
This way even a modest 2-wheel-drive can do this launch and retrieval sequence. In fact, on front-wheel-drive cars we've preferred hooking the strap to the car's front chassis tow-hook/loop for perfect view of the process. On some cars reverse-gearing is even lower that First.
All this takes a bit longer to set up, but you'll keep the traction-wheels and brakes on dry surfaces and thus allows standard trailers and modest two-wheel drive tractors. Impatient folks waiting to launch their set-up may stop hollering and watch to learn something.
On steep ramps, we've gone so far as to rig an electric winch bolted to a 2"x8", chained via eye-bolts to both front chassis-loops. Thus with wheels stopped foot on brake, engine running to boost the battery, with winch remote-switch in hand, you don't have to cook the clutch or risk the whole rig going 'the wrong way' as the winch does the lowered and pulling as far down as you have length of wire on that winch-drum.
Ergo no need to invest in any tractor-vehicle larger than good for overland travel - and no need for 4x4 expenses.
"Your experience may vary"... but we did fine with modest engines and front-wheel drive.
Susanne Altenburger, PB&F
Long lens and tripod on a cliff or jetty and staged 'passages' back and forth ?
As to launching on a shallowish ramp, we've proposed and used another option with a regular trailer-tongue-length and moderate tractor-vehicle:
- Modify the fold-down trailer-tongue jack by cutting off the solid caster.
- Replace by welding onto the jack a much larger castering pneumatic tire set-up that can handle the tongue-weight and imperfections of the ramp and even compacted gravel/mussel-shells etc..
- While staying on the level, align the car/truck&trailer rig with the ramp and put chocks under the trailer-wheels.
- Connect with shackles a rope/strap to tractor and trailer.
- Unhitch the trailer and pull the tractor forward until strap/rope is with little slack.
- Kick out the chocks and give the trailer&boat a nudge by hand to let gravity take them down the ramp.
- With rope/strap taut, back tractor slowly as trailer rolls down towards and into the tidal 'slime'-line until the boat floats.
- Imperfections of the ramp will make that tongue move laterally while getting re-centered by the rope/strap and corrected by Second Hand.
- Float the boat off under control of Second Hand.
- The driver then pulls the submersed trailer out reliably, since the 2 or 4 drive-wheels are never not on wet/slimy ground. The castering wheel and thus the tongue under tow will need watching as it will veer around if you let it. Ergo slow motion.
- Then rechock the trailer against any movement and disconnect the rope/strap.
- Back the tractor up against the tongue and reconnect.
This way even a modest 2-wheel-drive can do this launch and retrieval sequence. In fact, on front-wheel-drive cars we've preferred hooking the strap to the car's front chassis tow-hook/loop for perfect view of the process. On some cars reverse-gearing is even lower that First.
All this takes a bit longer to set up, but you'll keep the traction-wheels and brakes on dry surfaces and thus allows standard trailers and modest two-wheel drive tractors. Impatient folks waiting to launch their set-up may stop hollering and watch to learn something.
On steep ramps, we've gone so far as to rig an electric winch bolted to a 2"x8", chained via eye-bolts to both front chassis-loops. Thus with wheels stopped foot on brake, engine running to boost the battery, with winch remote-switch in hand, you don't have to cook the clutch or risk the whole rig going 'the wrong way' as the winch does the lowered and pulling as far down as you have length of wire on that winch-drum.
Ergo no need to invest in any tractor-vehicle larger than good for overland travel - and no need for 4x4 expenses.
"Your experience may vary"... but we did fine with modest engines and front-wheel drive.
Susanne Altenburger, PB&F
----- Original Message -----From:PatSent:Saturday, August 11, 2012 10:12 PMSubject:[bolger] Re: U.K. narrowboats?New video of long micro launch using trailer extension. Sailed her 8kilometers offshore in 2 meter waves wind approx 20 knots sw monsoon ... No problems just a bit of water over the transom. Will try to post more in near future.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIOuyQ9DysY
Warm regards
Pat
Sent from my iPad
Nice launch Pat and great idea with the trailer tongue extension. Look forward to seeing more videos. Love the music of Anouar Brahem Quartet as well!
Nels
Nels
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Pat <patjah@...> wrote:
>
> New video of long micro launch using trailer extension. Sailed her 8kilometers offshore in 2 meter waves wind approx 20 knots sw monsoon ... No problems just a bit of water over the transom. Will try to post more in near future.
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIOuyQ9DysY
>
> Warm regards
> Pat
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
New video of long micro launch using trailer extension. Sailed her 8kilometers offshore in 2 meter waves wind approx 20 knots sw monsoon ... No problems just a bit of water over the transom. Will try to post more in near future.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIOuyQ9DysY
Warm regards
Pat
Sent from my iPad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIOuyQ9DysY
Warm regards
Pat
Sent from my iPad
Try John's Mother of all Maritime links
http://www.boat-links.com/linklists/boatlink-08.html#canals
Lots of sites to search
HJ
http://www.boat-links.com/linklists/boatlink-08.html#canals
Lots of sites to search
HJ
On 8/10/2012 9:31 AM, Gregory wrote:
> Are any among our number UK narrowboaters or happen to know about canal boating in England? I'm itching to try it, and would like to hear about the best times, routes, and boats or companies to plan a first trip. Also, is there a secondary "market" to hire private boats - perhaps find something a little cleaner and neater than the ordinary rentals?
>
> Thanks - Gregg
>
>
>
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>
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You're probably familiar with this show, but since
you mentioned 'narrow boating...:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgSo6nxuH7U(part I)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgSo6nxuH7U(part I)
----- Original Message -----From:GregorySent:Friday, August 10, 2012 1:31 PMSubject:[bolger] U.K. narrowboats?Are any among our number UK narrowboaters or happen to know about canal boating in England? I'm itching to try it, and would like to hear about the best times, routes, and boats or companies to plan a first trip. Also, is there a secondary "market" to hire private boats - perhaps find something a little cleaner and neater than the ordinary rentals?
Thanks - Gregg
Are any among our number UK narrowboaters or happen to know about canal boating in England? I'm itching to try it, and would like to hear about the best times, routes, and boats or companies to plan a first trip. Also, is there a secondary "market" to hire private boats - perhaps find something a little cleaner and neater than the ordinary rentals?
Thanks - Gregg
Thanks - Gregg