| Here's the latest... |
 |
| All of the metal deck supports are in, and bolted up to the
stringers. |
| What a job! If you can imagine working inside an upside-down
boat, with poor light, and lots of heat. Working conditions are cramped.
Working overhead. Lotsa skinned knuckles. Installing these things
and the longitudinals was a real bear. Hats off to the crew for handling
this extremely difficult part of the build. What made it really tough
was we didn't think this job would be too bad...but it was. GREAT GOING
GUYS! |
|
| Just about all of the 1/4" mahogany plywood "inner" skin is on... |
| Welcome back Aubrey Adams! Aubrey and company did all of the fit
up and installation on the inner skin. I guarantee you the seams are
flawless. Best bottom I ever saw. The keel apron and its canvas
are installed. |
|
| The transom sideshell is glued up and cut, ready for installation. |
| You wouldn't believe the seams on the sideshell. YOU CAN'T SEE
THEM! Dave Sintes step cut this plywood to achieve the 6" scarf joint
we needed. PERFECT! |
|
| The port and starboard sideshell is glued up and ready for final
cutting. |
| The bottom planking (donated by Robinson Lumber) has arrived. |
| Many thanks to Sheriff Foti for helping us with the transportation of
all this wood. It has been no small task, and it has involved many
trips. Marvin Perrett coordinated all of the delivery and pickup. Great
teamwork! |
|
| The STRUT arrived. It is a work of art. You just have
to see it. |
| Well Joey Madere, YOU DID IT BUDDY!!! What all of you don't realize
is the great job both Joey and Earl Fredricks did in cultivating the great
relationship we have with Buck Algonquin, Inc. Not only did Buck do
a first rate job, but they did it for very little money. Again, great
teamwork. All of our underwater gear is now in our inventory! |
|
| The pieces parts remaining from the LCVP wreck in San Francisco were
rescued, cleaned and crated by the USCG. These parts (including an
original BOW RAMP) are enroute to us now. |
| Many thanks to USCG ISC ALAMEDA and USCG D8 HQ (Master Chief Livingstone)
for giving us the able assist! Not sure we'll use this bow ramp
- type and condition will determine. In either event, we will have it for
important construction DETAIL! |
|
| The garboard planks are cut, edge glued and in final prep for
installation. |
| These are the first planks to install on either side of the keel.
The rest of the planks just butt up and run out across the hull. |
|
| Graham Haddock and company have a handle on the boring bit for the
shaft log. |
| I have no idea how many hours have been spent planning for the hole we
will bore in this hull for the shaft. It's gotta be right. I
think we are in good shape with the brains at work over this problem. |
|
| We are planing down all of the mahogany planks for the bottom
at this writing. |
| The boards are in the rough, but the crew is shaping them up now for
installation. Desired thickness is 13/16". In case you are wondering,
we HAVE the fastening schedule and pattern from the FACTORY! Jerry
Strahan provided this info. |
|
| Frame number 7 was fabricated by Hebert Steel in Baton Rouge, La. |
| Hebert not only fabbed it, but they also galvanized it! Thanks
Ed Daroca for coordinating this for us! The frame fits like a glove,
and it is permanently installed. This is one of two steel frame
reinforcements required for lifting aboard ship. The other is frame
#23-1/2. That one will be dealt with after we flip the hull. |
|
| Frank Straughan has put together a great VHS documentary tape on the
project! |
| Hats off to Frank. He is preserving everything for the future.
No easy task. I hear Frank's living room looks like a publishing
company...Whenever I need something and someone says "Send me some
photos..." guess who I call? |
|
| Lots of research proves that we do have the correct bowramp
winch! |
| Earl Fredricks did the legwork on this. Yep, we got the right one!
It was provided to us by Wes Gladhart (he had it in his backyard).
Wintech, the company that bought out Beebe Bros. (the original
manufacturer) gave us some badly needed missing pieces. Joey Madere
is rebuilding the winch right now! |
|
| I have all of the new I.D. badges ready for pickup. See me in
person for this... |
| If anyone needs a badge, put your name on the dry board by the plans
table. By the way, hats off to the Orleans Levee District for
producing the badges for us! |
|
| Does anyone know of a Boy Scout or Girl Scout unit out there that
can help us one weekend with some cleanup of our workshop? |
| Spring cleaning you know...If so, please contact our youth coordinator,
Charles Rareshide. |
|
| Anyone have a couple of rubber-tired boom-type cranes out there? |
| We'll need these to turn the boat over. Call me for detail.
Bonus points if you can provide crane operators (real good ones too...). |
