Remote controlled life preserver
- Thread starter Sybarite
- Start date
rogerthebodger
Well-Known Member
Interesting
Got me thinking if a drone could be with a flotation device that could fly out to the MOB and drop the flotation device to the MOB. It could also fly out light line attached to the boat.
Any comments from the drone operators.
Got me thinking if a drone could be with a flotation device that could fly out to the MOB and drop the flotation device to the MOB. It could also fly out light line attached to the boat.
Any comments from the drone operators.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
One of the biggest problems with drone flying and having any gear attached is drag .. increasing weight as it goes further .. and preventing line getting caught in the props.
I fly many different drones and RC ... one of the areas I am interested in is fishing ... drones can be used to replace casting by flying the baited line out and dropping in sea / water at greater distance. But its a risky job ... my video drone was near 1000 euros new ... so not something I want to lose !!
Plus you have restrictions on how much wind it can fly in ... even with a DJI which is about the easiest to fly .... you are seriously limited.
I fly many different drones and RC ... one of the areas I am interested in is fishing ... drones can be used to replace casting by flying the baited line out and dropping in sea / water at greater distance. But its a risky job ... my video drone was near 1000 euros new ... so not something I want to lose !!
Plus you have restrictions on how much wind it can fly in ... even with a DJI which is about the easiest to fly .... you are seriously limited.
Stemar
Well-Known Member
Both ideas strike me as ideal in calm conditions, when you have a crew member who can operate the kit and be freed of all other duties to do so. That seems to me to eliminate maybe 80% of MOB situations.
Seajet
...
A while ago we helped a dinghy which had blown onto a shallow muddy lee shore in a strong breeze, even with the lift keel up it was tricky not going aground ourselves; one of these remote control jobs would have been ideal taking a tow line to the casualty, from safe relatively deep water.
It doesn't look cheap though !
It doesn't look cheap though !
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Given that you need a system that is not dependent on good weather - both the propelled Lifebuoy and Flight Drone are at serious disadvantage ....
The propelled Lifebuoy - yes in calm to mod weather could be a definite saver .... but not in any real seas ...
I post based on being a lifetime RC modeller with boats / planes / cars and drones ...
At end of the day ... the only one that really works in all weathers is the rocket line ...... and I have not only been the user of Schermully Rocket gear but also one being 'saved' by it ... Bembridge sands when my forestay ripped out ... engine failed and I was blown onto the sands in winds gusting to near-gale force .....
There is no way either the 'Dolphin' or a drone could have done the job that day.
The propelled Lifebuoy - yes in calm to mod weather could be a definite saver .... but not in any real seas ...
I post based on being a lifetime RC modeller with boats / planes / cars and drones ...
At end of the day ... the only one that really works in all weathers is the rocket line ...... and I have not only been the user of Schermully Rocket gear but also one being 'saved' by it ... Bembridge sands when my forestay ripped out ... engine failed and I was blown onto the sands in winds gusting to near-gale force .....
There is no way either the 'Dolphin' or a drone could have done the job that day.
Seajet
...
Sorry to hear of your troubles, horrible.
But unless a boat was so aground in such waves as to be unrecoverable anyway, this seems a way better idea than passing or anchoring as shallow as dared and trying to float down a fender and tow line.
I have no idea of the price - it would be spiffing if club safety boats then eventually all yots could afford it, but I'm sure the RNLI could at least initially and it would be jolly handy.
But unless a boat was so aground in such waves as to be unrecoverable anyway, this seems a way better idea than passing or anchoring as shallow as dared and trying to float down a fender and tow line.
I have no idea of the price - it would be spiffing if club safety boats then eventually all yots could afford it, but I'm sure the RNLI could at least initially and it would be jolly handy.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Like all 'good ideas' they usually only get tested in good conditions ... once you've been in real conditions - the whole ball game changes ....
Here's a view of two common size boats in Solent .... from my 25ft Sunrider to Jim's Centaur .....
And that was not as rough as it often gets .....
Here's a view of two common size boats in Solent .... from my 25ft Sunrider to Jim's Centaur .....
