Towing Idea

[smudgerthesailor]

Ever thought about recovering a tow wire when underway and still towing in rough weather, relaying the tow wire on the tow reel, clean, fresh water washed, dried and completely and thoroughly well lubed before it goes back on the drum without having crew on deck in a dangerous position ...... I have an idea!

[cappy208]

Ever thought about recovering a tow wire when underway and still towing in rough weather, relaying the tow wire on the tow reel, clean, fresh water washed, dried and completely and thoroughly well lubed before it goes back on the drum without having crew on deck in a dangerous position ...... I have an idea!

And what pray tell is this idea? a flying Orville hook? an underwater magnet? come on.......

[smudgerthesailor]

And what pray tell is this idea? a flying Orville hook? an underwater magnet? come on.......

Its actually easier than you think, I have had this idea for several years and put a patent on it. Just waiting now for lift off so to speak

[cappy208]

Its actually easier than you think, I have had this idea for several years and put a patent on it. Just waiting now for lift off so to speak

You are horrible! Haven't you heard of curiosity killing the cat??

How about some ideas to bat around for discussion?

Got any pics or diagrams?

My only constructive thought (having been the veteran of two lost wires, and one recovery) the end of the wire NEVER comes up in a usable condition. No one I have talked to in over 30 years has had a wire retreived that has not spun out into a huge fuzzball of wire at the end. You always have to cut off many (sometimes 100 or more) feet of wire to get to a part you can bury on the drum and put the hold down clamp on it.

[tillettso]

Yes as an operator, I'm very curious!

Sent from my HTC Incredible 2 using gCaptain

[smudgerthesailor]

Standby for two days, I will speak with my legal people and find the correct route to release this information to you( time zones)

[tillettso]

Standby for two days, I will speak with my legal people and find the correct route to release this information to you( time zones)

Two days! You expect a sailor to have patience. Haha

Sent from my HTC Incredible 2 using gCaptain

[smudgerthesailor]

The best is worth waiting for, spent years getting wet and cold on a tug deck in the North Sea before I had a Eureka moment, took another two years to make a few trials and adjustments before a design came up then the patenting system so just two tiny little days is all .....

[smudgerthesailor]

Back again, seems a little confusion here, the tow wire hasn't come off the tow winch, it is still towing, what this system does is "shorten in" the tow wire in any weather and relaying it on the winch drum in as near new condition as you can get it without risking life to crew that could normally be working on deck in horrendous weather conditions. Hope this clears the probblem up( maybe my local area English got in the way of seafarer English) Will try again today to make contact and will come back again

[rshrew]

Isn't that what a dog house is for?

[cappy208]

Smudger: I am curious. What type of towing vessel experience do you have? What operating area? And what rank do you sail as?

Not that this has anything to do with your idea, but I am just trying to figure out what slant you are thinking about with this idea.

[smudgerthesailor]

Hi Cappy 208, well, I have been at sea for 34 years and spent around 15 years in the towing industry. On small tugs as skipper around the coast in various countries in Europe and once in southern Africa. Have worked as bosun in the North Sea on medium sized anchor krankers towing rigs and barges for major players there, towed large offshore barges from here to Angola and have worked on various salvage jobs too.
Had my "eureka" moment about 5 years ago and basically worked on the idea on and off since after getting continually cold and wet when I felt I didn't need to.Often we had a quick turn around on jobs and surveyors were impressed with my well oiled tow wire when they knew we had just come in from a job in bad weather. Some of my tugs had an open winch and some were in a winch house but my idea can work on both.
I told you that I would get back here as soon as possible, having a little trouble with partner at present not returning my calls, but I shall be back again soon. Thanks for showing your interest
Look up youtube AHT Braveheart rgds

[cappy208]

You mean like this? An otherwise normal day making and breaking tow? OK. Are you talking about wire retrieval and lube, using compressed air and wire lube? I am not sure what you mean about having the wire come in all in order. In my experience, a person has to be watching each and every layer to ensure it lays on the drum correctly. I don't know about you, but I have never seen ONE butterfly that works flawlessly on each and every layer.

[smudgerthesailor]

Hi Cappy, I had to research that system to make sure I didn't break into someone else's invention. This may be ok for oiling/greasing a wire in a steady or factory environment but doesn't allow for the vicious vibration coming up the wire when towing in rough wet cold seas. My idea was basically to relay the wire on the winch( yes under careful visual inspection as you have said) but to have it cleaned and relubed before redeploying and keeping your workforce out of a hostile environment. Me being in that position gave me the idea.
I was getting older and wiser and no longer so " gazellish" and didn't want to be on the deck of a medium sized tug in the North Sea in the winter washing and brushing oils or lubricant onto a wire while trying to stand upright and wondering if any conversation I made with the wheelhouse was ever understood in whatever languages were being used that day... Better to be off the deck altogether, much more safe !!!

[cappy208]

One of my chiefs made up a system with an old 35,gallon drum, and enough pipe to go from the drum across the top of the drum. He drilled about 1/8" holes above each center of the wire wraps. The challenge was to keep the cable lube thin enough to flow, but thick enough to be useful.

[smudgerthesailor]

Yeah Cappy, did a bit like that myself but now have a more streamlined and practical version..... Still awaiting for contact with my design partners, apologies for delay

[smudgerthesailor]

Ok Cappy, spoken with my legal people just now, if you would like to follow it up please go to www.Designmindgroup.com and my invention is called 'oilsmudger' number 306662, there will probably be a confidentiality agreement to sign before you see the goods but that is normal. Hope you like it, Smudger

[cappy208]

Wish I could see it!, looked by name, number, and tried to find a category. No luck... P.M.?

[smudgerthesailor]

Hang on Cappy, will get back to you in about 10 mins

[smudgerthesailor]

Http://www.designmindgroup.com/loi.htm
Enter product id;306662

Try that mate, that's straight off the official paperwork. Let me know if you don't get a result, rgds