MainlySteam
New member
Last Monday was in Oz for the launching of a new power boat to be shipped to an owner around the other side of the world. Thought some may be interested how a launch of an about 50 tonne (lightship) power boat goes down a slipway.
When arrived at the yard Monday morning the vessel was on the slipway (inside the workshop still) jacked up to be lowered onto load cells to check its weight and I did a quick last check below waterline to see that all was well. This bottom check was especially important as the yard had just recently allowed a hamburger concession to operate within its property and I was therefore very concerned that this may have meant that TCM's quick fix/quick release copper bottoming installation team may have been engaged by the yard to anti foul the boat without my knowledge/forums/images/icons/crazy.gif. But all was well with no copper to be seen and so the end doors of the workshop were opened up (the workshop can hold two 250 foot motor yachts and has a 200 foot one of those under construction in it) and the boat eased outside.
My station was to just look useful in the wheelhouse of the tow boat where I could see all that went on and that no handling damage occurred. The "tow boat" was in fact the water jet powered boat I attended the sea trials of a week ago - and the sister of the one to be launched. The new vessel was prepared with a towing bridle and line at the stern and one side fendered, and the tow boat a towing bridle at the bow. In the water we had 2 divers (in case of underwater difficulties and for rescue if anyone fell in) and a rib for handling lines (and for recovering the wooden chocking blocks and, again, for rescue).
The new boat was slowly let down the ways and when just floating we nosed up to its stern, the rib passed the line and we slowly backed up and pulled the new vessel off the ways and out into clear water where we rafted it up beside us and carefully took it to the dock. Meanwhile the rib sped around picking up the floating timbers and the yard crew recovered the slipway gear. At the dock the skipper of the tow boat just lined both boats up parallel to the dock, new boat inside, and using the water jets crabbed both boats sideways in putting the new boat gently against the dock. And that was that, easy - all without a hitch or a scratch /forums/images/icons/smile.gif.
The launch was to be on Oz national Tv that night, together with an interview of the owner of the two new boats, so that evening he and I settled ourselves in my hotel room with a bottle or two to watch the coverage. Is now going to commission another boat for me to look after for him - what a lovely man he is /forums/images/icons/smile.gif?
Sunday am back to Oz for some long boat rides /forums/images/icons/smile.gif, er work /forums/images/icons/mad.gif, er sea trials in the new boat.
John
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When arrived at the yard Monday morning the vessel was on the slipway (inside the workshop still) jacked up to be lowered onto load cells to check its weight and I did a quick last check below waterline to see that all was well. This bottom check was especially important as the yard had just recently allowed a hamburger concession to operate within its property and I was therefore very concerned that this may have meant that TCM's quick fix/quick release copper bottoming installation team may have been engaged by the yard to anti foul the boat without my knowledge/forums/images/icons/crazy.gif. But all was well with no copper to be seen and so the end doors of the workshop were opened up (the workshop can hold two 250 foot motor yachts and has a 200 foot one of those under construction in it) and the boat eased outside.
My station was to just look useful in the wheelhouse of the tow boat where I could see all that went on and that no handling damage occurred. The "tow boat" was in fact the water jet powered boat I attended the sea trials of a week ago - and the sister of the one to be launched. The new vessel was prepared with a towing bridle and line at the stern and one side fendered, and the tow boat a towing bridle at the bow. In the water we had 2 divers (in case of underwater difficulties and for rescue if anyone fell in) and a rib for handling lines (and for recovering the wooden chocking blocks and, again, for rescue).
The new boat was slowly let down the ways and when just floating we nosed up to its stern, the rib passed the line and we slowly backed up and pulled the new vessel off the ways and out into clear water where we rafted it up beside us and carefully took it to the dock. Meanwhile the rib sped around picking up the floating timbers and the yard crew recovered the slipway gear. At the dock the skipper of the tow boat just lined both boats up parallel to the dock, new boat inside, and using the water jets crabbed both boats sideways in putting the new boat gently against the dock. And that was that, easy - all without a hitch or a scratch /forums/images/icons/smile.gif.
The launch was to be on Oz national Tv that night, together with an interview of the owner of the two new boats, so that evening he and I settled ourselves in my hotel room with a bottle or two to watch the coverage. Is now going to commission another boat for me to look after for him - what a lovely man he is /forums/images/icons/smile.gif?
Sunday am back to Oz for some long boat rides /forums/images/icons/smile.gif, er work /forums/images/icons/mad.gif, er sea trials in the new boat.
John
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