Shannon class lifeboat recovery pics.
Discussion
Was in Ilfracombe last weekend and was lucky enough to witness a recovery of their Shannon class lifeboat and a coastguard Heli very low during exercises.
Loved the whole recovery set up fro the lifeboat though.
The whole shebang lives in a boat house up the ramp in the dry.
Basically, the boat comes as far up th ebaech as poss, is then dragged out of the water before being winched up onto the trailer bed.
This then leaves the boat facing the wrong way for fast launching - so the whole bed spins thru 180 degrees and is then towed up into the boat house.
Love this kind of engineering. Its like real life Thunderbirds to me.
Also, the Coastguard were out to play at the same time...
Only had my phone with me at the time sadly, DSLR was in the car.
Loved the whole recovery set up fro the lifeboat though.
The whole shebang lives in a boat house up the ramp in the dry.
Basically, the boat comes as far up th ebaech as poss, is then dragged out of the water before being winched up onto the trailer bed.
This then leaves the boat facing the wrong way for fast launching - so the whole bed spins thru 180 degrees and is then towed up into the boat house.
Love this kind of engineering. Its like real life Thunderbirds to me.
Also, the Coastguard were out to play at the same time...
Only had my phone with me at the time sadly, DSLR was in the car.
I saw it last year, in fact somewhat closer than was comfortable!
In its boatshed
The inshore boat launching
The empty trailer returns to the harbour
The Shannon launching - still on its cradle
It comes off its cradle
Here it comes
All innocuous
Its beginning to shift
Got an effect I was looking for but it was closing fast. A few seconds later the mackerel boat we were on were hit by its wake, and I was looking vertically down at the sea holding on for dear life as came close to capsizing. Both lifeboats and the Coastguard helicopter were out looking for some kayakers
(taken on my phone, and most from the boat in choppy weather in a hurry so not as good as could be)
In its boatshed
The inshore boat launching
The empty trailer returns to the harbour
The Shannon launching - still on its cradle
It comes off its cradle
Here it comes
All innocuous
Its beginning to shift
Got an effect I was looking for but it was closing fast. A few seconds later the mackerel boat we were on were hit by its wake, and I was looking vertically down at the sea holding on for dear life as came close to capsizing. Both lifeboats and the Coastguard helicopter were out looking for some kayakers
(taken on my phone, and most from the boat in choppy weather in a hurry so not as good as could be)
Edited by Chrisgr31 on Wednesday 13th April 23:59
alangla said:
Probably only exceeded by the oil rig boats that get dropped from their mounts & go fully underwater before surfacing, I'd imagine.
Like this?? http://youtu.be/n9AmvrTeoXUIt's when you see the tractor dissappear under the waves that it gets scary .
I know the launching officer of the local boats ,he tells me it's far safer than the old ramp launching that we used to have at our station .
Sadly we only have a large RIB and a smaller inshore boat these days .
The rapid recovery is quite dramatic, they run up the trailer fairly quickly into the arrester nets .
I know the launching officer of the local boats ,he tells me it's far safer than the old ramp launching that we used to have at our station .
Sadly we only have a large RIB and a smaller inshore boat these days .
The rapid recovery is quite dramatic, they run up the trailer fairly quickly into the arrester nets .
StephenP said:
10 out of 10!!
quite a ride!grumpy52 said:
The rapid recovery is quite dramatic, they run up the trailer fairly quickly into the arrester nets .
Getting out of a launch trailer in a big sea is more dramatic, you don't want to get washed into the sides of the trailer, so the tractor driver has to time it to perfection, then when you're ready the helm gets set and between the waves nails it astern (assuming you've had to relaunch without turning her around) and then gets it swung round head to the sea as soon as possible and you're off.The Moose said:
StephenP said:
10 out of 10!! quite a ride!
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