Hey Big Rig

[Franz]

What do you know about repairing aluminum ferry boats?
The Rochester to Toronto Love Boat crashed docking in the Big Apple this morning.
http://www.10nbc.com/index.asp?template=item&story_id=10871
Since you're not doin much this week, could you patch her up?

[big rig guy]

Well actually Franz I am now quite busy, as you can see my next project here.

I was kinda figuring you would be the right guy to give me a hand hooking this and draggin it outta the lake, you can run the chain for me. I"II pick you up, bring gloves a warm coat and a life jacket. lol.

Looks like I am a Volvo Mack guy now, the deal is signed for our shop and they take over starting next week, I am not the foreman anymore and back on the floor where I want to be full time.

I told the new guy, I am miserable and need to be in my own 60 foot bay all by myself, he said no problem. I can rent the bay and contract to him for his heavy work, then solicit for additional work.

I am looking forward to this and should start happening next week. Been dogging it at work for a month now, got some really good deals on tools today, 12 ton air jacks for half price, and 3/4 deep impact sockets for real cheap. Abrasive discs for free, magnetic drill, fuel transfer pump, battery charger, new Frued Router, misc seal drivers etc, sure paid not to shoot out the door when they closed down.

[big rig guy]

oops forgot the damn pic again

[wood-n steel]

what was he doing? checking his tipups
on company time?

[big rig guy]

I don't know where this took place, but used to travel ice roads in northern Manitoba some twenty years ago. Only way to get supplies to norther areas.

What would one do with that, just let it sink
?

[wood-n steel]

hook up a lot of air bags and hope for spring--
the problem would be what is in the tank
EPA would not like it left in the watter
being a fisherman neither would I

[Franz]

That one went in back in February, and was out in under 24 hours. VERY long winch cable, with air bags for safetys on the tank. They have plenty of experience with breakthrus on the ice road.
That driver was a lucky basterd for sure gettin to walk away without wet feet.

[lotechman]

My daughter has pictures of a snow cat that went through the first layer of ice on the MacKenzie river NWT. The driver got out but the machine had to be abandoned until dead of Winter when they went in with a big Cat and chainsaws. They dragged it up on the bank then after thaw they shipped it down to Edmonton.
The Dempster ice road is a major supply route for the North. Without it things would be pretty tough up there.
Aluminum boat repairs are relatively easy with a skill saw. Things can be done very quickly with aluminum. I worked on an aluminum project for two years. The guys who had spent ten years plus on aluminum could do amazing things with a skill saw. A lot of it involved gouging trimming and shaving bevels freehand. Scary stuff if you slip. Imagine putting a 7 1/4 inch saw blade in your seven inch grinder.

[john pen]

Discovery channel did a show on those trucks and how they recover them when they go through the ice....

[rusted]

Yeah the Discovery show was awesome, quite a bit involved with that. They replay it often, highly reccommend. Ice Road Truckers I believe it's called.

[Banzaitoyota]

Should be called"Big, Brass-Balled truckers"!!!!!