Winter swimming ...... seriously !

Refueler

Refueler

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I've heard it all now ....

Friend who is one of those 'daft' winter swimmers ... new year goes for a dip in the ice cold water ... has a problem.

Because this year - its unlikely that thick enough Ice will be on river - they need a safety boat by law. The Boat Station has already recovered and stored away their safety boats and I've been asked to re-launch my Progress .... mmmmm this is not so easy.

She is pulled up a steep bank and the motor taken of. To put her back in again - means that stern will definitely go under as she goes back in, and then I have to find a way to remount the motor. After pumping her out !

Boats New Year 2019 - 2020 small.jpg

I may suggest using my Avon ... I have a Redstart with outboard bracket etc. To be honest I think the Avon is a better safety boat for hauling a swimmer into ...
 
When I pulled her up - the water level was about 40cms higher ... so I could pull her with the car up the bank OK. Later the water level pushed by strong gale winds in baltic caused river to rise more than another 50cms - flooding back of boat and outboard engine casing was touching water. I pulled more with car ... but the amount of water in her was too much.
Storm abated and water level dropped ... I pumped her out and car dragged her higher. I got the engine off and into barn.

Normally she goes onto a trailer - but was not possible this year ..... so I took best way I could.

I'm sure she'll go in reasonably OK without the outboard weight on the back ... but then its humping a 20HP onto her !!

Couple of guys from the New Year Swimming Club are going to come round and have a look - see if they accept the Avon instead. I have a nice little Johnson 3hp for that ...
 
Why do you need a 20hp on the back of the speedboat? You won't be planing through swimmers so a much smaller outboard would suffice.

Donald
 
I agree ... I have a 4.5hp Johnson twin I can mount - but then its sit in back of boat with a tiller instead of via morse / wheel ... but yes - it is a definite option I have already considered ....
 
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It does not look that heavy. Pull it right up the bank, to a point where it rocks on the turn of the slope. Spin it round on its centre ( hook the car to a rope on the stern) & push it in bow first, with the small engine fitted.
 
Actually, I would think several swimmers in dry suits are what they really need.
09FAFB61-FFE0-468C-A872202F2E3B7D98_source.jpg
 
Surely if there was ice then there would be a greater need for support boats. saying that support boats are needed due to less ice seems odd.
One would have thought that the greatest danger would be getting dragged under the ice
I have to say that i have done polar series support boat duty at our club for the past 16+ years & this year has been the warmest yet.
Still do not believe all that global warming carp though !
 
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There is a difference between weather and climate. This warm holiday season is weather. The numerous recreational boats making the Northwest Passage... that's climate.

Things that can be measured are not about belief. They are about observable, measurable variables.

Religion is about belief without facts.
 
The current in the river is very slow and not a problem and only 'verified' swimmers are allowed to take part.

If the ice is that thick that a swimmer cannot break it - then its basically not a boat situation.
 
thinwater said:
There is a difference between weather and climate. This warm holiday season is weather. The numerous recreational boats making the Northwest Passage... that's climate.

Things that can be measured are not about belief. They are about observable, measurable variables.

Religion is about belief without facts.
Click to expand...
So what you are saying is that climate change is a religion.:unsure:
That now explains the way people are reacting:rolleyes:
 
I know it's not the North Sea or the wild Atlantic coast of Clare close to where I grew up but, for the first year ever I'm still swimming in the Aegean in January. Today is my fourth day this week and I find it very refreshing. The water temperature is 15C but the air temperature is only 12C. It's also a great excuse to take the boat out and anchor in one of the many nice bays hereabouts.
 
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