Hi Paul

Sounds feasible. Maybe even RC using several servos to turn the axles. Left and Right crab steer could come in on extended throw of the Transmitter steering stick or some such. Tank steering would be easier to RC I guess over multiple wheel steering.

Andy

Our club could keep the Cherry Picker in the Boat Yard

Then we could go to town with the construction!

The Council would frown on anything motorised though

Heavy models would need to be fitted with a lifting hook…..On the CoG of course

There is probably a commercial vehicle that could be bought over the counter!, that would fit the bill?

Bob

Think laterally – build smaller boats!

Colin

Something like this?,,,,,,But we would need two runways reaching out over the water

The general comment from the Club Committee has been……."If you can`t lift it……Don`t build it!"

This comment discourages members from building impressive models!

Which is a bit of a shame

Bob the Builder

It`s only made of wood, Colin

If we did have a few handicapped members, then something like this would certainly made available

Bob

Paul,

If you are going to design something then it might be an idea to widen the remit into a proper specification. Many of us have at least creaky knees and launching even small models can be a problem, (well launching isn't necessarily, but getting up afterwards is!)

As Bob says, everything should be on the KISS principle with no unnecessary bells and whistles to complicate things.

Functionally (and ideally by just one person) the device (or devices) must be able to:

1. Facilitate transfer from car to trolley.

2. Be capable of being easily pushed over uneven ground (grass) to the pondside.

3. For launching – Be capable of transferring boat from trolley to lowering/lifting device so that boat can be lowered into the water parallel to the bank assuming a vertical side to the pond and the device withdrawn to allow it to sail away.

4. For recovery – It should be possible to drive the model into the lifting device (slings?) which will then raise it from the water, allow its bottom to be wiped and dried(!) and then transported back to the car.

Constructionally.

1. Device(s) must be lightweight and capable of being easily broken down and assembled to facilitate transport/storage.

2. Design should be scalable in the sense that the device(s) can be constructed in different sizes to meet the requirements of different sizes of model.

It shouldn't be any more difficult than designing a folding baby buggy….

Colin

It's nice that Paul's idea as been enthusiastically welcomed by the Forum members

His first suggestion was indeed a bit OTT, but Paul loves designing complex structures and I prefer the KISS builds

Let's see where the idea ends up

Ashley……Your models look very pretty in their little boxes…….Hardboard construction, I presume?

Bob

A simple starting point would be a framework with two large wheels………Like a Rickshaw

It's maneuverable and it can pivot up and down

Only needs an outreaching arm and the jobs a good un?

Any good, Paul?

Bob

Paul

There must be many different types of inability cases

We need to settle on a certain type of person with a common type of handicap

I was really catering for just old people, who can do something for theirselves within reason

We can design many types of assistance aids, but only certain people will find them useful

I thought the original design was based on only you personally using it?

It's a difficult subject all right

Bob