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Hi again. Just a couple of thoughts. The removable wheel idea sounds good
to me. Some trial and error would determine the size needed to navigate the
rough concrete on the ramp. Solid rubber wheels that slip onto spindles,
pull some big cotter pins, and pull the wheels off while in shallow water. If
there's a hole at the bottom of the ramp, you'd be afloat when you drop
off.
If the water is skinny ( I really like that term!) then how about 2
pontoons with manual flood valves and a sling to go under the sub with a ratchet
set-up. Temporarily attach the pontoons to the sub ( brackets to hold just the
weight of the pontoons while out of the water) and as the sub rolls down the
ramp and into the water, it floats high until you push/pull it out to deep
enough water to partially flood the pontoons, release the ratchet/slings, float
them back to the ramp, dump the water( or blow it out) and put the pontoons back
on the trailer.
When you return to the ramp, float the pontoons out to the sub, sling
under, and ratchet up the sub( pulling the pontoons down) until the sub rides
high enough to again roll up the ramp on it's wheels.
I don't know how costly 2 used pontoons are, but can't be that much, and
with a little care, should last a long time.
If the channel is shallow, leave the pontoons slung under the sub until you
reach deep water, and then tie them together and drop an anchor with them tied
in place and waiting for you to come back for them after the dive.
Pontoon size would have to be figured to give you enough lift to clear the
skinny water, but still small enough to man-handle them out of the water and
back on the trailer. Aluminum pontoons aren't that heavy if you're only picking
up one at a time.
Just thinking out loud.....Frank D.
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