A new machine was manufactured to remove the long bolts from the engine mounts. The extraction was from below the hull and used a hydraulic cylinder to pull the bolts out.
Framing has progressed past frame number 39 and several are in various stages of being fixed to the other section of timber.
Photo shows how close the framing is getting to the stern and therefore completed – then ready to move onto planking the hull.
The engine room has had all the engine mounts removed which allows the frames to be fixed in place.
Port and starboard engine mounts stacked below the hull ready to be moved to the shed for inspection. The timbers appear to be in good condition as the oil and fuel that has spilt has ” preserved ” them.
Thirty – six large bronze bolts and nuts hold the engine mounts in place. The bolt heads can be seen at the planks and the nuts and washer inside the engine room. The bolts are nearly 1 metre long and need to be removed before the mounts can be taken off the ship to be cleaned and painted. Two people are needed to lift each timber section. Six sections have been lowered to the barge deck so that the shipwrights can proceed with the framing. In total there are 24 timber mounts to be removed.
Sometime ago I was asked to show how this custom made contraption actually worked. Previous photos showed the machine in operation but not how the dumps, bolts and spikes were actually lifted out of the hardwood frames, deck beams etc. I have a series of seven photos with captions for each that hopefully explains this method.
The metal piece in the wood – it may have the head still inact or need a new head welded to it.
The machine parts – an outer shell with a section cut out, a bolt with a top plate and a boxed section attached at the base and 3 keys to use as a collar over the bolt head.
The bolt section is inserted inside the outer shell.
This is placed over the offending piece of metal as shown with the head inside the hole.
An appropriate sized key is positioned over the head of the bolt as shown.
The top nut is cranked so that the lower part around the bolt is lifted bringing the bolt with it.
When the lift is high enough the bolt is free from the timber.
Hope this has explained how this machine operates.
Starboard showing the keel, keelson and stern post – all need to be assessed by shipwrights regarding any work that may need to be done.
Photos below show the port side .
Each frame has two sections – a fore and an aft – that are bolted together. The two sections are made up several shaped, laminated pieces that have to have staggered joins for maximum strength. The type of joint changes between a butt joint and a scarf joint again to have maximum strength in the final frame structure.
Sections of frames ready to be fixed to the hull. The scarf joints ( the two long cut sections ) and the butt joints ( straight cut ends ) are made in the shed and fitted to their corresponding sections at the ship.
Frames sections attached to the ship showing the staggering of the joins and the change in the type of joint.
Each frame section is unique and is made from a template. The shipwrights code each section as it is made – this section is – frame number 29, port side and the forward piece of the two needed.
