Removal of Floor Timbers for First 8' of APRON (previously identified as KEELSON)

[bob mitchell]

      First thing I did today was set up a laser reference grid to document any movement that might ocurr during the APRON (aka keelson) replacement, which necessitates removing the floor timbers above the apron to get to it.

        Zip the 1/2 inch floor to apron bolts with a sawsaw. All of these bolts, at the top surface of the apron where I cut them, had 90% of their diameter left except one, which was shot.

However, at frame 12, where the mast, stove, and the chainplate can all contribute to leakage, the wood of the apron around the bolt was so shot I lifted it out with no trouble.

           After you cut the floor bolts unbolt the bottom frame member (or just "bottom")from the floor timber. Clyde has pointed out in an email that the total frame is made up of 6 pieces - the vertical "sides", the "bottoms", which run from chine to floor timber (floor) and the deck beam. Most of these 3/8" bolts had 3/16" of good steel left. They usually twisted off as I unscrewed  them. My sense is that they would still hold together - hard to judge.

         It did not take long to figure out that my Ace flat bar was exactly what this job called for. Note the minimum taper - that way you don't torque and crack the floor timber - so I ran to ace and grabbed a couple more. Put a flat bar between the two bolts at each end of the floor and give them a wack or two, making sure to open up the gaps equally so that the floor is not broken.

 

       So it was a good day. I removed all the floor timbers necessary to replace the first 8' of apron.

Most of the floor timbers will be reused after clean up. A laser check at the end of the day indicates no discernable movement. For those of you who might need a little more information, I've included a cross section diagram of the main mast step area.