1 February 2007
Inside The Boat
| Bob Prater has asked me about what was happening
inside the Boat during drydock. Two major projects are taking place. The
first is hydrostatic testing of the Number 1 airbank. That is the one
inside the pressure hull in the two Battery wells. These are the airbanks
we use charge the hydraulic system so we can raise and lower the scopes,
open the tube outer doors and rig out and operate the bow planes. Also
we use that air to start the 3 of the 4 main engines and the auxiliary
engine. Number 3 main engine is inoperative at the present time. It's
in the plan to make it operational in the future. This testing is being
done by the yard. They are going to test to 2500 lbs not 3000. We never
take the banks above about 1800 lbs just for safety sake. Were NOT blowing
bow buoyancy or main ballast, but it sure is fun to bleed air in the Boat
and sound the diving alarm!! We don't do that with tourists aboard or
we might have to clean up a mess. Anyway, the other chore is painting. The paid deck hands are doing that mainly because, by Navy requirements, we have to have somebody on board 24/7... in the drydock and at pier 45.... and the fact is, that we cannot paint at Pier 45 mainly because it would not dry overnight and if a visitor got into wet paint we would be paying cleaning bills. One of the main areas that take a beating are the water tight doors between compartments. They have to be dry or we would really be in trouble. So, I took a few pics down below and they are attached to this email. I damn near passed out taking the pictures. The paint smell was overwhelming and they were using respirators And there is one "old" subvet by the name of Bob Taylor, who has been working on the Boat for over 15 years. He fashions himself as "Captain of the Head". I managed a couple of pics of him also. Since we have scout groups doing overnighters on the Boat those heads have to work!!! And Bob keeps them working!! And he is a volunteer!! Got to love this Boat to do that!! DBF Harry |
