After a delay due to a record-setting February ice storm, and another lost week in April when the trucking company changed their schedule, we were ready to move out and launch on April 14.
It was a Sunny day, literally and figuratively.
The truck backed into the shop and used his hydraulic lift pads to load it while it was hanging in the overhead crane slings. Once outside we wheeled the spar over on the carrier and everyone lifted it onto the padded brackets. Then came the furler. A ton of padding was used.
The boat looks huge hanging in slings and propped up on a trailer behind a class 8 cab, but it visually shrinks a lot once in the water again. The portable crane was expertly handled, with no contact between the $$ masthead parts and the crane boom. Equally great was that another boat was getting their mast stepped right after us, and the cost of the crane was split with them. The yard manager arranged that on his own, and we were really pleased when told of it.
Unlike the crew on Gilligan's Island, our three hour trip/tour home went smoothly. With a new bottom we motored at 7 kts, and the RR swing bridge on the Columbia River was already open when we got there (a rarity). It's the only "grade level" bridge we have to transit, and carries a lot of freight and Amtrak traffic.
Further equipping of the boat will take several weeks. Lots of gear to assemble. Sails to bend on. Radar post to step. And much 'etc'.
**Some trucking trivia: I can now confirm that the hull area under the engine bed log molding holds over a pint of water. Old water. I had always noticed that if we roll around a bit when under way, some water moves forward via the limber hole at the front, but there is about a half inch drop behind that hole...
The last hundred yards of the road downhill to the yard is about a 6 to 7% grade, and this let the water flow forward into the main bilge sections. Probably just an Olson "thing" but could be true for boats with the more extensive TAFG, as well.
No ruby slipper heels were clicked, but 'tis true that "there's no place like home" !
Now, if I only could find some courage, and a brain!
It was a Sunny day, literally and figuratively.
The truck backed into the shop and used his hydraulic lift pads to load it while it was hanging in the overhead crane slings. Once outside we wheeled the spar over on the carrier and everyone lifted it onto the padded brackets. Then came the furler. A ton of padding was used.
The boat looks huge hanging in slings and propped up on a trailer behind a class 8 cab, but it visually shrinks a lot once in the water again. The portable crane was expertly handled, with no contact between the $$ masthead parts and the crane boom. Equally great was that another boat was getting their mast stepped right after us, and the cost of the crane was split with them. The yard manager arranged that on his own, and we were really pleased when told of it.
Unlike the crew on Gilligan's Island, our three hour trip/tour home went smoothly. With a new bottom we motored at 7 kts, and the RR swing bridge on the Columbia River was already open when we got there (a rarity). It's the only "grade level" bridge we have to transit, and carries a lot of freight and Amtrak traffic.
Further equipping of the boat will take several weeks. Lots of gear to assemble. Sails to bend on. Radar post to step. And much 'etc'.
**Some trucking trivia: I can now confirm that the hull area under the engine bed log molding holds over a pint of water. Old water. I had always noticed that if we roll around a bit when under way, some water moves forward via the limber hole at the front, but there is about a half inch drop behind that hole...
The last hundred yards of the road downhill to the yard is about a 6 to 7% grade, and this let the water flow forward into the main bilge sections. Probably just an Olson "thing" but could be true for boats with the more extensive TAFG, as well.
No ruby slipper heels were clicked, but 'tis true that "there's no place like home" !
Now, if I only could find some courage, and a brain!
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all on trailer.jpg -
Leaving Beckers.jpg -
Ready to launch.jpg -
Yard slings take the weight.jpg -
IMG_0087.jpg -
IMG_0089.jpg -
IMG_0090.jpg -
Tom & KB attaching spreader.jpg -
Mast loaded for transfer.jpg
