2010 TRAVELING FLOAT

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

January 11 - 17, 2010

by Tom Grady:

Greg and Walter removed more unnecessary steel components from the float chassis this week and as you can see from the pictures - the chassis is down to the bare bones.

The front brake rotors arrived and Greg installed them. 

I flew up from Las Vegas and Greg, Walter and I met on Wednesday night. We solved how the footprint will look, but most importantly - how it will fold up over itself. I think that the float traveling committee will be pleased with our thoughts as we incorporated ease of assembly/disassembly and storage of parts into the same role. It will be unusual, to be sure. Be sure to watch as this develops! We also came up with a super idea to add an element to make our float an "one-of-a-kind" on the circuit. It's a "float guy" secret.....but I guarantee you...it's a "WOW!"....everyone will talk about it.....I don't think that it has ever been done. 

We also pulled the generator out for it's annual service, which hasn't been done for a while. Sheila.....don't they make these 6500 watt generators any lighter????

I went on a material and tool purchase run Thursday morning. Met a really nice guy at Pacific Welding Supplies in Fife, Eric Konnersman (Store Manager). He gave us a discount on the Argon gas when I told him what our project was and he has a nice  business on the tide flats in Tacoma.    

Carol, Sheila and Chuck came down on Thursday and we went to lunch and finalized the design idea. We worked off of Angie's design, slightly modifying it. I think that we have a great concept and it will work and we will all be proud of it.

Chuck did a walk around the float and I went over everything that we were doing and he pointed out his concerns and I took notes. At least the mechanical portion of the float should be in great running order for years to come.