Drum progress

[Tom Bowser]

Well we are finally back on schedule and deep into the restoration again now that hollywood is done.

We finished sand blasting and painting the periscope shears and radar masts, (made 6 new inspection covers) and the 20mm.
Last week we rented a man lift for a month and got a 300lb sand blasting pot and compressor donated for about a month and Oneal steal donated 6,000 dollars worth of steel, (16 sheets 1'4" and 4 sheets of 1/8"). In two and a half days we sand blasted and primed the top of the stern to just forward of the aft tank bulkhead, 2/3 of the inside of the stern and the new interior partition which we had compled also. Thanks again to the Batfish for her photos..Tom

[Darrin]

What is the latest and greatest on the work on the stern tubes??

[Lance Dean]

I'm curious as well.  I've been out of touch the last couple of weeks.  It's going to take a bit of adjusting before I can get back to work here. 

[Tom Bowser]

OK Guys, here is the latest on The Drum. I have a little busy and tired so haven't updated. We got the donation use of a 300 lb sand blaster and air compressor from Sunbelt Rentals for a month but had to rent a man lift with donation money. The abrasive company could not give us a discount on the sand this year due to the economy so we are having to pay full price. The first two weeks we had the equipment we had off and on rain and didn't get a lot done but it finally cleared. I go in at 0530 and get set up and started and then Lesley comes in at 0730. We blast until about noon or later depending on winds and visitors and then primed what we blasted. We decided to concintrate on the upper half of the hull that we needed a lift to reach and we can get the rest from the ground if we can get a blasting rig again. This week we will put the top coat on and turn in the equipment, we have the crew reunion this week also.

Thanks again to all for the donations.
Tom

[JTheotonio]

Looks like real good progress Tom - great work.  Thanks for the pictures too!

[Tom Bowser]

We were able to get top coat on all that we had blasted and primed before the reunion. We were painting monday in 105 degree heat index with rollors and finished up on tuesday monrning. We both had tears in our eyes to see the boat shinning again. We are going to take it a little easy for a couple of weeks and let it warm up some more before we start in again.
Tom

[Tom Bowser]

Ok Guys, I know you have all been holding your breath waiting for the latest up date, so you can breath again here it is. I am also posting a first before phot for those that may not remember what we started with. Should be painting it next week. We will do the shutter doors down the rode.
Tom

[Bill Wasil]

That's amazing!  What looked like a rusted out stern is now looking like it's ready for the outer doors and a coat of paint.  I can't believe the amount of work those people have done.  I wish I could be there to help.

[Darrin]

WOW, you and Lesley have done an incredible job and I have to echo Bill in I wish that I was closer to give you two a hand. 

[Mark Sarsfield]

Tom, what are your plans for the shudder doors?  We'd likek to get something movable, as opposed to welding them in place, since it's kind of hard to ever paint in there, again, if the plates are blocking the way.

[Tom Bowser]

Mark
I intend to have at least #7 operable as the outer door works now. I will have to make new tracks, rollars etc plus the doors. If I can get the other doors to open I will make the shutters to move also.

Are you guys thinking of making the shutter doors?
Tom

[Mark Sarsfield]

Yes.  Mark Allen, our work/restoration guru, would like to make and install the doors, but we need plans.

So, your hydraulic system works well enough to open the #7 door or is it mechanical?

[Darrin]

Get with the folks on the Pampanito because there shutter doors open on their hydraulics, google the pampanito and her last drydock and there is some video of them opening the outer doors.

Darrin

[Mark Sarsfield]

Okay.  We're a long way from getting that system restored.  A lot hinges on us getting new electrical installations.  That's probably why the Navy removed the doors before giving the boats away, because they knew that the areas had to be accessed for maintenance and most boats would never get their systems operational again.

[Tom Bowser]

You mean your outer doors are hydraulic? Lot to be said for the older manual boats, 14 turns on a hand crank.
Tom