Oct 24th - I am going to run 1 of my boats.

[greg w]

I like their universal joints also. The plastic dog bones seem to hold up well and the 3/32 drive cups fit on a 380 motor

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

Phil at Vac-U-Boats responded to my e-mail early this morning. (just before 7:30am)
Answered my question and I got a total including shipping.

Order placed for 2 propellers and 2 dog bones with stainless screws.
Will pay by mail so it will go out tomorrow.

Now that I know I am going to try building a pod drive, I may start making the wooden frame I will use inside the hull and to extend the stern.
I have all the needed electronics, deck plywood and parts to fancy it some with a few deck bollars and such.

I do not plan to strand a boat out on the lake again!
It is not so bad when friends are there and can help out but I do run by myself on occasion.

Thinking I might try to come up with some sort of gizmo to grab the hull of the boat being rescue without damaging it.
Got to think about this and I think I need the deck as a visual to figure it out.
More building.

[greg w]

To me it's nice to have a build where you are free to do whatever and not worry about "is it scale" On one of the first versions that I did I made the pusher knees in the front taller but I made them to be able to manually turn them over to extend below the waterline. Later I made pvc pipe extensions with curves to extend even further The current version has retractable curved down rods that can push a modern nuke boat sitting at decks awash. I have found that most boats push easily except when weed monsters and fishing lines are involved. I haven't even scratched a boat yet. I didn't mean to hijack your thread here So my apologies to anyone offended.

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

This was a thread about a Saturday outting by myself.
All comments are welcome when I start a thread.
Good and bad.
The bad ones are when I learn something.
You adding your rescue barge helped me decide to build one.
When I run there are usually several operators and many many subs and various other boats.
Rescue has never been a problem.
I even talked nice to the county park ranger and his assistant.
They ended up offering to get their 10' aluminum boat out and recover my Skipjack from the weeds out about 150' from shore, down about 3' from what they said.
Nose stright up.
This last time, my boat came to the surface on it's own.
I didn't know the electronics had surface on low battery built in. Thanks Engels.

You barge photos helped a lot because I was thinking a wooden box with ends turned up.
You helped on how I will go about building a barge.

Greg, Thanks again.

Oh and I am not offended.
Hijack away.

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

Looks like more clutter on my work bench.

Currently finishing up on my Gato.
I keep making small changes that turn in to big projects.

The George Washington is in the middle of a complete cylinder rebuild.
All the parts have been put in a busket to get it off the work bench.

There are small bowls with ALma parts on the bench.
Alma is sitting on the floor next to shop wall.

And now I have started on a Rescue Barge.
I will document the build as I go.
I have started a build log on y personal web site.

http://www.cliffhangershideout.com/barge/barge.html

I will be posting on SP forum once I get a little farther in to it.

Just what I need. . . . another project on the work bench.

[X Bubblehead]

Maybe I should 3D print one of these for you:



But then you would need this:



CCC

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

I would have to do research in to the Glomar Explore.
Moon pool and all.

But then it was not completely success full and left half the boat on the bottom. <G>

I think I have it figured out so I can use an old 4 channel radio.
Only time will tell.

[greg w]

I like your build on your site very nice write up so far

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

Thanks.
It is basically a log of what ever I do that day.
I believe in posting the good and the mistakes.
It might help others avoid the mistakes.

Some days I forget my camera so there are no photos.
So far this rescue barge is the quickest build I have done.
I have 2 weeks in it so far.
It could be going faster but I started putting details on the barge.

It is starting to look like something.
I am now looking at barges to get an idea for a deck house.
Somehting fun or something realistic.
I have to install the servo, Rx and ESC before I know how big the deck house needs to be to cover everything.

I have nothing special I want it to look like so it could end up being anything.

I thought maybe a little gaurd shack on one side at the back and a pile of lumber in the middle to hide the equipment.

[greg w]

On mine the outhouse (throne room for king Bob) covers the steering servo It too uses a pulley system for the steering.

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

In your first photo, I could see the rudder post and then looking closer, I can see the servo in the outhouse.
Only make sense that they were pulleys to get more than the 60 degree servo turn.

And you barge was the inspiration to build a pod drive.
This will be my first one.
And I and a small brushless motor in my parts box.
It's new and I have all the instructions for it.
I also have the ESC for it.
Might as well built a pod drive.

I think this is going to work out great.
And it's all your fault!
Thanks..
=======================
I was looking at my avatar.
I may have to setup a new photo with 4 subs and a barge.

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

The rescue barge is coming along.
A couple of set backs and redo's.
I am just in from the shop.
The current state of the barge.


Working on the deck house and wheel house.
Final glazing is happening.
The blue tape pieces are the windows which will be black.
No clear plastic, just painted.

Got to build the 2 push bars for the front and the system to grab distressed boats.

The 3 pound weight on the deck is to hold down the deck.
The deck has a slight bow in the middle.
I have not yet put the hold down screws in place.

My build log is at http://www.cliffhangershideout.com/barge/barge.html

[coryhenry]

Looking good, interested to see the performance of the pod in the water.

[roedj]

Are there pictures with this posting? If so, I can't see them.

Dan

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

Dan, there is a photo with the post.
There is also a link to the build log.
The build started Nov 14th 2020. (30 days so far)

Someone else earlier in the build asked if there where photos.
Seems some are seeing them and some are not.
That is why I included the link to the build log.
-----------------------
I have for years (since it started) been putting my build threads on SubPirates forum.
A little over a week ago, SubPirates forum stopped responding.
I sent a message and what I got back says the forum was being moved to a new host.
The move did not go well.
SubPirates forum may have been lost.

Fortunately, all my projects have their own web site log located at http://www.cliffhangershideout.com/subpirates/SP.html