Otterblog
A record of the renovation of a
Wooden Drascombe Longboat 'Otter'
11th November 2006. Turned Otter over
Today
is the day!
Connected the hoist to the cross beam.
Put a mattress underneath.
I
haven't said anything about the frame, yet.
As you can see, it is made from 2"x4" timber bolted together with M10 threaded rods.
200mm dia. wheels from Screwfix on 20mm shafts.
Spacer
blocks turn each part into a sort of wooden I-beam.
I used the tie-down straps to hold the boat against the beams.
You
can see where I have made blocks to support the boat when it is on its
side.
I
used a chain hoist secured as high up as I could get
Then
I started to pull with the hoist.
Here
you can see a block and tackle connected to chains which are connected
to the beam next to the wheels.
Carried
on lifting.
You
can just see the chains going under the boat from each end of the beam.
As I lifted I kept taking up the slack on these horizontal chains to take
the load off the beam which is bending.
The
centreplate came out at this point. I discovered that the lifting winch
is connected to the plate by a rope that attaches to the eye at the rear
of the plate. So the rope will be dragging in the water when the plate
is right down.
Carried
on lifting and adjusting the horizontal pull.
And
lifting
And
lifting.
Nearly
there.
I
then attached a block and tackle to give a horizontal pull to the get
the top beam against the stanchion.
Almost
upright.
Tight
in at the top.
And
at the bottom.
Now
I start to pull the bottom beam out.
Forgot
to take any pictures as she came down.
Basically I released some vertical tension then pulled the wheels out a bit and so on until she started to descend under her own weight.
I
kept the horizontal pull on the top beam.
Put
blocks under the beams.
Transferred
the hoist to the outer beam.
And
lifted that side up.
Finally,
she is up on blocks.
Ready
to run the trailer underneath in the morning.
Unless stated otherwise, © Colin Watt 2006, 2007
Please read the disclaimer.
Last updated: 14 November, 2006