Please tell us your methods for boat retrieval???
#1
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Hi guys
I thought I would start a new thread on boat retrieval as this would be helpful to you boaters.
My brand new boat got stuck in the middleof the lake and I did not have anything to retrieve the boat except swimming.....
I read on some thread about the tennis ball attached to a fishing line... Does it really work? Can you guys suggest other methods?
Cheers
JC
I thought I would start a new thread on boat retrieval as this would be helpful to you boaters.
My brand new boat got stuck in the middleof the lake and I did not have anything to retrieve the boat except swimming.....
I read on some thread about the tennis ball attached to a fishing line... Does it really work? Can you guys suggest other methods?
Cheers
JC
#2
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for short distance... a cut down fishing pole with a tennis ball on it. If its too far out for the tennis ball, i use a coleman inflatable raft and paddle out and get it.
#3
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if at a lake stand down wind chances are if it switches off it will come back to u but may take a while. A ball and fishing line are allways worth a go before swimming [sm=drowning.gif]
#4

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Hi Jerome!
Swimming? NOT!!!! A tennis ball with a line attached? Too much like work![:'(] Heres a couple pics of the system I've been using for bout 4 years now. The boat is one I picked up on Ebay for next to nothing. If the boat breaks, replace it! I do run a 3000ma batery pac from Tower Hobbies in it. Some days I'm retreving so many boats the stock batt would be dead. You drive the retrevial boat out to the stalled boat and make a 1/2 circle around it - reel both boats in at the same time!
Works every time!
The reel is bolted to the back of the radio, a 10" steel leader is hooked the the outrigger on the retrevial boat so the line won't be cut by props or rudders when hauling em in.
Brian




#6

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Thanks Wayne, Those are old pics, the outrigger works best when it's bent down to the top of the props level.
Your going to see some weird stuff being used out there if enough people answer this post, but I agree - this setup ROCKS!
I made 5 of these setups for my boating buddys so that I could do a bit of boating myself when I go to the lake!
Brian



#8

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I always carry a raft. [link=http://imageevent.com/justaddwata/rirun2?p=75&n=1&m=-1&c=2&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=4]A raft will allow you to get and upturned boat[/link], a dropped hatch, or (worst case scenario) pick up pieces after a crash. I keep a [link=http://imageevent.com/justaddwata/rcboating1028?p=12&n=1&m=-1&c=2&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=4]smaller one on hand also [/link](think it was about $25 with oar and hand pump)
I also keep [link=http://http://imageevent.com/justaddwata/rirun2?p=133&n=1&m=-1&c=2&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=4]PFD's on hand for kids[/link] and there is always one in my tool box - just in case.
Fishing pole with ball is a great option for in close. [link=http://imageevent.com/justaddwata/rcboating1028?p=15&n=1&m=-1&c=2&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=4]Saves getting your feet wet[/link]
(though Larry wanted to show off his legs!!)
I also keep [link=http://http://imageevent.com/justaddwata/rirun2?p=133&n=1&m=-1&c=2&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=4]PFD's on hand for kids[/link] and there is always one in my tool box - just in case.
Fishing pole with ball is a great option for in close. [link=http://imageevent.com/justaddwata/rcboating1028?p=15&n=1&m=-1&c=2&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=4]Saves getting your feet wet[/link]

#9

Usualy have at least one rugrat willing to go for a ride for retrive. (Yes Ryan, I see it over there) But I'ved walked out . (NOT swam) Borrowed raft. (thanks, matt) Or try to run on down wind side if possible.
venom
venom
#13

I always bring my kayak with me every time. I want to make the retriever boat the BMAD01 made but Im afraid there will be that one time the boat is upside down or worse, and it wont work.
#14
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I think ive come up with the best boat retriever ever !!
will especially come in handy if your boat and your raft get stranded [sm=drowning.gif].

#15
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my rescue hammer, I haven't tried it on a gasser yet, but it works awesome on the nitro tunnels.
#16

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Yano, I thought the same thing until I barrel rolled my Blast Cat and it was upside down. It took a bit of playing around, but it finally snagged on the sparkplug and worked out. I was at the lake 2 weeks ago and my buddy rolled his Muck V hull. The rear of the boat sank, and the nose was all that was sticking up out of the water. The boat was in the middle of the lake and we were freaking out![X(][X(] I REALLY didn't think we had a prayer of getting it back in, but I kept on trying. Turns out that I spun the sunken boat around and it coiled the fishing line around the boat. It weighed a TON! But we got er back to shore without getting even a toe wet!
Brian


#17

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I've used just the rod-and-reel setup with a top-water lure like the Rebel Pop-R for retrieving boats within casting distance but have a 2-man Colman inflatable from Wally-world when I need to go out and get it. Under $20.00 for it and around another $7.00 for the oars and use a 12 volt air mattress inflator to quickly blow it up at the pond.
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This is what I use and it works every time. Yes, it takes a while to bring the Magnum in but it will handle big boats.
#19
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Very impressive!!!
BMAD01 I'm going to build one just like yours..... I'm starting my research on ebay right now!!!
And your retrieval boat looks very much like a mini Aquacraft V24....
The 'lobster' boat idea also is great. Thinking about it a combination of both would be a great retrieval boat.... LOL
BMAD01 I'm going to build one just like yours..... I'm starting my research on ebay right now!!!
And your retrieval boat looks very much like a mini Aquacraft V24....
The 'lobster' boat idea also is great. Thinking about it a combination of both would be a great retrieval boat.... LOL
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#21

I've been having problems with my engine dieing at low rpms so when i test out new tunings i've been using a 14' boat with a 9.9hp outboard to get me to my dead boat fast
#22
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I've always used a setup similar to what Brian said in the 4th post from the top. My current setup uses a Zig Zag Racer with a small planer board fishing release attached to the back. I hook the fishing line/ball to the release with just enough tension to drive it out to the dead boat. I do a 3/4 circle around the boat and gun the Zig Zag Racer to pop the line/ball free. As I crank the line in it the snags around the prop/rudder and pulls the boat right in. You can run the Zig Zag out in 3' waves because its self righting...

It's also easier if you screw in a small cap head allen where cleats would normally be on a real boat. It's a very easy snag point when the line slides over the hull (even when 3/4 sunk and only the tip is bobbing), and is hard to notice looks wise. I've gone a step further and found scale cleats that I epoxy to the hull. Not the huge MHZ cleats that they sell, small steel scale ones that are small enough to fit on your fingernail. The cleats alone get compliments!
It's also easier if you screw in a small cap head allen where cleats would normally be on a real boat. It's a very easy snag point when the line slides over the hull (even when 3/4 sunk and only the tip is bobbing), and is hard to notice looks wise. I've gone a step further and found scale cleats that I epoxy to the hull. Not the huge MHZ cleats that they sell, small steel scale ones that are small enough to fit on your fingernail. The cleats alone get compliments!
#23
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1) 2 Lab retrievers 
2) Aquacraft Hammer (tow fishing line out, encircle capsized or stalled boat a few times, reel the whole mess in)
3) Inflatable raft
4) when the above 3 fail, swim with a PFD

2) Aquacraft Hammer (tow fishing line out, encircle capsized or stalled boat a few times, reel the whole mess in)
3) Inflatable raft
4) when the above 3 fail, swim with a PFD