Community Boat-Rolling

April 26, 2015  Hours spent building to date:  1,000

Tom Tolla is a great guy!  Without him getting the Tardis upright would have been immeasurably more difficult.  Tom is my shop neighbor and CEO of Construction Services Unlimited, the Connecticut Shoreline’s finest builder of custom homes and commercial buildings, and as you will see, a master manipulator of construction equipment.

My other shop neighbors were also critical to the process, restoration carpenter Jonathan Wuerth, who conducted Tom on the machines, and inventor/machinist Wally Erickson, my muse for months in thinking about the rollover process.  Al Monkovich joined us from the Connecticut River Museum Boat Crew and was always there with a hand when needed most.  And longtime friend Bob Scott joined us to take pictures and move stuff, filling in for Ray, who is in China.  Molly had never taken a video in her life, but I think hers came out fine.

The rollover was nerve-wracking and exhausting (for me), but ultimately uneventful.  The video will show you how we did it.  There were only two problems, once when the plywood underneath the boat slipped and the rollover frame got stuck in the gravel, and we did have to strengthen the frame longitudinally with an X-brace to prevent wracking.

When it was all over and everyone had gone home, I clambered up into the Tardis, sat up at what will be the wheel and had an American Ale.  It was a great feeling, and thanks again to all who helped.

There will be more pictures tomorrow of the Tardis on the trailer and in the shop.

Here’s a link to a high definition version of the video:

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=84266696ADEA85BD!2011

This one is low definition, if the first one is slow loading:

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=84266696ADEA85BD!2013

Molly inspecting the equipment

Somebody go find an Egyptian, or maybe a Roman.

Wait for the equipment, Al.

Moving the plywood for the turn.

Adjusting rollers so Tom can turn the boat around with the skid-steer.

Turned around.

Al is skeptical about the size of Jon’s fish.

Getting ready to roll.

“So how many boats have you turned over, Tom.” “I would say…none.”

Do you think 5,000 screws will be enough!

Tom adding a brace.

Jon attaching the slings.

Over she goes.

Other way, Jon.