Model Boat Mayhem
Mess Deck: General Section => Model Boating => Topic started by: Captain Flack on July 11, 2019, 10:36:32 am
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Looking for some ideas on how to retrieve a broken boat from the middle of our pond. ( we have access to several ponds) this is an ornamental pool that we use. We need something that will reach about 30ft max. We have a rescue launch, we have waders, and we've tried a telescopic pole, which keeps breaking. It has been suggested that we try a set of screw together rods but someone said that they have no horizontal strength and would simply bend.Anyone have any other ideas?
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Put floats along its length? Bending may still be an issue, but in the horizontal plane instead.. but worth a shot.
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A long rope with some floats on it if you have access all around the pond - stretch from side to side and walk it to the edge.
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You can get a 30 foot x 12 pc set of drain rods from Screwfix for about 25 quid. If these don't float already (some do, some don't ) add rings of insulation foam.
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Different method I have heard of. Get a stout fishing rod (maybe a short sea boat rod), reel and strong line. Tie a tennis ball to the end of the line. Cast the line over the boat, which may take a few goes. Then slowly retrieve.
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or you could just throw the Tennis ball with one of these
https://www.google.com/search?q=ball+throwers+for+dogs&oq=ball+throwers&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l5.10872j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 (https://www.google.com/search?q=ball+throwers+for+dogs&oq=ball+throwers&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l5.10872j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8)
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We use a fly fishing floating line with a couple of floats on it, like the link below it recuses nearly all our break downs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxA2r_tsgR4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxA2r_tsgR4)
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Build a Springer :-)) :-)) :-))
Will push most sizes of craft
and with a long line with a float
on the end and a circle of the
casualty, a tow in. My Springer
averages a rescue each visit to
the lake.
Ned
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We have two regular members who have telescopic perch poles with a couple of feet of cord with a hook on the end, Light weight, very long and very strong.
Beyond twenty feet you need a Springer Tug, We usually have a couple on duty to recover breakdowns.
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Going to be struggling to get any pole to stretch 30 foot. Ive got a telescopic pole that's about 18 feet for cleaning my soffits and fascias. It's lightweight aluminium tube and exercising control of the end is hard enough never mind something almost twice as long needed for rescuing a delicate model.
Id suggest either swimming (seriously!) or another model to push the stricken boat closer to the bank as using a pole will imho, either cause more damage to the model or sink it.
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A PVC rescue frame can also be an option.
.
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Tennis ball on a fishing rod is the tried and tested method, once you've practiced a little it's very easy. Easiest method to attach tennis ball is in an onion bag
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We use a fly fishing floating line with a couple of floats on it, like the link below it recuses nearly all our break downs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxA2r_tsgR4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxA2r_tsgR4)
That's is my proffered method too. :-))
Also Fishing line is good option .... reminds me of catching my Surfer girl rescue ....
(https://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=20082.0;attach=73459;image)
https://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,20082.msg193864.html#msg193864 (https://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,20082.msg193864.html#msg193864)
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Flinging a misslie on a line can work, but ensuring it goes over or past the boat rather than onto it can be problematical.
A 30 foot fishing pole has its own hazards for everybody in the vicinity, but is entetaining to watch from a distance. Any extending rod through the air is a cantilever, and getting one strong enough to support its own weight and be light enough for one person to handle is not easy.
Floating rods sound good-ish. Might be best for close-in weed strandings.
A boat towing a line, preferably floating, to circle the strandee, then manually pull both in, works.
Provided there are no other obstructions, the walked line works well.
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Flinging a misslie on a line can work, but ensuring it goes over or past the boat rather than onto it can be problematical.
Or into it as once happened to someone I know :embarrassed: :embarrassed: :embarrassed: with a spark plug on the end of some string..Got it back though !!
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Our stranded boats tend to be stuck on an ornamental statue right in the middle of the pond, hence the need for a pole that we can use to either pull or push with. Throwing some thing or passing a line around it using another boat, or using a rescue boat won't work.
The last time one boat got stuck, then the rescue boat got stuck and then the rescue, rescue boat got stuck. All highly amusing but a pain in the a**.A floating pole or a bouy attached near the end might allow sufficient length to reach the stranded boats. I see after a troll through the internet that Argos do a set of screw together rods at £15.00, might try that route.
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Assuming you can see the ornamental statue can you not just avoid it, or does it jump out in front of you?
John
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Hi John,
Might be this a case where you know exactly the problem, and have had some perfectly good suggestions, but because the exact scenario for you isn't known, they might not work in your circumstance?
Can you share any pictures, or even an address for the pond if not? It might even be visible on google? It might help allot, otherwise I think people will struggle to nail it for you unless they visit?
...Otherwise if it were me I might explore the drain rod idea. I never heard of a floating set though, we used to use them allot with commercial divers. But not rocket science to gaffer tape some old plastic drinks bottles / milk bottles or scrap polystyrene on each rod to keep it floating? Might be "bob-on" for a long "poking" stick that collapses to 3' lengths. (sorry for the pun!).
Rich
Rich
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30 ft drain rod can be used to push an item clear or recover something from a loch - but there is a great deal of flex on them and they are designed to push and break up blockages so you would probably risk damaging either the boat or the statue.
Its a bit like trying to thread a needle with your feet.
There are light rods used by sparkies to pull cables - It is not as heavy as the drain rods and it still flexes, but would not pose the same risk as they tend to bend when they hit a solid object.
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If the pond is very small it may be shallow. In that case, taking in to account the other things you mentioned, a pair of waders may be appropriate.
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Thank you all for your ideas. The electrical "fishing" rods is probably the best idea. No the statue does not jump out in front of us, our pilots seem to have an affinity in hitting it. We do have a problem with it when we do "straight running", then it does "jump out in front of us".
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Assuming you can see the ornamental statue can you not just avoid it, or does it jump out in front of you?
John
We have a fountain in our lake, easy to avoid when
powered, but all broken down boats seem to be attracted to it %)
Ned