Rocket launchers - for boat

[timddo]

Hi,, i'm looking for a secondhand rocket launcher for my boat. If anyone knows where i can purchases one or get one made up. that would be much appreciated.

I don't like those filmsy ones that sell at BCF for $179.
Real boats need real launchers, just in case we need it.? :o

[Scooterpig]

If you want some quality ones made up, you are going to have to go to someone who works with steel, which then costs money.

Where abouts are you located?

[timddo]

I live in Brisbane south West. Thinking of 50mm tube with 3mm walls. nice and strong and also doubles as a stabliser( so i can hold on to the boat in ruff water).

[aussie_true_blue]

Saw a boat the other day with modified rocket launchers made for 4WD bullbars and they looked good. He had then attached to the front and sides of his center console.
I suppose with a bit nouse you could always modify them to siut you boat and they a lot cheaper too.

Dont know if they cause any problems or damage to the rods or reels though.

[fishingjew]

This is a set i made out of alloy for my centre console

[Wooly]

timddo

whatever launchers you get i recommend that you find some offcuts of 40mm pvc to use as inserts, otherwise 50mm tube will flog the crap out of your gear in rough water.

cheers

[johnnyb]

hi all

anyone know where i can get some made for my boat please, i live in SYDNEY

thanks

[sid_fishes]

tim, mate 50mm x 3 shit thats going to cost. at most i would recommend 50 x 1.6 , its more than enuff.cheers ian

[adamleah]

I have a mate in Jimboomba that has started his own welding business. Can work with ally, steel, stainless everything and has made everything from super silos to camper trailers to custom oil sumps for race cars.

PM me if you want his number.

[Pual44]

Hi Tim, heres something to consider.
I have made up rocket launchers twice in the past due to cost restrictions and have faired pretty well in keeping the costs down and ending up with a reasonable product.
I normally look at as many boat rocket launcher setups as possible either at boat yards or in mags to decide what I want and get any good ideas I see. Then I draw up a few plans, take some measurements, buy the stainless 316 tube 32 ml diameter by about 1.6 - 2ml thick in 6m lengths (you can buy this new or if lucky from scrap metal yards) get some larger diameter for the rod holders and flat plates of say 3.5 - 5 ml for the feet, GPS aerial, radio aerial, and supports, and if you like use this plate to secure the uprights and as a place to attach the outrigger bases.
Then I cut it all up to required lengths, take the upright and overhead as one peice to metal workers/engineers to get the bends put in and do the welding, hey presto.
Learnings - Polished stainless gives a much better finish
If attaching to topside of gunnels most boats angle in slightly towards the bow so the 2 targa bars are different lengths overhead and the feet will need to be angled in slightly as well.
Most boating places have nylon inserts for metal rod holders ( these need to be sanded lightly to remove dags on the inside which could damage your rods under vibration and the tube is whatever the diameter of these inserts is) for rod holders to protect your rods and put gimble pin (stainless bolt) in the base of the rod holders to stop the rods swivelling.
Make sure you measure precisely how high the rod holder tips will be above the deck or you will not be able to comfortably reach to put a rod up there.
You can also attach your bimini/canopy to the rocket launcher this helps as there will be an anchor point to the windscreen or top of the ?cabin.
When drilling stainless go slowand start with a small bit, I normally use a punch to get purchase into the metal (my bits are always blunt), drill until getting nowhere and then give the hole a belt with the punch and drill again.
Make sure the welders don't skimp and just tack things together.
Last time the targa bar with 6 rod holders cost $600 and I got a bimini attached later, but I had to do a bit of running around for that, better than $2000 though.
If your into doing things yourself you can save a fair bit of money.

Good luck
Pual

[sid_fishes]

geez ,i love it when poeple do this. we get it all the time at work. but when you have to fix their stuff, and charge them for it they jump up and down,and really in the end nothing changes except they are unhappy with what they think they are going to get, and because they get a bill that they cant/dont want to pay is stupid. companies i know charge anywhere from $75 to$95 an hour, they have overheads that they pay. sure you can go buy what you want[ but you really dont know what you need] and in this instance tim wants 50x 3 shit i dont know to many poeple that will bend it[ without making a mess out of it]. i,m sorry but i just for the life of me don,t understand poeple try do to stuff they dont know anything about, because in the end it costs them more.SID

[Marlin_Mike]

PM member shaneo, he does gresat wouk

Mike

[sid_fishes]

so do i,cheers

[finga]

IMO the 50X3 would be way overkill and would add considerable weight up high which might affect the ride characteristics of the boat.
It's amasing just how quickly the weight can add up when your making something like a set of launchers up.
With just the pipe you'd need say 2 bows. If the boat is roughly 2m wide and the launchers sit 1m above the gunnel then that 8m of pipe just in the bows.
Rod holders say 250mm long and 8 holders then that's another 2m of pipe so you've got 10m of just pipe without any plates that maybe needed for nav. lights, braces/gussets, outrigger brackets etc.
The weight difference between 50X3 and say 40X2 or 32X2 would be significant.
Unless your wanting a flybridge later on I'd be considering something lighter and smaller in diameter.
2 bows of say 40mm or so 1.6 or 2mm thick and some well placed braces/gussets might even be stronger then the 50X3 and not do funny things to the boat.

I'd be also asking the manufacturer of your boat how much weight you can put on the top of your boat if you've decided on the 50X3.
And also ask them about where your wanting to mount it to see if the boat is structurally sound enough to bung on the extra weight of the heavy pipe.

[timddo]

thanks fella.
The threat was done in 2006. I have since sold the boat and purchased another. Will be getting the launcher done profession as it's not too dear.