2010 TRAVELING FLOAT

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

January 25 - January 31, 2010

by Tom Grady:

We spent most of this week completing the lower level of the chassis shape. As you can see by the photos - the peanut/guitar/hourglass shape....is....taking shape! We had a small setback on Wednesday when we noticed that our chassis shape did not match our drawing... so we had to go back and forth several times on the rear part - cutting and re-measuring - to get it proportionately correct. I'd like to say that we wasted a couple of hours - but I guess that in reality we probably "learned" something during that time. It might be that I am not a very good sidewalk chalk artist!

We also widened the original top deck by 7 inches to give us more flat space to work with. The new sides will have a gentler slope than last year's float.

We also had to "DC" test the lower chassis level... and it passed. As you all know - when we travel to and from parade staging and to parade dispersal - we haul all of our people on the float. So, keeping that in mind, Greg and I had to make sure that the sides would be sturdy enough to handle the weight of our volunteers. DC is really starting to turn out be a pretty good float building apprentice. Thank you, DC!

Our very good friends, Al Mahaney (from Port Orchard Fathoms O'Fun) and Claude Brown (Past President Daffodil Festival) who now run a float building business called CAM Float Builders stopped by to visit us on the way back from meetings with the Tulalip Resort and Casino. They are great guys and offered their assistance and expertise if ever we should need it. Thank you, Al and Claude! If anyone reading this article is in need of a float builder, you can contact Al at (360) 710-3087.

Carol and Chuck stopped by on Thursday for our weekly meeting. We got updated with each other on our weekly progress - made decisions on decorations ordered decorations - and provided details on what we needed to do in the upcoming weeks. So far we are on track. Carol and Chuck have helped removed some of the float contents and return it back to Marysville.

You will notice from the pictures that the interesting part of the float this year is that the front and rear will be "rounded off" versus "squared off". I think that this will add to the esthetic appeal. Our past "rectangular shape" was very "unstylish" and reminds me of a piece of 8 1/2" x 11" paper. Greg and I are engineering it so that it will not be any more work for the float travel crew to assemble/disassemble. We promise. The advantage we have is that we actually travel with the float so we know what a hassle it is to do all of that work - so we are keeping that in mind. I think that you will like the enhancements we have planned for this float. Especially, "Project WOW".

Next week, our goal is to figure out the upper sloping sides and how it will relate to the lower level. We have to put a hinge in there somewhere. Also, the lower level will have about a four inch rise in it too. But everything will be dependent upon the upper level first in order to have the right perspective. And to complicate things, the upper sides will have curves in them too. After that, then we cover the float and start decorating! We'll also start working on the storage compartments on the float.