Thinking of getting into boats, but how do you rescue them.

[rayman]

I'm thinking of getting an rc boat after some years with cars, but the one thing that i am worried about is how to rescue your boat and get it back if the engine cuts out or some other faliure, do you have to swim to it or do you race them in a club where there is a a paddle boat by the side with someone in it to retrieve broken boats?

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

See these threads..

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=516594
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=266574
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226891
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=845000

:)

[dostacos]

you might also check with the clubs in your area. The Hansen Dam Irregulars are known for rescuing each other, enlisting the local life guard and when all else fails waiting until the boat hits the shore. {we do run in, as granny would say, a "cement pond" :cool: }

If I were by myself, I would have a rescue boat of some type available

[retoabcr]

-------------

[Hoghappy]

We use RC tug boats for rescue and setting/retrieving the race course buoys...swimming/boating is not allowed.

DO NOT go swimming after a boat...too many folks drown doing it....no boat is worth a life!

Capt. Crash

[Prins Willem]

You will find a couple of threads on swimming for a dead boat. It usually results in a tragic outcome. NEVER EVER EVER SWIM FOR A DEAD BOAT, PERIOD.

Several methods are used by employing a second boat for rescue work. You can drag a long line with bobbers to encircle the dead boat, snagging the prop or rudder then towing it in. The second method is to have a trap for the front of the rescue boat to catch the dead boat. The third is to have a dedicated rescue boat designed for the task.

There are also several options for rescue boats. RTR Aquacraft Atlantic, Hobby Engine Southampton, even a cheap Dickie tug is better than swimming. You could build a Spriinger or Vac-U-Tug. Or you can build a rescue boat. These are usually catamaran style with prop steering.

[SupraPilot]

i mainly try to keep my boat at higher rpms on the water so the less chance of the engine just quitting, but i am still new to boating so when i do go to the lake i just took a fishing pole with me and made sure i ran the boat closer to shore just in case...these little ponds and lakes are pretty scary lookin so i wouldnt dare to swim in them... :D ....

I figure im just gonna go buy a small electric cheapo $20 boat from toys r us or wal mart or something and just keep it with fresh batteries in my trunk, so i can just pull it out and push my boat back to shore if it gets stuck....

the best is just having a real boat, and taking the r/c boat out with you and running it..so if it fails you can just drive over and pick it up....I got lucky..i ran my SV27 off my dock and i flipped it on its second run right after break in...the wind carried it close enough back to the dock where i got a net and got it...

[retoabcr]

The Gentleman from Wisc. has some pictures of rescue units that show workmanship and probably took a long time making, hats off to them.

[toesup]

I figure im just gonna go buy a small electric cheapo $20 boat from toys r us or wal mart or something and just keep it with fresh batteries in my trunk, so i can just pull it out and push my boat back to shore if it gets stuck....

You will probably need a rescue boat to recover that one too... They are not very good (power wise) and the radio is only good for 50 feet or so..

Build a Springer... :D

[SupraPilot]

^^^^ yeah but then it just starts to get ridiculously expensive for what im using it for... its a good idea and all but i just cant see it being worth it..

i could be wrong tho..im just a newb

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

^^^^ yeah but then it just starts to get ridiculously expensive for what im using it for... its a good idea and all but i just cant see it being worth it..

i could be wrong tho..im just a newb

Expensive for a Springer?

A few bucks for some brass or aluminum fittings and a propeller, some
scrap plywood, or even cardboad for the hull. A bit of Fiberglasss...

You have all the motors and ESC from the cars. ;)

[spacephrawg]

I never take my boat into anythign deeper than i can wade in and fortunately my lake has a wide expanse of such water.

[der kapitan]

Boats are more rewarding to rescue when they go dead, as you can usually get them back in one piece. :)

Now, airplanes are a different story---. :eek:

[Aerominded]

Now, airplanes are a different story---. :eek:

I don't like that kind of 'recovery' one bit... actually, it is more like "clean up" ;)

[mfr02]

ridiculously expensive
How much is a two foot by four foot sheet of ply?

[SupraPilot]

In my situation its not worth my time and money however little it may be...90% of the time im driving the boat right off my dock where i have boats or jet skis to jump on to go get it if i need too...for the other 10% of the time im running it in a small lake it will be close enough to any shore that a small electric out of the box will be better and more conveneint for me...and they do have enough power to pucs my sv27 close enough to reach it...
IMO id rather take small boat with me rather then a 2 ft peice of wood

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

IMO id rather take small boat with me rather then a 2 ft peice of wood

Uhhhm,... I think mfr02 saying,

How much is a two foot by four foot sheet of ply?

This meant that for the cost of that piece of plywood, you can build a Springer.
You have all the RC car equipment already...

Cut two sides, cut two ends, cut a top sheet the bottom.
Throw some laquer on it. Install the propeller and shaft, your
car motor and ESC...You have a recovery boat.

Here is another one that could be built from a 2' by 4' sheet of plywood.
And use your RC car equipment. :cool:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=887751


Okay, it wouldn't look like these first two, but it would do what you want. ;)

[E-Challenged]

I prefer electric power in model airplanes and boats for a number of reasons, but reliability of power without "flameouts" is the main one. The few times that I've had fishing lines or algae , etc., foul the prop, I've had to wait for prevailing winds to push the model to one side of the pond. If I were running in a large body of water, I would want at least a rowboat or some sort of R/C rescue boat available.

[Ghost 2501]

I never take my boat into anythign deeper than i can wade in and fortunately my lake has a wide expanse of such water.

you won't want to sail on Lyn Padarn in wales then, goes out about 500 yards and is over a km and a half long, and 250ft deep! by 40 feet off the bank you could easily loose a full sized mack truck! I've been 3/4 of the way across it with my najade!!