And that was not as rough as it often gets .....
PilotWolf
Well-Known Member
Like all 'good ideas' they usually only get tested in good conditions ... once you've been in real conditions - the whole ball game changes ....
Here's a view of two common size boats in Solent .... from my 25ft Sunrider to Jim's Centaur .....
And that was not as rough as it often gets .....
doesn’t actually look that bad!
W
Refueler
Well-Known Member
doesn’t actually look that bad!
W
No word of a lie ... I still made coffee in that !! Jim was amazed when I gave him the photo's - he was sure he was not moving around that much ... he reckoned he thought only my boat was making heavy of it ...
PilotWolf
Well-Known Member
I’ve seen some horrendous weather along the south coast especially out west but I don’t think there’s been a time when I didn’t get my mug of tea!
It wasn’t always full...
W
Refueler
Well-Known Member
I used to sail with a Trader and his GF .... he loved his Cheese butties while sailing .....
Going from Langstone to Lymington one time - we were getting spray and **** all over us ... but we still had our Stilton butties and glasses of red (drop of Solent in the red was accepted !)
Pity you can't see Mikes face - but he was 'loving' every minute of it !!
Seajet
...
I have a bit of an idea of unpleasant conditions but this remote job seems worth a second look, for passing tow lines for instance if only a messenger line to start.
Baggywrinkle
Well-Known Member
It needs to be autonomous, and submersible - homing in on the target underwater using a homing device atttached to the casualty - only surfacing when on target - otherwise wind and breaking waves will just toss it around and it will get nowhere - IMO.
Seajet
...
I'm not sure the casualty already wondering if it's the day they'll meet their maker really needs detecting a torepdo coming at them, at the last moment 
The thing looks serious in the pics and is said to be good for 10 knots, looks a low drag shape to get knocked off course as little as poss' so I'm keen to learn more, have contacted the makers.
Maybe not much help off Cape Horn but seems useful for most harbour / coastal situations, if I learn any useful info will relay it, likewise if anyone else does please do tell.
The thing looks serious in the pics and is said to be good for 10 knots, looks a low drag shape to get knocked off course as little as poss' so I'm keen to learn more, have contacted the makers.
Maybe not much help off Cape Horn but seems useful for most harbour / coastal situations, if I learn any useful info will relay it, likewise if anyone else does please do tell.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
I'm all for new solutions and better ways to do a job ... especially when it comes to saving lives ...
BUT here comes the cruncher .... How much time do you have ? Can you 'try' this powered L/buoy and then find you need to do it the old way ?
I think this idea is designed more for the club safety boat than real life out there on the seas stuff.
I find it interesting that in the advertisement - I see a standard pistol grip RC car / boat controller ........ a lot simpler than the Tx's we use for planes / heli's ... but still not a complete novice item.
Who-ever operates it - would need to practice and get proficient with it ...
mmmmm more I think about it ... more I think it's too limited ...
BUT here comes the cruncher .... How much time do you have ? Can you 'try' this powered L/buoy and then find you need to do it the old way ?
I think this idea is designed more for the club safety boat than real life out there on the seas stuff.
I find it interesting that in the advertisement - I see a standard pistol grip RC car / boat controller ........ a lot simpler than the Tx's we use for planes / heli's ... but still not a complete novice item.
Who-ever operates it - would need to practice and get proficient with it ...
mmmmm more I think about it ... more I think it's too limited ...
prv
Well-Known Member
The kind of rocket-propelled line thrower already in common use seems like a better option for that.
Pete
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Quicker as well ... only needs operator to know how to aim it !!
mjcoon
Well-Known Member
I was wondering if the sort of rocket-propelled net that is used for catching shore-birds for censusing could be adapted...
Mike.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Distance is the problem ...
When Bembridge Lifeboat shot the line for me years ago ... they were at least 50m away .. that does not sound much ... but its a lot when firing a line ...
A net ? Why a net ? The line is fired to cross and lay over the boat and be easily picked up to haul messenger - then main line over ..
A net has too many possibilities to not go the distance ... get snagged ...
