Performance of bathythermograph with hand winch

On May l, 1942 a series of towing tests were made off New London to determine how satisfactory a small hand operated winch would be. The boat was an 83 ft. Coast Guard patrol boat with the end of the boom about 3 feet outboard and 15 feet forward of the stern. Towing tests were made at 8, 12, and 18 knots. At 18 knots two methods were tried: A. Those where the BT was dropped from the end of the boom in the usual manner. B. Those where the BT was dropped from the bow of the boat. This method gave a considerably greater depth of water for the same amount of wire out than the former method. In a longer boat where the BT can be carried 100 to 150 ft. ahead of the boom this additional depth may amount to 100 feet.