Ready for launch at A.F. Theriault

[mmd]

Last evening the second of two all-aluminum pilot boats for the Atlantic Pilotage Authority was hauled out of the assembly shed and brought to the shore beside Marine Railway #1. It was backed down the shore and left to wait for the eighteen-foot tide to come in and float her off the trailer. No muss, no fuss, no straps, no splash - a launch style for people who suffer from nervous disorders!

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d19/mmd_ns/APAPilotboat002.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d19/mmd_ns/APAPilotboat006.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d19/mmd_ns/APAPilotboat007.jpg

[willmarsh3]

Nice work!

I suppose you retrieve the trailer on the next low tide? Sounds like an inexpensive and workable way to launch.

[mmd]

As soon as the boat floats clear, the 'dozer winches the trailer back up via a cable that is attached to the trailer hitch.

It is a very nice way to launch - no drama. If there is a leak in the boat, it can be discovered before full immersion & the trailer & boat hauled back before any damage can be done.

It does take patience, though. From back-down to float usually takes about three to four hours.

[Paul Pless]

I gotta ask...

Is a bulldozer a typical piece of shipyard equipment up there?
What else do they use it for? Seems odd to have it just for launching and retrieving a cradle.

[Ian McColgin]

Is that ultra-huge cove stripe to recieve a wrap-around bumper.

[Stari27]

There are some nice size wheels on that baby!

[mmd]

Paul: Yes, a bulldozer is a common piece of equipment at this shipyard. With an eighteen-foot tide on an exposed spit of land, there needs to be constant maintenance on the marine railways (three) and launching ways (two). Also, there is, on average, a twenty-ton boat moved from slipway to some spot in the yard or from assembly shed to slipway every three days, so having the musclepower available to do the job is a must-have. The yard also owns a cat-track excavator and two self-propelled cranes. To hire any of these units would require their coming from Halifax, four hours away. Very expensive.

Ian: Yes, there is a big rubber bumper that encircles the boat. It will be installed this coming week.

Stari27: Yup, all thirty-two of them. The trailer has a load capacity of about 75,000 lbs.

Just to give an indication of the activity in the yard, the current projects being worked on are:

- the Avalon Pilot (pictured), just launched and alongside for final fitting out
- the sisteship to the Pilot, just re-launched after undergoing minor adjustments and modifications per contractual obligation after six months in-service
- the Deer Island, Maine ferry on slip for inspection, refit and paint
- the Tancook Island ferry, on slip for annual inspection & paint
- a 55-foot trawler on slip for inspection, prop repair, anodes, & paint
- the new steel Englishtown ferry, in Assembly Shed #1, launch due in about a month
- an 82-ft cored carbon-fiber three-deck luxury catamaran power yacht in Assembly Shed #2, launch due in May of next year
- the first of six aluminum catamaran workboats for a European client, to be used to maintain wind farm towers in the North Sea, is beginning construction in Assembly Shed #3 where the pilot boat was just hauled out of
- a 32-ft fiberglass catamaran poweryacht is undergoing final fit-out in Assembly Shed #4
- a 65-ft aluminum firefighting/emergency services boat is in production planning stages at the moment (my project) and will be built in Assembly Shed #3, with the wind farm catamaran hulls being constructed singly beside it, then moved to Shed #1 for assembly
- a 55-foot fiberglass combination trawler is hauled up on Launch Ways #2 for repairs and modification
- a 45-foot lobsterboat/longliner is on jackstands in the yard for re-powering
- a 52-foot steel sail yacht is on jackstands in the yard for hull repairs, paint & fresh electronics
- three fishing boats between 45 and 65 feet long are alongside awaiting their turn on the marine railway for prop repairs
- there are several new and interesting big projects waiting in the wings for contract awards, bidding, etc., but it would be improper of me to discuss them publicly until the contracts are signed

A very jumpin' spot. We need heavy equipment just to push the paperwork around. The local hotel just loves us, what with all the clients, inspectors, vendor reps, and all coming to stay a few days near the yard.

Keep in mind that Meteghan River is a small village in the middle of East Nowhere; there is no city nearby, nor complimentary industries. We are it in the neighborhood - what we don't have we either get, make, or do without. It is a very strong can-do type of environment. Very stimulating.

[Ian Marchuk]

Thanks for these posts and pictures Michael.
Good for you , sounds like you are in a great situation...
Best wishes to you and yours..... Ian

[Paul Pless]

It is a very strong can-do type of environment. Very stimulating.
Sounds like a very good fit for you. Congratulations!