Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Redneck Repairs Save The Day...!


Here in the South, many times we make do with things on hand when we need a temporary repair done in a hurry!

Many times it's something like duct tape, some times it's spit and bailing wire...and some times just a simple rag stuffed in a hole can prevent a battleship from sinking!

Check out this story from the Houston Chronicle.

Near-sinking of Battleship Texas a 'wake-up call'

By AMANDA CASANOVA Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle June 15, 2010, 8:42PM

Millions of dollars and major repairs have kept the iconic Battleship Texas afloat over the years, but last weekend it was a pump and a rag that stopped it from sinking into the Houston Ship Channel.

On Thursday, an employee at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, where the Texas is moored, noticed the 96-year-old ship was sitting lower in the water than usual when he left the park. “The next morning when he got back, it was noticeably deeper,” said Mike Cox, spokesman for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “He and other staff went below deck and found the ship was taking on water — to use nautical speak.”

A combination of a pump failure and leaks — at least one new one — had caused the ship to take on at least 105,000 gallons of water and sink nearly three feet into the channel.


By Saturday, replacement pumps and a rag stuffed into the new leak had righted the ship, and it was stabilized on Sunday, Cox said. Tours of the ship continued throughout the weekend.


“We think it’s a wake-up call as to the importance to getting this vessel stabilized so future generations can appreciate and enjoy it,” he said.
Cox said maintenance routinely checks the ship, and while there have been leaks in the past, this was the most serious pumping ever done for the battleship.

“This worrisome incident, which we fortunately succeeded in bringing under control, underscores the importance of moving forward rapidly with plans to place the Texas in a dry-berth,” said Carter Smith, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department executive director. “I’m just glad our folks at the park showed a lot of resourcefulness in preventing the situation from getting out of hand.”


Three years ago, voters approved a bond package that included $25 million to dry-berth the ship, with another $4 million provided by the Battleship Texas Foundation. TPWD has selected an engineering firm to design the dry berth and is negotiating fees.

The dry berth is slated to be completed by 2014, the centennial of the ship’s commissioning.
In 1988, the Texas was towed to Todd Shipyards in Galveston for a $14 million restoration. The deck was replaced and the ship’s hull was repaired during the two-year project. “Given what happened recently, we are eager to proceed with this project,” Carter Smith said.

“We’re not going to let the passage of time do what two world wars could not do, which is scuttle the Battleship Texas.”
amanda.casanova@chron.com

Stories like this make you proud to be a genuine, dyed in the wool, problem solving redneck! After all, this is the battleship Texas we're talking about, ya know?

Now, my friends, to celebrate we'll have some fresh coffee on the patio! Maybe some fresh baked cookies on the side...!

14 comments:

Baby Sis (Texas Red) said...

Hear, hear, Bubba. Memories galore floating on the old Texas, mine included with those who served her well. I went several years ago to see her again after a hiatus of some 20 years - maybe will take the grands in the upcoming weeks so they can make their own memories. Hats of to a grand old lady, with many thanks..

Momlady said...

Kinda like a finger in the dam, eh?MMMMMMM cookies.

Dizzy-Dick said...

It has been many years since I visited the old battle ship. It was impressive. She served in both WW1 & WW2. A lot of history there.

Had my coffee with you this morning, as always.

Ben in Texas said...

Well, I learned something. Last time I toured it had to be 20+ years ago and I thought it was resting in a concrete base.

JoJo said...

Good Morning My Special One
Great story, I have never been on a ship, always wanted to. Glad the guy noticed the problem.
Cookies with coffee! sounds yummie to me.

Anonymous said...

Dear Hermit,

Thanks for my morning smile. Made me feel right at home seeing as we do have duct tape around the toilet seat (Sweetie's not ready to part with the fancy wooden seat he bought!) and rags stuffed in the hole where the water pipe comes through the floor - thanks to the previous owner cutting it too large. Now you know part of why we need a bathroom remodel. Have a great day, Treesong

Mechanic in Illinois said...

You might be a redneck if you keep duct tape in the medicine cabinet. Duct tape the universal redneck repair. Thanks for another great lesson.

Ken said...

...God Bless(anything named)Texas...

HermitJim said...

Hey Gama...
Glad to share it with you, my friend...and I thank you for coming by!


Hey Sis...
Remember touring the Texas with Dad...and him explaining hat everything was? Lots of childhood memories there!

Maybe we should go as a group to pay another visit!

Thanks for dropping in today, Sis!


Hey Momlady...
I guess that whatever works is allowed! May not be pretty, but who cares!

Glad you could stop by today!


Hey Dizzy-Dick...
I have to admit that it's been a while since my last visit as well!

Time to go again, I'm thinking!

Thanks for coming by this morning, buddy!


Hey Ben...
I always just took it for granted that it was sitting on concrete as well!

Guess we all learn something new each day!

Thanks for coming by today buddy!


Hey JoJo...
If you ever come down here, I'll take you out to take a tour of the Texas! Impressive...and it has a great museum!

Glad you could come by, sweetie!


Hey Treesong...
Can't ever have enough duct tape around, that's for sure!

Hey, when you live in the country, you use whatever you need to for repairs and such! I certainly understand that!

Hope the "throne" holds up long enough to finish the repairs! Be a shame to waste all that duct tape!

Thanks so much for coming by today, Treesong!


Hey Mechanic...
I can't imagine a tool kit without Duct Tape! A necessity of life, I think!

I appreciate you coming by today!

HermitJim said...

Hey Ken...
I second that, Brother! Just gotta love the Republic!

I do thank you for coming by today, buddy!

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Hi Jim, it's amazing what some simple tools can do. Glad the ship was able to be stabilized cause it would have been preety sad to have it sink in the Houston Channel having survivied wartime service.
BTW - what type cookies did you have with coffee today? Chocolate chip are our favorite.

Catman said...

Good story, Jim. We need to preserve the best examples oh what America once was...and will be again.

Mayberry said...

A little "southern engineering" goes a long way! Carter Smith is a good guy, he'll find a way to git 'er done. I know, he's my "boss"...

HermitJim said...

Hey Catman...
True that is! Gonna have to save what we can, anyway we can, and use it for inspiration later!

I do appreciate you coming by today!


Hey Mayberry...
That's good to know. That's what we need...more "get 'er done" types in charge!

Thanks for coming by today!