Batfish Work Day, Saturday July 12th

[Rick]

We have lots of deck pulled up or ready to pull up.  We have the fence behind the FTR entrance removed and ready to be replaced once the deck at the forward end is complete.   I will have the ROTC kids from Muskogee here Wed,  they will be truning lots of bolts.   IT goes well and will bet better as we move aftward and get this process down..

Rick

[MWALLEN]

We got the port side pulled, well most of it anyway.  Got the majority of the bolt removed from the remaining deck. Roger, Mark S. and someone I can't remember his name got some more of the new deck put down.  Killed more WASP's.  Man was it hot.  Had 5 out working, Rick came out as he could.  Had a few no-shows.  Still, it was a good day and just about all the deck forward of the entrance has been removed or is just a few bolts shy of being removed.  Man it was hot.

Below are some photos...the first 3 are of the decking that was removed, the next is kind of a before show...and then your's truly removing nuts and trying to avoid the bogey's.  Man was it hot.

[Fred Tannenbaum]

Bravo Zulu to all those who busted their rumps in that heat over the weekend! Great work! I know the soul of the old girl (Batfish, that is) is smiling.

To deal with the heat, keep using the orange rubbermaid water coolers and bring more, filling them with ice water or gatorade and also check out one of those little misting fans attached to a spray bottle that you can find in places like Wal-Mart. Spray yourselves often. I'd even try a Camelbak.

I wonder if some of those yellow jacket traps might help lure the wasps away from you?

Again, my hat's off to you all!

Fred

[Lance Dean]

Great work to all of you.  Thank you for sharing the pics Mark!

I've found that if you kill all the wasps you can find, consistently, then each summer you will see fewer and fewer wasps in that area.  I guess that makes sense though.  They are just pains that have to be dealt with.

[Mark Sarsfield]

A large fan on deck or actually below deck would be pretty handy.  Hardly any air gets down there.

[Rick]

Again, my thanks for all your help. 
This time of year is definately ah hot one.  I was not able to be out all day, but I have been recovering ever since from that heat.  Good news,  The AIR FORCE ROTC, have volunteered for a com service day on Wed.   They are going to be bolt turners for us.   There will be more deck going down on the next run.   

Rick

PS  I have been thinking of hanging a few of the wasp carcusas out as a warning for all of the other wasps that want to come by.     

[JohnG]

Oooo ROTC guys. Can me and Joseph mess with them? I mean nothing too bad....or grotesque. It is my old teachers though. Payback sucks....

Nah, those guys were awesome teachers. Some of the coolest and most under-appreciated at MHS.

[Mark Sarsfield]

Rick,

  If the ROTC guys get the boards at the starboard deck/stairwell area and IF we get about 6 people to show up for the next working party, we could get two crews to work on cutting and laying boards and they won't be in each other's way. This would be really great if we could get them out there once a month to rip boards up.

[Rick]

ROTC kids update.....

the bow is now open for new decking.   The kids made a good run on the Starbord side past the stair well.  We are looking at the first 10 ft clear.  There is a small amount of clean up to be done yet.  That can be taken care of in about 30 min....

 

[JohnG]

Ya, Sgt. Forbes and Col. Kent and their students busted there bolts all day and got alot done. Laying the deck down will be easier and faster now. These guys all need BZ's for that.

[Rick]

Afirmative.   I talked to them just after ther left and they are intereseted in doing more.  These kids did a great job and are welcome to come back again.

Rick

[AVGWarhawk]

The deck is look great guys.  She will look beautiful when done. 

[MWALLEN]

So who is coming out on the 26th to work on the deck?

[Mark Sarsfield]

I'll be in K.C. that weekend, but I will be down to the boat tomorrow to work on other items.

Rick, we still need a temporary deck solution for the bridge for VJ Day.  Plywood would probably work.

[Rick]

MarkA
I will be here.   John and Joseph will be good help,  We just need to give them lots of instruction.   We can concentrate on laying down new wood at this point.   We are far enough ahead.   

MarkS
I willl need to talk ot the CO on the final details.  Last I heard was that we need to get a good head count.  I have been watching the BLHA emails and have seen several pepole atlk about their availability   i still do not have a head count....

Rick