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Individual Submarine Boards => USS Torsk (SS-423) => Topic started by: AVGWarhawk on February 28, 2008, 05:17:24 PM

Title: Open for Business
Post by: AVGWarhawk on February 28, 2008, 05:17:24 PM
Ok, fellas, here I am from the Torsk. 

Currently at the Torsk,

Deck wood replacement is in our hands and being cut to size. Installation in the spring.

Looks like the Torsk will be put in dry dock next year for a hull scraping and repair. Major operation with tugs and such.

As usual, continual cleaning, scraping and restoring various parts. 
Title: Re: Open for Business
Post by: Lance Dean on February 28, 2008, 05:37:53 PM
Thanks for coming in here to speak for the Torsk.  I've emailed Gil too, so maybe he'll join in.
Title: Re: Open for Business
Post by: AVGWarhawk on February 28, 2008, 05:43:14 PM
I also emailed Gil in hopes he can get the 1MC diagram for the Batfish crew.
Title: Re: Open for Business
Post by: Mark Sarsfield on February 28, 2008, 05:51:24 PM
Sounds like the Drum guys have a good idea using sand-blasting and being near water means an ample supply of dredged sand.  You may want to consider that when she's in drydock, instead of countless hours of scraping, chiseling, grinding, etc.
Title: Re: Open for Business
Post by: Lance Dean on February 28, 2008, 05:55:56 PM
I'm not so sure if you can just use "any" sand in a sandblaster.  I know that with the small one I have, there are different types of sand you can buy depending on what kind of project you are working on.  I never realized it, but sands can differ much in grain size and shape and it matters with a sandblaster.

Now with that said, a large heavy duty sandblaster that uses crazy high PSI may not care at all what you pour into it.  It probably doesn't even stop up easily.  I just don't know.

edit:
If you have to purchase sand, it's really cheap anyway.
Title: Re: Open for Business
Post by: Tom Bowser on February 28, 2008, 07:32:53 PM
Welcome aboard. What kind of  wood are you using on the deck? The Drum replaced theirs about 12 years ago and used galvanized metal channal, can't keep paint on it and it is rusting every where it was welded, plus the didn't get it at original height so we have a drop down from the original stern deck. Glad to hear you are getting dry docked.
Tom
Title: Re: Open for Business
Post by: AVGWarhawk on February 28, 2008, 10:16:03 PM
Quote
Sounds like the Drum guys have a good idea using sand-blasting and being near water means an ample supply of dredged sand.  You may want to consider that when she's in drydock, instead of countless hours of scraping, chiseling, grinding, etc.


We do not do the work.  She goes to the shipyards that handles this type of work.  They do all the blasting, hull repair.  These guys do it for a living. I't runs about a million from what I understand the cost was in 1986 to do it.

As far as sand blasting, as posted above, sand blaster can not use regular old sand on the beach.  I believe you need to purchase sifted sand that removes large chunks of rock, etc.   

Thankfully we have a team of go getters who are relentless in the pursuit of keeping her up. 

Sparrows Point Shipyard. 

(http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q62/avgwarhawk/1986ddk01.jpg)
Title: Re: Open for Business
Post by: AVGWarhawk on February 28, 2008, 10:20:33 PM
Quote
Welcome aboard. What kind of  wood are you using on the deck? The Drum replaced theirs about 12 years ago and used galvanized metal channal, can't keep paint on it and it is rusting every where it was welded, plus the didn't get it at original height so we have a drop down from the original stern deck. Glad to hear you are getting dry docked.
Tom

A lot of the deck is still the original teak. Some was replaced by pressure treated wood that only lasts about 5 years.  The Maritime Museum that oversees the boat allowed a purchase of wood that is similar to teak but not at the teak cost. From what we are told, and I do not remember the name of this wood, it will last 100 years untreated.  Our deck is painted black so with luck the deck will still be there after we are long dead and buried.  Currenty the pieces are being cut to size at a offsite workshop by the TVA(Torsk Volunteer Association) crew.  When the weather warms it is topside for some wood installation!     
Title: Re: Open for Business
Post by: Mark Sarsfield on February 28, 2008, 11:29:32 PM
Let us know what the wood is called.  Sounds like the best avenue for restoring boat decks.
Title: Re: Open for Business
Post by: Lance Dean on February 28, 2008, 11:37:47 PM
Bamboo?  Mulberry?  :)

