Norwegian Porn

[Keith]

What do Norwegians watch on their TVs at night?

50 replays of a lifeboat drop test set to the Rolling Stones, that's what.

To be fair, sent to me by a rig bound friend who's only way off in an emergency is this way.

One question: Why do they test them with bags of cement?

Go on, click if you can't sleep..... :zzz:

Norsafe GES50 MKIII Freefallboat - New world record holder highest drop test 61,53m (201.8ft) - YouTube

 

[Jack]

Keith,
To simulate a full load of 70, 100Kg persons.

 

[Jim Rosenthal]

Can't argue with the soundtrack, though..... top rate.

 

[Keith]

Keith,
To simulate a full load of 70, 100Kg persons.

My point was (is) why? They should use real people and I suggest crims.

Reminds of Fairey Aviation just prior to WWII. Fairey you may remember developed, nay, pioneered the super light and strong impregnated multi layer 2mm veneer (usually Gaboon) construction with epoxy, vacuum bagging and autoclave curing used in boats and planes.

They developed an air droppable full sized lifeboat for a Sunderland on behalf of the MOD who spent a few precious millions on the research and development. The lifeboat, strong as it was, survived the fall in tests, but when someone pointed out the obvious flaw that it would be quite possible to drop the darned thing right on top of those you were trying to save, and thus the project was ever so quietly shelved.

However, it didn't go to waste, post war Fairey (along with a range of superfast wooden and later GRP powerboats) finished the lifeboat as a motor sailor called the Fairey Fisherman in the late '50's and early '60's and they still survive to this day.

In fact, so durable was this form of construction 95% of the original boat production program survive today 50 years on. Remarkable for a wooden construction.

F1 chassis and parts are now built the same way.

 

[Jack]

Yes, Fairey Avaition pioneered the techniques. Not sure about the epoxy, thought they used hide glue.

 

[Keith]

Hmmm, I understood it was one of the earliest epoxies.

I'll get back to you.

PS I owned a Fairey Huntress, built in 1962 for Barney Drake the guy who invented a product equally loved and hated by mariners everywhere, called "Easistart" an ether based starting spray.

"Maid of Baltimore" (for that was her name) also had the distinction of being Britain's first inshore lifeboat based in Lymington, prompting the RNLI to start it's own service, and was a competitor in the 1970 and 1971 Cowes/Torquay/Cowes races.

 

[Keith]

Well, that's interesting. I am told it was "Borden One Shot" waterproof glue , an American product, for all but the first layer.

It was also "Agba" not Gaboon (mine was repaired with Gaboon, because you can no longer get Agba as it is a protected and endangered species of hardwood) in 2.5mm.

I love history...

 

[Jack]

Good find Keith. I understand that when Fairey Marine in Southhampton started up
with boat building, they used birch plywood.

I find this fascinating stuff, thanks!

 

[Keith]

It was definitely Agba veneer probably a dozen layers x 2.5mm for the bigger boats, 9 layers for the smaller ones. In this way, they actually manufactured "shaped' plywood , but a very high tech version because of the vacuum bagging and curing. This was only to use up the techniques and machinery left over from the war when they made parts for the Mosquito and other cutting edge wooden aircraft.

Sadly it was all lost in a flood in the '70's at their base at Hamble Point Southampton. The old shed is still there and boats are still made in it but no more Faireys. The giant autoclaves were destroyed and far too expensive to replace now that aircraft for the MOD were no longer required.

I have now had a contact from a fellow member of the Fairey Owners Club, who informs me that Mosquito Aircraft were prone to delaminate in tropical conditions so they developed a 2 pack glue: “Aerolite” urea formadehyde, with formic acid as the hardener which was subsequently used (he thinks) in boat production. Sadly, Alan Burnard the designer of all these wonderful boats, passed away not 2 months ago

 

[Jack]

Sad to learn of Alan Burnard's passing. Very talented man.
You are spot-on about the Aerolite glue. Thanks Keith.

 

[John Milmont]

Seems like a really cool amusement park ride! I'd pay admission!

I hope Felix Baumgartner does his next jump in one of these.

 

[Bob]

Hardy,
Very cool video. I'm not sure I'd like to ride one down. But if I had to I'd be screaming all the way.

In 1979 I worked for Marine Safety Equipment Company (MASECO) in Point Pleasant New Jersey. They built life boats, davits, and winches. The boats were of various sizes from 25 ft to 36 ft. The smaller boats were built of rivited galvanized steel and the 36 footer was rivited aluminum. Made for a noisy work environment.
Just before I left they were testing a new fiberglass boat, about 28-30 foot long.
Out in the back of their property they had a 6 story testing tower. The top deck was hinged like a gimbal. They could simulate just about any angle a ships deck could experience. They'd set up davits, winches, and boats, set the deck an impossible angle and see if the systems worked. Which they did.
Down near ground level they had a heavy steel plate welded between two of the legs to simulate a hull side. They filled the fibrglass boat with concrete pieces to max weight capacity, hung it from a pair of davits which were up on the top deck, pulled the boat sideways with a wrecker and let it slam back into the plate. After each crash they inspected the hull for cracks. It had minor cracking along the gunwal near the bow and stern. They then launched it into the river, fully loaded with concrete, and drove it up and down the river for several days.
I never got to see the final design and the company is now closed. Too bad, it was an interesting, but dangerous, place to work.

 

[Keith]

Interesting story Bob. Thanks for posting. My friend on the rigs said that memories of Piper Alpha are never very far away, and I suppose anything that gives them a chance of survival has to be good.