How steep....

[a_colo_native]

Of course I can't drive by any body of water w/o thinking of how I
could get into the water with the Amphi. My question is, just how
steep of a boat ramp or shore can the Amphi negotiate espeially when
exiting? I know different conditions offer different levels of
difficulty. Let's just say an average cement boat ramp for simplicity.

JB

 

[Marc Schlemmer]

John,
If it's a concrete pad used for launching boats, I think you'd be fine. I
have never seen a ramp that Amphi couldn't handle.....well, there was one in
North Dakota that the concrete ended about 18" into the water and just
dropped off to nothing, but that was because the lake was low. (I wondered
where there weren't any boat trailers in the lot - it seems all the locals
knew not to launch there!) In any case, I think that the cement ramp
portion of your question is done. The real question is the non-ramp
entry/exit, which of course leads to the vast array of surfaces and
situations that you referred to. I for one am a chicken when it comes to
going in and out of non-ramp waters. I've been stuck a few times and I'd
rather just reserve my swimming for water holes with ramps. I know that
MANY aren't afraid to take a dip without a ramp and worry about finding a
way out after the fact, so they'll be able to shed more light on their
recommendations.....but as far as concrete ramps go, I can't imagine one
that wouldn't work!

Marc Schlemmer.

 

[ericm_60707]

Roger Salle has the steepest boat ramp I've ever used. It is better
than 45 degrees with a curve in the middle. May be as much as 60.
But the low gear on Amphi has plenty of pulling power. His is
concrete so I never worry. Pulling on on soft earth with that angle
isn't nearly s easy.


--- In amphicar-lovers@y..., "a_colo_native" <minnow@a...> wrote:
> Of course I can't drive by any body of water w/o thinking of how I
> could get into the water with the Amphi. My question is, just how
> steep of a boat ramp or shore can the Amphi negotiate espeially
when
> exiting? I know different conditions offer different levels of
> difficulty. Let's just say an average cement boat ramp for
simplicity.
>
> JB

 

[Ed Price]

Re: Re: How steep....

----- Original Message -----
From: "ericm_60707" <E_Mattlin@Earthlink.Net>
To: <amphicar-lovers@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2002 8:14 AM
Subject: [amphicar-lovers] Re: How steep....


> Roger Salle has the steepest boat ramp I've ever used. It is better
> than 45 degrees with a curve in the middle. May be as much as 60.
> But the low gear on Amphi has plenty of pulling power. His is
> concrete so I never worry. Pulling on on soft earth with that angle
> isn't nearly s easy.
>
>
> --- In amphicar-lovers@y..., "a_colo_native" <minnow@a...> wrote:
> > Of course I can't drive by any body of water w/o thinking of how I
> > could get into the water with the Amphi. My question is, just how
> > steep of a boat ramp or shore can the Amphi negotiate espeially
> when
> > exiting? I know different conditions offer different levels of
> > difficulty. Let's just say an average cement boat ramp for
> simplicity.
> >
> > JB


I came across California's definitive answer regarding what makes a good
launching ramp. I never thought anybody would write a 47-page specification
about how to build a launching ramp, but here it is, at:

http://www.dbw.ca.gov/facilitieslocal.htm

Click on the main document to get the Adobe file.

Also, Appendix A on that same page gives you a color view of the California
buoy and daymark system. Appendices B & C give you some marine engineering
materials data. (Interesting, but not worth memorizing.)


Ed