Got asked to bid a very unusual project

[slckeys]

Bingo
Then you end up downstream with logs ramming into someones bridge and do damage….
Bet that job requires 5 million in insurance minimum.

Wondered if I could get someone to operate a water rescue boat while I lean over and cut small pieces away one at a time with a chainsaw, so as not to create large floating battering rams downstream?

That's what I would do in the creek near me. But I can stand in it and operate my chainsaw. I cut small chunks and then they just float away little by little. But your situation is a whole other can of worms.

 

[2manyrocks]

Seems strange to me that the conservancy would have responsibility to clear the log jam resting against a bridge pier owned by the RR? Is that what their lawyers have told them?

 

[Hay Dude]

That's what I would do in the creek near me. But I can stand in it and operate my chainsaw. I cut small chunks and then they just float away little by little. But your situation is a whole other can of worms.

Its especially deep around the railroad bridge pylons. Those were built in 1900.

I bet it would be especially awkward & tiring and risky cutting off logs with a chainsaw from an inflatable raft
One slip of the saw and it’s lost in the river, or cuts a slice in the raft.

I do know a guy with a platform boat with 2 outboard motors on it.

 

[paulsharvey]

Well, I guess I would ask you (or if it was me, myself), do I want/need this work (ie an established client, and you really want avoid turning it down). If your crane guy looks at it, and has some pretty reassuring words (yep, we do this a couple times a year, no problem), I would probably proceed with the crane, and a boat. If either this client isnt needed, or your crane guy is hesitant (umm, maybe we can do it...), I would pass.

 

[slckeys]

Its especially deep around the railroad bridge pylons. Those were built in 1900.

I bet it would be especially awkward & tiring and risky cutting off logs with a chainsaw from an inflatable raft
One slip of the saw and it’s lost in the river, or cuts a slice in the raft.

I do know a guy with a platform boat with 2 outboard motors on it.

Probably not a good idea, but I can imagine myself out there on my property in this situation, in a blow up raft trying to stand and cut with a chainsaw. Definitely see myself going to the ER with a missing limb or two.

Now a solid floating platform anchored to land upstream maybe, then you chip away the parts upstream first to let them float away. Then little chance of it taking you with it. But, I don't typically err or the side of caution doing my own projects.

 

[airbiscuit]

This might be one of those jobs that isn't worth doing.

 

[Hay Dude]

I just love a challenge though!
You know????

The river is pretty shallow in spots. I will have to walk downstream to see if there’s a stone “reef” area that might beach any “get away” logs

 

[4570Man]

Probably not a good idea, but I can imagine myself out there on my property in this situation, in a blow up raft trying to stand and cut with a chainsaw. Definitely see myself going to the ER with a missing limb or two.

Now a solid floating platform anchored to land upstream maybe, then you chip away the parts upstream first to let them float away. Then little chance of it taking you with it. But, I don't typically err or the side of caution doing my own projects.

A blow up raft seems like a terrible idea mixed with sharp sticks and a chainsaw but if you had a small barge I’d be down to try it. I think of you sawed the piece in firewood length and floated them that the downstream risk would be extremely minor. Especially considering all those pieces already floated down the river and they would have kept going if it was for that bridge.

 

[LouNY]

A crane with a grapple would work, I would wonder about a good sized drag line excavator. But as others have said I would expect a bunch of stuff to escape and head down river. I would wonder what the kingpin is in the pile, a large tree with heavy limbs wedged into the river bottom, maybe.

 

[lilranch2001]

My thought if I won any bid……

Have a ton of liability insurance……

 

[garry1p]

I am no engineer so this is a very unprofessional thought.

Tie a small but wide boat off from both sides to keep the boat centered, bow facing upstream and working off the back of the boat use timber claw hook on a winch and winch them back to shore you would need a floating throw line (sky rope) to return the hook back to the boat.

You would need something like an aircraft crash barrier net downstream should the mess break loose.

Whatever you decide .... Good luck

 

[groundcover]

This idea on a smaller scale. Rig a grapple to lower down , the claw game for big kids !

Forest Operations Equipment Catalog: Cable Logging

www.fs.usda.gov

 

[airbiscuit]

Check out this log jam removal'

Work with the flow of the river
Use a rope that will break if needed

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[LittleBill21]

I don't remotely see how your gonna control the whole thing not letting go. I have destroyed dams in the past, one tree can let the entire thing go, and cranes are slow, your never going to stop it if it decides to let go.

 

[Richard]

If you take the job.... please do us a favor.

1. Set up a camera to record the entire event in wide angle AND a couple close up angles (multiple cameras)
2. Don't forget to take a swig of beer, crunch the can while you toss it and say "WATCH THIS"
3. Proceed....
4. Post videos

 

[Hay Dude]

I don't remotely see how your gonna control the whole thing not letting go. I have destroyed dams in the past, one tree can let the entire thing go, and cranes are slow, your never going to stop it if it decides to let go.

Thats exactly right.
Did a little more research and the next bridge is about 1 mile downstream. It is very old and actually slated for replacement this month and will take 20 months to complete

 

[texas42]

look into Flexifloats.
a few might be the ticket

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

I would just pass on this job, no bid, no quote, no interest in paying for damages if things go wrong.
The odds are always against you if you have never done this type of work before.
Water in motion is a powerful force!

 

[CH4Ohio]

Thats exactly right.
Did a little more research and the next bridge is about 1 mile downstream. It is very old and actually slated for replacement this month and will take 20 months to complete

Perfect. You should go ahead and bid on the demolition of that downstream bridge too.

 

[airbiscuit]