Progress

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The countertimber was cut and shaped on the bench in front of Mahdee's bow. The yard carpenter worked on this large timber for two weeks. He was methodical and didn't rush his work. We began to think that it would never be ready to test fit. We're sure that he was also anxious since this large timber wouldn't be scarfed together it must be shaped out of one huge purpleheart timber.	The countertimber was placed on a small flat dolly and wheeled along the keel, under the boat stands, to the back of the boat. There were four guys ready to help with getting this "tailfeather" up onto the boat: David and John as well as the yard carpenter and yard shipwright. Brenda took pictures of the important event.	The yard shipwright, usually working offsite at another project, directed the activities of the others during this important fitting of the countertimber. He also had dibbs on setting up the ropes just right for hauling the roughly 1200 lb timber up into the boat.
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Once the knots were tied, David's portable winch was used to pull the tailfeather up, up, up onto the scaffold platform behind Mahdee's transom	Each rachet of the winch brought the timber a little closer to the transom	It was exciting to see the timber go up but a bit unsettling to think about all that weight rising overhead.
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John watches as the timber rises over the workbench behind the boat.	Here, John is figuring out how to get the timber that last few inches needed to clear the sternpost below.	A line was wrapped around a temporary frame set up below the cockpit area of the boat. This helped steady and guide the timber into place.
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The new countertimberin general fit very nicely over the deadwood.	There was a 1/2" space between the timber and deadwood that had to be fitted with a spacer that was epoxied into place. All in all, we were very pleased with that being the only "misfit" of the timber at this point.	The yard carpenter notes the areas to shape further for fitting by marking on the timber before it is removed from the boat.
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Then, the whole process had to be reveresed to get the timber out of the boat and back out to where it could be finished!		Here, the new timber is on the right, the old one is on the left.
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Several days later, after the shaping was completed, the countertimber made its last trip from the workbench to the back of the boat. (low resolution real time movie)	Then, the whole "lift it up" process started again! This time, only 3 guys were on-hand to complete the task: the boatyard carpenter, David and John. And, of course, Brenda to document the event. (low resolution real time movie)	Up, up, up, above the workbench and onto the scaffold platform. A plank is used to provide a skid for the countertimber to climb.
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The aft end of the countertimber is hitting the back wall of the boatshed and the guys were just barely able to get the timber far enough aft to make it over the top of the sternpost/deadwood.	Once in place over the deadwood, the tailfeather fit was very good.	From the back we can see the hole where the prop shaft will go, right below the overhanging tailfeather.
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later, we can see the tailfeather below the cockpit with new floors and some of the new frames in place. The knees at the back fit on either side of the timber and the new transom is being fitted in place as well.		Counter timber done! Over 5 weeks time elapsed and roughly 300 manhours for everything involved with its replacement.