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RE: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Launch Retrieval Transport



Note:  Sent this last night but it appears to have not gone through or was restricted to size.  After multiple attempts on Joe’s and my part to get this loaded, now breaking it into 4 parts.

 

Part 1 of 4

 

Some suggested solutions include:

1.                 Conventional submersible flatbed trailer

a.       Pros:

                                                               i.      Economical

                                                             ii.      Can be used for other things

                                                           iii.      Simple

b.       Cons:

                                                               i.      Not very feasible for shoal water launches

                                                             ii.      Tongue extensions and cable systems increase time to launch and irate other boaters

                                                           iii.      Still have to get to the channel and the dive site

2.                 Travel lift

a.       Pros:

                                                               i.      Easily translates submersible from the trailer to the water

                                                             ii.      Easy on the sub

b.       Cons:

                                                               i.      Costs add up quickly

                                                             ii.      Limited access in many shipyards and marinas

                                                           iii.      Still have to get to the channel and the dive site

3.                 Dock slip

a.       Pros:

                                                               i.      Makes the sub readily available to get underway

b.       Cons:

                                                               i.      Slips usually have a long waiting list in FL, especially close to the inlet.

                                                             ii.      Expensive

                                                           iii.      Still usually quite a distance from the dive site

                                                            iv.      Many located in skinny water.

4.                 Dock the sub on the bottom out from shore

a.       Pros:

                                                               i.      Looks great in the movies

b.       Cons:

                                                               i.      Requires a larger sub with a lock-out chamber

                                                             ii.      Foul weather can damage or destroy the vessel

                                                           iii.      Depending on the depth of water

1.        Can be struck by another vessel

2.       Snagged by a dragger or an anchor

                                                            iv.      Bottom suction and loss of buoyancy with bottoming may strand the sub

                                                              v.      Minor system failure can flood the unattended submersible

                                                            vi.      Other than in military subs and Euronaut, lock-out chambers have been abandoned

1.        Numerous documented cases of difficulties opening or more important, sealing the hatch

2.       Man killer

5.                 Travel lift trailer (see Flickr reference at end)

a.       Pros:

                                                               i.      Allows launching in shallow water

                                                             ii.      Useful during construction of submersible

                                                           iii.      Can be useful for raising the sub if work has to be accomplished on the sub’s bottom away from home base

b.       Cons:

                                                               i.      More complicated trailer (and thus more expensive)

                                                             ii.      Still does not get the sub through the shoals

                                                           iii.      Does not get the sub to the dive site

 

Respectfully,

Jay K. Jeffries

Andros Is., Bahamas

 

Mankind have a great aversion to intellectual labor; but even supposing knowledge to be easily attainable, more people would be content to be ignorant than would take even a little trouble to acquire it.
  - Samuel Johnson