More on the transom work

I didn’t make it clear before, but the earlier photos of the transom timber being removed were from February. I’m doing a lot of catch up here to show the installation.

By March, Walt had finished shaping the transom timber

Photo credit: Kane Borden

and it was time to install it. We don’t have anything big enough around the seaport to manage a piece that big, so we called in a crane.

The riggers set up a system of lines that allowed the timber to be raised vertically. This way, the timber could be lowered through a hole in the roof of the cover.

Photo credit: Kane Borden

We also cut a slit in the plastic around the boat.

Photo credit: Kane Borden

Its purpose will become clear soon…

As the timber was lowered into the cover, the riggers changed the angle of attachment, so that the piece gradually went from vertical to horizontal.

Photo credit: Kane Borden

Photo credit: Kane Borden

Photo credit: Kane Borden

As it did this, one end poked out of a hole cut in the side of the cover. Ah, that’s the reason!

Photo credit: Kane Borden

Photo credit: Kane Borden

Once the timber was horizontal, it could be gradually swung into the boat.

Photo credit: Kane Borden

Photo credit: Kane Borden

We used a block and tackle to help pull the timber into the boat.

Photo credit: Kane Borden

Photo credit: Kane Borden

Walter and Kevin guided it in from the outside, communicating with the crane operator through the riggers.

Photo credit: Kane Borden

The timber was brought in 90 degrees counter-clockwise to how it would eventually be installed. You can see the sweep of the curve on the right hand side.

Photo credit: Kane Borden

This is the face that the planking will run along.

Once the timber was properly in the boat, it was carefully rotated to its proper orientation.

Photo credit: Kane Borden

Photo credit: Kane Borden

Photo credit: Kane Borden

Photo credit: Kane Borden

Photo credit: Kane Borden

This view is from outside the boat, looking down at the timber through the transom. The space underneath the timber is being carefully cleaned and vacuumed prior to setting it in place. You can see some of the big steel rollers that went under the timber to help move it into place.

Here is the timber installed. You can see how the planking fits right up against the curved lower face.

Photo credit: Kane Borden

It was then riveted to the stern post with heavy copper rods.

Photo credit: Kane Borden

After the transom timber was installed, Walt went to work on the rider. The rider is almost the same size as the transom timber, and sits on top of it. Here, he uses a broad axe to cut a bevel along the top edge. He starts by marking out the top and bottom edges of his bevel, and then chopping down to his lines.