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Using the
same process for cutting steel plates, Oneal Steel cuts patterns
for the 32' aluminum hull. |
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Patterns
from the tape also include position markers etched into the plate
for positive identification. |
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The plate
is passed along for the next process. |
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Shortly after
the parts arrive at Kennedy the process of assembling the boat
begins. |
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In the upper
right corner of this picture is the steering console and compressor
box that will be added later. |
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Aluminum
sheet is added to the sides to begin closing the hull. |
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After sheeting
the sides the boat is flipped and internal structures installed. |
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A steering
console is added. From this angle one can see the access panels
for equipment storage and where the CNG tanks will go. |
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Once the
boat is completed it is trailered to a protected cove on Galveston
Bay for it's first test. Launching with a cherry picker will
not be necessary since it will have it's own trailer. |
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The boat
will be powered by a 9.9hp Yamaha which is converted to run on
compressed natural gas as are all the engines used in maintaining
the river walk. Here, the small engine has no problem powering
the seemingly heavy boat. |
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With wings
extended and nets fully opened, the strange looking craft travels
around the bay opening and closing the wings and testing the
pumps. |
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Sassi arrives
in San Antonio and Chris Kennedy takes the wheel to test it in
the tight quarters of the river walk. Here, he approaches one
area where the bow thruster will be used extensively to keep
it from banging into the fragile walls. |
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Debris like
these leaves fall into the river walk every day and eventually
requires that the water be drained to clean the channel from
one end to the other. |
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Within minutes
we see that operations are going to be very comfortable as another
tight turn is approached. |
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The wings
are opened by pneumatic cylinders driven by a compressor hidden
in the box and can be controlled individually. The generator
on deck is temporary. |
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The bow thruster
can be seen working here. It is indicated by the stream of water
coming from the front of the boat. |
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With wings
closed after a successful test Chris heads the boat back to the
underground maintenance facility. In the far boat Lincoln St.
George, Parks and Recreation manager, and Richard Decaire look
on happily. |
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