2008 Concertina Haulout


Haulout 15 and 16 October, 2008.
	Preparations got going on 15 October, when the cradle was moved from the shelter to its low-tide position. The cradle has been sitting on one set of rails all winter.
	A second set of rails has been put in place.
	The cradle is being jigged along with pinch bars.
	Robert Fish arrived with his John Deere to complete the cradle push down the beach. At the end of this run, the cradle is left on the last set of rails. The remaining rails are returned to the boat shed until the next day.
	David Schandall boring holes to bolt the rail and cradle together until the boat is in the cradle.
	The cradle is in position and ballasted with 22 lead pigs, weighing approximately one ton, so it will not float on the tide. Concertina is at her mooring, awaiting haulout on the morrow.
	High tide on the morning of 16 October.
	A last check on the cradle before Ed and David board Concertina for her last run of the season, to shore and cradle.
	The schooner slowly approaches the cradle...
	...and into position on the cradle.
	The morning crew, David, Mike and Ed, keep an eye on the vessel as the tide turns. When she settles on the cradle, it is time to take a break.
	Later in the morning, as the tide goes out, the crew musters for action.
	"Concertina" is blocked into the cradle using rubber tires wedged between the boat and the cradle uprights.
	Approaching low tide with the ballast pigs still in place and the after end of the cradle just under water.
	David Schandall, skipper of "Schoodic", a Peterson designed Friendship sloop, rowing ashore to participate in the action.
	John, Ed, Mike, and Bob carry a rail down the beach...
	...and place it in line with the rail already under the cradle.
	The rail is carefully placed, mating the angled ends to allow a smooth transition from rail to rail as the boat is hauled up the beach.
	These timbers are pegged inside the rails to keep them apart; the skids on the cradle keep the rails from spreading apart.
	David removes the bolts that held the rails in place under the cradle runner.
	The next section of rails is put in place.
	All eight 20-foot lengths of rail are now in place.
	Ed and Haig dog the rails together while Bob applies grease.
	Mike and Bob apply grease to the rails while Ed and Haig dog another set of rails.
	A connecting dog in place.
	John carries an 80 pound lead pig up the beach.
	David employs mechanical advantage, the wheel. Now one person can move two pigs at a time.
	Ed introduces a piece of line; now two people can move three pigs at a time. (Has anyone thought to ask why the pigs can't be hauled up the beach on the cradle?)
	As the water rises, David and Haigh remove the last of the pigs...
	...and Bob and Mike move them up the beach.
	The pigs are stored beside the boat shelter for the winter, at the ready for next spring's activities.
	David secures the check line, which ensures that the boat does not move on the cradle as she is hauled.
	All set to go. It's hard to see, but a chain bridle is secured to the cradle, ready for the tow truck.
	A final inspection and rest as the crew awaits arrival of the tow truck. Two more sets of rails are needed to reach all of the way into the shed. As the boat and cradle are hauled up the shore, sets of rails that are left behind will be moved up the beach to extend the slipway.
	The tow truck backing into the boat shelter.
	Phillip running the hydraulic winch.
	Hauling underway with key observers. The wedges under the rails raise them enough to ensure that the cradle will not catch on the next rail.
	David watching the cradle move from one set of rails to the next.
	Slowly and relatively smoothly, she comes up the beach.
	Concertina is now at the end of the first set of rails. Haigh and Mike are preparing to move the lower railings, which will be placed above the cradle for the next run.
	Ron and Bob prepare to move rails...
	...ahead of the cradle.
	The next spacing bar in place.
	And the next rail.
	Philip and Al adjust horizontal and vertical rail alignment.
	The cradle moves forward onto the last set of rails before the tow truck has to move out of the way.
	David secures blocks to ensure that the cradle does not move downhill when tension is off the winch.
	The last set of rails, the ones in the boat shed, are in place.
	The tow truck is re-positioned.
	Philip secures a snatch block to get a fair lead for the last pull.
	Headed onto the last set of rails and into the shed for the winter.
	Easing her into the shed.
	Under the tarp...
	...and into the barn.
	David blocks the cradle.
	Here is a detail of how the rails and runners work. 2x6 runners are attached to the underside of the crossbeams, just inside of the skids. It is the runners that ride the rails. The cradle skids keep the rails from moving outwards and the spacers keep the rails from moving inwards, so that the runners stay on the rails.
	The rails are stacked away for the winter.
	Philip prepares to depart in the tow truck.
	The crew Standing: John Zuck, Bob Mossman, David Schandall, Haigh Carthew, and Mike Mesheau. Kneeling: Al Heubach and Ed Porter.
	That's all folks. Time to bail out the boots and call it a day.


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