19-23 April, Ahead Slow Bell

The yard averaged only two welders each day working on compartment number 4 starboard outboard. The z-bar, three bulkhead panels, the transverse diagonal gussets, and two stanchion/longitudinal diagonal gusset repairs were accomplished. Some weld burrs (freckles) were trimmed off the stern plates with many more to go.

She's got freckles on her, but she is nice! 12-16 April

This week saw more progress in getting plate on the stern. The full eight plates across the stern have been fitted up. The side plates are being trimmed and it is anticipated that fabrication of the knuckles will be starting sometime during the week of the 19th. The weld rememnants of the jack heads used to shape the plate have not yet been ground off. Hence the freckles.

The Z-bar in number 4 starboard outboard has been cropped out. The hogging chain cables on the starboard side have been loosened and the hogging chain post length has been measured. The threaded ends of the chains have been carefully marked to ensure the proper fit when reinstalled. The hogging chain post is of 7 inches in diameter which is not very common, but the yard did find some.

All of the overlay under number 2 compartment has been removed and about 70% of the original plate. Repairs to inernal structure have been marked out.

5-9 April Slow Bell

There was no hot work accomplished from Monday through Thursday. The painters prepped Monday and primed Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday, there were still too much fumes. Friday saw the last wide plate on the stern being fitted up. The three deteriorated panels in the wing bulkhead in the forward end of number 4 starboard outboard compartment were cut out. The three section bottom panel for compartment 2 was surveyed and is good to go. The big four section bottom panel for number 4 is expected to be broght on the drydock next week. The section of landing barges and the two drydocks, one of which the SNYDER resides, are slated to be moved to the new facility on Saturday.

29 Mar to 1 Apr Now getting some Hustle in the Bustle

On Friday, the 26th, the yard tried to fit an 8 foot wide plate longitudinally on the stern at the centerline. Monday morning, they were still struggling with it. At noon, Earl, Dwain and I got together and discussed splitting the plate longitudinally which had been the original plan. This was done and by Tuesday, a 4 foot longitudinal plate was fitted up on the centerline extending to the starboard. The yard then attempted to fit the other 4 foot wide plate to it on the starboard side. This did not work. The discussion turned to using 4 foot square plates which I opposed. Earl came up with a plan of using 4 foot wide plates centered on the rudder tunnel. A more narrow plate will then overlap and fill the gap. They then fitted up the 4 foot wide plate on the centerline extending to port. By late Thursday afternoon, the 1st, they had the third plate up centered on the starboard rudder tunnel extending to port. They expect to have all the longitudinal plates up by the Friday, the 9th of April. The side plates have been trimmed up and are partially fitted into the original plates aft.

Repairs to the gussets and stanchions in number 4 starboard outboard is progressing piecemeal. Repairs in number 4 port outboard have not yet begun.

The fabrication of the Z-bar girder for number 4 outboard compartments was started. One complete girder has been fabricated and a second is about 50 per cent complete.

Lepi finished blasting and cleaning compartment number 1 on Monday and started the clean up of the above deck spaces. This was completed by Thursday afternoon. They did a good job cleaning up their debris and dust. Painters are scheduled to prime compartments 1, 2, and 3 starting Monday, the 5th.

The yard was closed on Good Friday.

18-19 March, 22-26 March, Now we are getting somewhere

The high water is over and things are back to more normal with a lot of progress being made. Lepi completed number 3 compartment. Number 2 was completed except for final washdown which is occurring this morning. They will start on number 1 today and expect it to be completed by the end of this week.

The remaining small repairs in number 6 were completed. There was a repair in number 5 starboard center bulkhead at the after transverse bulkhead where there was a set-up. There are two other significant set-ups on that bulkhead forward which will addressed when the replating is done there.

The first plate to go up was a transerse plate on the stern starting just forward of the forward bulkhead of compartment number 6, extending 8 feet aft, and extending from knuckle to kuckle. The WOUB group was down for the first weld on Thursday afternoon, the 25th. The transvere plate is not yet fully welded but is tacked in place enough to show a good fit up. A side plate on each side of the stern have been fitted up to the original plate which was ultrasonically tested and found to be thick enough for a butt weld which will give a better looking appearance.

The angles for the Z-bar replacement in number 4 outboard compartments have been delivered and are on the platen for assembly. The placment of the longitudinal plates on the stern have been worked out and progress is being made to fit them up.

Number 4 compartment frames and bulkheads are pretty much dressed up and will be ready for the big plate shortly. However, the Z-bar replacement as well as some bulkhead and gussett repairs will have to be accomplished. The protocol for these repairs has not yet be worked out.

11, 12, 15, 16, 17 March Mixed Bag

Thursday and Friday, the 11th and 12th, not much got accomplished. There were several towboats that came in for some serious repairs and there were only two burners (welders) on Thursday and only one on Friday. Lepi, when they left Thursday, had only the bottom of number 3 compartment outboard to blast and clean out. That will finish the full width of number 3 compartment. They work 4-10+ hour days. To add to the confusion, the river was rising. NOAA predicted it would crest on Tuesday afternoon above the flood stage of 50 feet. It did not quite get there, rising to only 47.66 feet locally.

Monday, we had five burners on the job. Lepi had only 16 bags of walnut aggregate aboard. Their usual porcedure was to truck it down to the dock, slide it into the drydock and then carry it aboard. However, with the high water, there is no truck acces to the dock. So after blasting the bottom and rough cleanout, they left to return on Moday, the 22nd. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, three burners worked under number 4 compartment, and two started repairs to the deteriorated sections of the forward bulkhead of the number six compartment. As of tonight, 8 of the 10 deteriorated sections on the lower edge have been repaired with insert plate. There are six small transition pieces which form part of the lower frame of the longitudinal bulkheads in number 6 compartment that are wasted. They are being fabricated in the fab shop and have yet to appear. These are the only repairs needed to be accomplished before replating can start.There is then the dressing of the frames to remove weld remnants and rivet debris. After that is a coat of primer, then initial fit up. The yard anticipates that replating will start Monday. We will see.

I ran the laser measurements again tonight. There is no discernible hog, sag or rack.

8-10 March Incremental Progress

This week thus far and will continue to be the slow intricate preparation of the stern section and under number 4 compartment for replating. Cutting out and trimming is being carried forward of the forward bulkhead of number 6 compartment. The first plate will be a full transverse plate started foward of that bulkhead and carried aft. The remainder of the stern plating will be split plates carried longitudinally. There are several holes in the lower edge of that forward bulkhead and a hole each in the longitudinal bulkhead. These will be repaired prior to replating.

Most of the overlay is off from under compartment 4.

Lepi has completed the port side of number 3 compartment and has started on the starboard outboard number 3. They expect to have number 3 and number 2 completed by the end of next week. They have been able to speed up the process somewhat by introducing limited amounts of Black Beauty (coal slag) into the walnut shell medium.

The yard surveyors ran their sights today and there is no significant change in the shape of the boat. I verified this tonight with laser measurements.