BOYS' AND GIRLS' CLUB CAMP DOCK PROJECT
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Most of the assembly of the frames was done in Kaz's shop by several dedicated volunteers not the least of which was Kaz himself.
Who says engineers can't build too. Here's Jim hard at work drilling a wood brace for a tank. Now what was that measurement again?
And here is Bruce, Kaz's number one helper.
And here is Del, helper number 2.
Would you believe that every one of those barrels is filled with styrofoam peanuts?
Here is Jim double checking some measurements before the final assembly of the first frame.
Finally, on Friday the 23th of July, the frames were done and ready to be transported to the Boy's and Girl's Club Lake. A dedicated group of volunteers assembled and with the help of a fork lift, loaded the frames and barrels on to a truck.
Here the loading crew takes a moment to relax after completing the job and to admire their handy work
Finally, the truck gets underway and makes its way up the mountain to the Boy's and Girl's Club Lake where the final assembly will take place.
Unfortunately, there's no fork lift or hoist at the destination, so the unloading team has to improvise. But with ropes and pulleys, two vehicles, the entrance posts, and a little ingenuity, they get the frames unloaded.
Here the unloading team moves the frames to the lake side the old fashioned way - with people power. (Isn't that the way they built the pyramids?)
Finally, all the frames are unloaded and relocated to the assembly area by the lake and the unloading crew can relax a little.
After breakfast on Saturday morning, work begins on the final assembly of the dock. First the frames had to be lifted on to their side and propped up so that the flotation barrels could be attached. Each frame piece weighs in excess of 500 lbs. without barrels or decking. Here Harry and Austin start the assembly process by stapling foam to the frame where the barrels will be attached.
Next, the barrels were bolted to the frame using steel bands. Each frame piece has four barrels. Attaching them was a multi-person effort with one or two holding the barrel in place others tightened the nuts on the retaining bolts.
Here is the first of the frames with all the barrels attached.
Meanwhile, all the decking had to be cut to fit the frames and a liberal coat of water-proof stain applied. More than one volunteer wore some of that stain home.
Runners were then bolted to the frame sections, the decking screwed to the runners, and edge pieces attached.
Portable transportation wheels were then attached to each side of the frame and the first finished section was ready to be moved. But not before lunch.
The camp furnished a great hot lunch which all the volunteers enjoyed.
Much thanks to Bill and Randy for taking care of the inevitable dish washing chores.
Here the first section is moved into the water. Jim Van Liere never show the slightest concern that his design might not work, but everyone was relieved when it actually did.
John Mathews, the camp manager, then towed the section to the dock location the hard way - by row boat and muscle.
Meanwhile, Harry and Rob were working on getting the transition section into place and ready to accept the first section.
Unfortunately, progress was hampered several times by thunderstorms with lighting. During those periods, there was nothing to do but sit under the porch, admire the spectacular scenery, and enjoy the company of good friends.
After the first section was attached to the transition piece, the second section was attached perpendicular to the first section to start the tee. Is that Del supervising or just taking a break.
Here, Jim and Austin fasten the third section to complete the left half of the tee
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Jim (the designer) watches as Kaz (the fabricator) rides over on the last section.
Which Jim and Austin then fasten to form the right half of the tee.
And its all done!
Here is what it looks like from across the lake.
A few of the volunteers that helped, gathered on the left side to admire their work. A job well done and one that will no doubt bring hours of pleasure to a lot of kids.
Lastly, Kaz does the christening honors by catching the first fish off the new dock. Not a trophy fish, but certainly a trophy project. Many thanks to Jim for all his time and effort in designing the dock and coordinating the acquisition of the necessary materials, to Kaz, Bruce, Del, and Paul for all their fabrication hours, and to all the other volunteers who helped to make it happen.
