JULY 27 2013
THIS SALVAGE OPERATION BEGAN A WEEK EARLIER WHEN GERRY AND I MADE A TRIP OUT WEST TO KINOOSAO SK. GERRY COULD NOT BELIEVE I HAD A HOME MADE BOAT KNOWN AS THE "RAMP BOAT" IN COLD STORAGE FOR 6 YEARS ON THE BOTTOM OF REINDEER LAKE. GERRY AND I STOOD ON THE DOCK LOOKING ACROSS THE BAY TO WHERE THE "RAMP BOAT" WAS SITTING IN STORAGE AND THAT IT WHEN IT WAS DECIDED THAT WE WERE GOING TO SALVAGE THE "RAMP BOAT". ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT I HAD TO BUILD A SALVAGE BARGE TO GET MY "RAMP BOAT" IN LESS THEN A WEEK.
HERE IS THE STORY OF BUILDING THE "PONTOON BARGE"
THE STORY OF SINKING THE "RAMP BOAT"
THE STORY OF BUILDING THE "RAMP BOAT" BACK IN 2002
WE DID NOT MAKE ANY PLANS ON SALVAGING THE "RAMP BOAT" BECAUSE WE DON'T MAKE PLANS. BUT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED WHICH MIGHT BE CALLED SOME WHAT OF A PLAN. WE GOT UP AT 5am TO TRAVEL THE 100kms TO REINDEER LAKE ON THE "KINOOSAO RALLY ROAD" WHICH TOOK US 3 HOURS AND OF COURSE THE CAMERA DECIDED NOT TO TAKE ANY PICTURES OF THE TRIP. WHEN WE ARRIVED IN KINOOSAO SK, I ADJUSTED THE CAMERA WITH A HAMMER AND IT DECIDED TO WORK.
THE FIRST THING WE DO IS LAUNCH THE "PONTOON BARGE" WHICH WAS NO PROBLEM AT ALL.
NEXT IN THE WATER WAS THE 20' LUND BOAT WITH MY 50hp MERC MOTOR ON THE BACK. THERE IS A LONG STORY BEHIND WHY I OWN THE MOTOR ON THIS BOAT. THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY IS A WOMAN WAS INVOLVED AND END OF STORY. XENA GOT TO RIDE ON THE PONTOON BARGE WITH HER LIFE JACKET ON IN CASE IT SUNK, LOL.
WE ARRIVE AT THE SITE WHERE THE "RAMP BOAT" HAS BEEN IN STORAGE FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS. THIS IS WHERE THE FUN BEGINS BECAUSE NONE OF US HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE. THE BEST PART IS I'M AFRAID OF WATER. YES I'M AFRAID OF WATER SO STANDING ON THE "PONTOON BARGE" THAT IS ON THE WATER IS NOT A PLEASENT EXPERIENCE. PLUS I CAN'T DRINK BOOZE TO TAKE THE EDGE OFF SO IT IS COLD TURKEY FOR ME ALL THE WAY.
XENA AND I USE POLES TO GET THE CHAIN HOOKS ON TO THE "RAMP BOAT" WHICH IS NO EASY FEAT BECAUSE OF THE REFLECTION ON THE WATER AND THE LENGTH OF THE POLES.
WE LUCKED OUT AND IT DID NOT TAKE LONG TO GET THE CHAINS HOOKED. THE "RAMP BOAT" WAS COMING UP OUT OF THE WATER.
I EVEN BROUGHT THE GRINDER AND A ZIP CUT BLADE TO CUT THE RAMP SUPPORTS. WITH THESE CUT AND BENT OUT OF THE WAY FOR CLEARANCE. WE HAD NO PROBLEM GETTING THE "RAMP BOAT" TIGHT UP AGAINST THE "PONTOON BARGE".
THE BACK OF THE "RAMP BOAT" TUCKED UP NICELY TO THE BACK OF THE "PONTOON BARGE".
SINCE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING, WE TRIED PULLING THE "PONTOON BARGE" BUT THAT DID NOT WORK.
WE THEN DECIDED TO PUSH THE "PONTOON BARGE" USING ROPES TO STEER IT TO THE BOAT LAUNCH ACROSS THE BAY.
NOW IT WAS MY TURN TO RELAX AND ENJOY THE DAY ON REINDEER LAKE.
ONCE AT THE BOAT LAUNCH WE RAN AGROUND WITH THE "PONTOON BARGE". THEN UNHOOKED THE "RAMP BOAT" SO WE COULD LOAD THE "PONTOON BARGE" BACK ON THE TRAILER.
LOADING THE "PONTOON BARGE" BACK ON THE TRAILER WAS EASY CONSIDERING WE HAD A GOOD CROSS WIND.
WE THOUGHT OUT THE SYSTEM FOR HAULING THE "PONTOON BARGE" WHICH SAVED US A LOT OF TIME AND PROBLEMS.
XENA GOT TO DRAG THE CABLE AND TOW STRAP OUT THE "RAMP BOAT" AND HOOK IT UP.
THE "RAMP BOAT" COMING TO SHORE BY WINCHING IT WITH THE 30,000lbs "WICKED WINCH" ON THE SCREAMING FORD.
AFTER 6 YEARS IN STORAGE, THE "RAMP BOAT" IS ALMOST BACK TO THE "KINGDOM"