Seriously though, that's gotta be some good wood.
Title: Re: Open for Business
Post by: Tom Bowser on February 29, 2008, 06:39:27 AM
I hope it is not the same that the BAttleship park bought years ago, I can't remember the name either but the crap is harder than hell, you can't cut it, drill it or nail it and it warps like crazy when exposed to weather and the dust and fibers from it itches like crazy. We have a huge pile of it and don'r know what to do with it.
Tom
Title: Re: Open for Business
Post by: AVGWarhawk on February 29, 2008, 09:54:36 AM
It is called Ipe

Here are some shots of the crew cutting the wood to length:

http://www.usstorsk.org/weekend/20071209/2007120901.htm

Here is a description of it. Comes from Brazil:

http://www.ipe-wood.com/faq.html
Title: Re: Open for Business
Post by: Travis McLain on February 29, 2008, 04:11:48 PM
The Batfish has got some wood for her new decking,but i cant remember the name of it. Ours was already pre-cut in the long strips, but now we have to take the old deck off and cut the new ones to fit on.
Title: Re: Open for Business
Post by: Tom Bowser on February 29, 2008, 06:48:15 PM
Yep same wood, the Park got it in 4x6 planks and gave up on it, I don't know if they are going to try again or not.
Tom
Title: Re: Open for Business
Post by: AVGWarhawk on February 29, 2008, 07:30:11 PM
I think with the proper tools and good cutting blades it can be done.  I have not heard the guys cutting the pieces say anything of the nature that it is just too dense and hard to work with.
Title: Re: Open for Business
Post by: Mark Sarsfield on February 29, 2008, 09:21:12 PM
My uncle designed and oversaw the construction of the replica of the Nina, which is birthed in Corpus Christie, TX.  They built it in Bahia, Brazil, because a lot of the wood in the rain forest was similar in durability as what was used in Europe for wooden ships back then.  The villagers also used a lot of the same construction techniques from the 15th century and he was going for authenticity.  I don't remember what they used for the deck, but it may have been Ipe.  Very hard and durable.

I got to sail on her for 2 weeks in the summer of 1992.  We mostly visited ports, but it was a huge attraction where ever it went.
Title: Re: Open for Business
Post by: Lance Dean on February 29, 2008, 09:58:27 PM
I believe the Nina was just here a couple of weeks ago down on the Mississippi coast!
Title: Re: Open for Business
Post by: Gil Bohannon on March 03, 2008, 06:19:41 PM
Hi guys,

Chris gave you a pretty good idea of our projects. Some of the others that we are working on include Radio Room restoration, construction of a replica Portsmouth type Torpedo Skid, deck repair in the Forward Torpedo Room, and replacing the worn/torn decorative ropework on handrails and ladders.

We've also been busy in our archives (housed in the Forward Battery Well on Torsk) sorting and catalogging our blueprint collection and technical manual collection.

If any of you are in the area on a Saturday morning, come aboard and visit with us. We are normally there from 0700-1200 and sometimes later. Let us know ahead of time if you are coming and we'll roll out the red carpet for you!

Gil
Title: Re: Open for Business
Post by: MWALLEN on March 03, 2008, 07:20:39 PM
Quote
The Batfish has got some wood for her new decking,but i cant remember the name of it. Ours was already pre-cut in the long strips, but now we have to take the old deck off and cut the new ones to fit on.

Yep, it's been sitting under a tarp out by the garage for almost a year now...it needs to get cut, treated and installed before it turns to dust.  I'll ask Rick what is holding this up.
Title: Re: Open for Business
Post by: Mark Sarsfield on March 06, 2008, 02:25:08 PM
He told me that he wants to strip and paint the metal exterior before putting the deck on.  I think Phase I was stripping and painting, Phase II was the deck installation, and Phase III was installing the 5" deck gun.  Total price tag of about $60K, but you probably know that.  Time to start soliciting the local oil barons. :)
Title: Re: Open for Business
Post by: Travis McLain on March 06, 2008, 05:03:40 PM
He told me that he wants to strip and paint the metal exterior before putting the deck on.  I think Phase I was stripping and painting, Phase II was the deck installation, and Phase III was installing the 5" deck gun.  Total price tag of about $60K, but you probably know that.  Time to start soliciting the local oil barons. :)


Where is the 5 inch gun coming from? As all we have at the museum is two 3 inchers, and that 5" that I believe came off of a battleship.
Title: Re: Open for Business
Post by: Mark Sarsfield on March 06, 2008, 05:43:53 PM
That I don't know.  I'm 99% sure that Rick said '5" gun', but maybe he intends to use one of the 3" guns.

Btw, we apologize for commandeering the Torsk forum with our Batfish discussion.   :P
Title: Re: Open for Business
Post by: Gil Bohannon on March 06, 2008, 05:54:46 PM
Mark,

No problem - saves us the trouble of clicking into the Batfish forum!!

LOL!

Gil