I have launched from a smaller aluminum boat on a very large river... meaning my P3S was initializing on a rocking boat...
\End of qualification rant!
Thoughts: I had the same trepidation you’re having now. Only you’re smarter because I did it without asking advice! My dad always says “use it or don’t”... so I decided to go for it.
My number one concern? The AC’s behaviour if signal should be lost or battery expired. I felt I had two choices: establish a RTH point that was on land, or trust that I would be able to manoeuvre under the AC should it try to return home, or land.
Techniques: I opted for the latter... to make sure I didn’t fly so long as to threaten low battery, and to trust that I’d be able to orient the boat close enough to a landing that I could at least hand catch it. I went out with the intention of establishing a land based RTH but changed my mind when I saw it was a calm day and the motor was starting well.
Which brings us to challenge #2... landing. I felt in this case that hand catching was the smartest of options. In my case, I had my wife with me and she did the catching. Without a second pair of hands I’d have to rethink the strategy and I suspect that unless it was a calm day on the water, I’d second guess the merits of the adventure altogether.
You have to consider holding and controlling the remote, while on an unstable platform where YOUR OWN balance is as precarious as flying, and catching a four bladed guillotine.
All that said, everything went well. It was a calm day. I have a hard carrying case, and oriented and took off from that. I stayed close and didn’t fly below 40% battery. I had a second person for hand catching so that was my plan.
I flew twice that day and got some excellent footage, which once I find I will post for you.
Nerves, yes.
Success, yes.
Recommend? Yes, because “use it or don’t!” And know and accept the risks, which is why you’re here.
And post if you do it! Let me know if you’d like any more info!
Edit: found ‘em. Here’s a teaser: