The pins for the cranes did not arrive yesterday, so the first thing I did this morning was to look for alternatives that will do until they do arrive.
Rummaging through my sundry metal bits bin I found these. They should be good enough.
During my first break I put the pins into the mounts and hooked on the chain hoists.
There we are, two gantry cranes completed and ready to go.
The pins arrived at lunchtime, so I will replace the alternatives with these later. These are 25mm diameter black iron pipe, threaded at both ends with caps.
However, I noticed, just by eye, that these are not 25mm in diameter, that measurement is the inside diameter. So I went and measured them and I need to open out the holes to 35mm. Wide enough for the pipe to go through but not the cap. Oh well. I’ll use the alternate pins for today and open out the holes later. I don’t have the time to do that before needing to use the cranes.
Instead I started to prepare Shoal Waters for the move to the other trailer and that meant removing all the blocks from under the trailer. Here she is now sitting just on the trailer and she is canted over to one side slightly due to the slope on the ground.
I took a moment to check the pressure in the tyres of both trailers and to add more air where necessary. I also need to check the wheel bearings for grease on the travelling trailer before putting Shoal Waters on.
The blocks that were under Shoal Waters ready to put under Naiad.
Now that the construction of the gantry cranes is completed I gathered up all the offcuts.
This is all that I have left of 12 scaffold boards. Not at all bad. I’m not sure whether to put these in the offcuts bin or the burn pile !
To get Naiad ready first required me to lower the mast since the forestay would get in the way of one of the cranes. This did not take long, it’s an easy and simple process.
Then the blocks under the trailer were removed and put aside except for the one aft of the transom since they will not be in the way there and were close to where they were needed.
After work we began the process of getting Shoal Waters onto the traveling trailer.
The cranes were positioned around Naiad and the strops put in place.
She was lifted off the trailer, the trailer moved out of the way…
…and blocks out under her to rest on. Having lowered her onto the blocks, the cranes were moved and Shoal Waters placed under them.
She was lifted up, the trailer moved out from under her…
…the travelling trailer put under her and she was lowered onto the trailer. The cranes were then moved well out of the way.
Shoal Waters was tied down to the trailer using ratchet straps and ropes as required. With the trailer board lashed to the stern and the correct registration plate put in, she is ready to be taken to the boatyard tomorrow.
Time for a cup of tea.