Belle Shipyard Activity

Dan,

Thanks for posting these. I was just thinking the other day about asking if there was an update on her inspection. Any idea when the aft area received new plate? There's been much conversation off this forum about the quality of steel today compared to years ago. How thick is the new plate that is going on? Any other work going on outside of hull work this winter?

Thanks again for keeping us posted on the old gal.

Aaron

Thanks, Dan, for the updates. I wish we could see the BELLE from the museum but, even from the third floor, she's hidden by the shipyard buildings. It is possible, however, to see her very well from the end of Riverside Drive, where the Jeffboat property begins and she's easily viewed through the fence. Appreciate your great photos and reports!

Belle photos

I can only get the first picture - is anyone else having trouble seeing the other two?

Yes, and I click on it and get a message in German? Did you?

Fehler 403

Ja, it is mistake 403 which says we are possibly clicking on an old URL... don't know how we can be doing that on a posted picture...

Same problem opening the last two pics, Judy.... and I don't speak Deutch

PS: Great article in latest REFLECTOR, Judy.... I always like bustin' myths!

The new plate is 5/16"--old plate was usually 1/4"; except under the fuel compartment, which was 1/2". The frames under these plates are often replaced. There are some sections of deck beams in the capstan compartment being replaced, and we are giving our main fire pump a larger intake. Hull work and the fire pump are being done by the shipyard. The crew has been busy all winter with various projects. We've are replacing the wood sill under the dance floor windows. We've added more insulation in the walls under these windows. The pilot house windows are going to be replaced. We also went through a "nozzle" inspection on our boiler, which means every spot a pipe is attached directly to the boiler has the welds and threads inspected. This entails stripping all the pipe and valves off the top of the boiler and removing enough insulation from the shell to inspect the attachments. Once the inspection is done, the engineering crew cut and thread all new pipe on the boiler and replace the stop valves--feedwater, chemical feed, skimmers, sight glass. All of this new pipe will get new insulation, of course. We are also getting new piston rings for the main engines, along with lapping all the main engines' double poppet valves. "Lapping" is a slow, tedious process where a patient soul will spend the winter grinding new surfaces onto the valves and their seats.
All of that excludes our usual spring refit and unexpected "bumps" in the road we find as we ready for another cruising season--one step at a time!

Dan,

On behalf of countless fans of the grand old lady, our sincere thanks for your hard and dedicated work to keep her steaming for many, many years to come. It's this long, slow, tedious, dirty, and just plain hard physical labor that really shows the crew's love for the boat. The BELLE is fortunate to have crew like yourself giving her the TLC she needs and deserves. Thank you from all of us!

reposting last two pics

Here's my second attempt to post the two pics of plate taken out of the capstan compartment.

second attempt to post pictures

Here's the picture showing the stbd. side of the capstan compartment, giving a little better idea of her framing.