[Habanero]

lol all this one needs is an airsoft gatling to take care of the geese.

[pompebled]

Hey guys, seems you've scared the topic starter off with all your 'hitech' solutions...

Rayman, get a FE with a floodchamber, you won't need all the fancy stuff the guys throw at you in the replies....

Regards, Jan.

[mfr02]

The $20 RTR, assuming enough range, would be capable of pulling out a line to snag the cripple, allowing both to be pulled in together. It would not have anything like the control required to push it in. As supplied, it would probably have a pointed bow. The subject woud likely have smooth sides. Pushing sideways requires precision and delicacy to avoid just sliding off, RTRs in that price range lack both qualities. Shoving from astern is little better, and it is amazing how a dead boat never faces the right direction.

[Hoghappy]

lol all this one needs is an airsoft gatling to take care of the geese.

That is about the most effective Crackerbox boat retriever I've seen.

It gets them up and out of the water so leakage is not a problem...and I've had mine leak even though I thought it was very well taped up.

Capt. Crash

[Prins Willem]

Last month another WSBA member gave me a barge he built to use with his truckable towboat. It is just high density foam shaped and painted. It is dual purpose as the forward section comes out and you have a retriever barge to be pushed by a tug/towboat.

The lifter mechanism on the SEBM recovery boat is pretty slick.

pompebled, when I visited the SEBM pond one of the guys had a FE with the flood chamber (if we are thinking about the same thing). I think it would work well for a roll over (self righting) but is useless for a smoked ESC, dead battery, weeds or monofilament wrapped in the prop, lost prop, collision damage, or attack by a snapping turtle. I hope we haven't scared rayman off. The guys (and lady) are just presenting some available options.

The cheapest method is to pack a sleeping bag, can of bug spray, and some snacks and wait for it to float in.

The best method of all is to boat with friends. Then they will be there to push you in. Someday you will return the favor. It is also more fun to boat with friends.

[retoabcr]

Gentleman on another site said a fishing pole worked great if within range but out of range, said a zigzag work great by putting a string on to the zz and send it out and string line across the standed bow and tow both in at the same time. No bulk to carry and and no time wasted building if you don't have the time and patience, this is what he typed.

[r/cjunkie]

I have had decent luck with a low tech method (cheap) if you are just getting started. Run a lenght of monofilament line behind the towboat with a block of foam on it. Make a circle or two around dead boat and the foam usually snags the rudder or prop. Be gentle and slow you should get it back no worse for wear and ready to go again.

[Habanero]

Gentleman on another site said a fishing pole worked great if within range but out of range, said a zigzag work great by putting a string on to the zz and send it out and string line across the standed bow and tow both in at the same time. No bulk to carry and and no time wasted building if you don't have the time and patience, this is what he typed.I just got a couple of those and they come with a cow-catcher thing (for playing soccer) which I would THINK you could use to push something in- just like a tug and not bother with the string.

You might have to baby the throttle but it seems like it should work- I will try it.

[herrmill]

Looks like Toyabi, a Hong Kong-based hobby manufacturer, recently took this idea a step further & went commercial with it. I like that tow hook & will let you know how well it works once we get our hands on one.

Name: Electrical Powered Rescue Vessel
Model: HK-HS3401
Description:
Specifications:

1.Hull size(mm):740*325*170

2.Engine:380 electric motor*2

3.Hull Material:Fiberglass reinforced polymer(FRP)

Features:

1. towing hook up/down:4kg.cm servo

2. radio control:digital proportional r/c system,4 channels

3. betteries:ni-cd sc 1800ma/h 7.2v 2packs with charger

4. Propeller:circular housing propeller*2

[Kmot]

Amazing.

[Habanero]

Ok found out today that a stock Atlantic Tug is no good at rescuing a stranded runabout.

I thought I could push it in but the reality is it just pushes the other boat to the side nothing to catch :censored:

I had another trick up my sleeve. By the time I got the catcher on she had drifted closer to the shore- but the zigzag worked great. Just had to baby the throttle.

[gatorgarfish]

Ok found out today that a stock Atlantic Tug is no good at rescuing a stranded runabout.

I thought I could push it in but the reality is it just pushes the other boat to the side nothing to catch :censored:

I had another trick up my sleeve. By the time I got the catcher on she had drifted closer to the shore- but the zigzag worked great. Just had to baby the throttle.Very clever ! What is that catcher ? (...and how is it attached ?)

Maybe I could put one (or two) on the front end of this guy; my tow line creation isn't quite what I'd hoped...

[Simon.O.]

my tow line creation isn't quite what I'd hoped...

For me I have used a few of my boats as rescue vessels towing a line.
I wind a wood screw into a tennis ball and attach that to 6' of fishing line.
This is then attached to an appropriate position on one of my boats that is going out for the tow.
Drive the boat out past the back of the disabled boat, take an easy turn towards the bow of that boat and then slowly back to me.
This has always caught up on the rudder or prop of the dead boat and allowed me to tow it slowly stern first back to shore.

I am now in the process of making a dedicated ETV (emergency towing vessel) for this job.

For now my big semi-scale patrol boat will do the job.

[Habanero]

Very clever ! What is that catcher ? (...and how is it attached ?)

Maybe I could put one (or two) on the front end of this guy; my tow line creation isn't quite what I'd hoped...Yeah I'm hesitant to get out any kind of line because I dont want it to get in the prop of the rescue vehicle.

The catcher comes with the zigzag racer. You get two of them and you can play water soccer with these little floating orange balls. They even come with weights and lines to make buoys.

I could alter it to make it better- install some grippy material (like they put on hangers maybe) on the sides to help it grip the boat better.