9th November

Work starts on installing the main beams that link the new piles back to the exisitning structure. There are 10 of them, running out from the existing veranda, across the top of the new piles. Its going to be time consuming at the start to make sure that the new deck is level with the exisiting deck, especially as the existing deck isn't flat, it rises in the centre and is lower at each end. Its very much a case of "measure twice and cut once" rather than the reverse. Dave Wagstaff's laser level proves invaluable in showing how far out of true the existing deck is. A start is made at the oar store end, Cyril finds that the existing main beam is not only about 50mm too short, so doesn't meet the pile, but the pile is too short so the tab joist hanger is sort of wedged in place with an offcut of softwood. The new beam is cut away to form a tongue that will go over the top of the pile and fill the gap there, when its all connected Tam will try and push the pile in a bit with the crane to close the gap between it and the main beam. If you are walking down to the Club (for the AGM for instance) you can see this at the river side of the oar store). Decide to get some additional steel T pieces made to tie the two main beams together and also tie them down to the pile. Go to the metal fabricator and sketch out the design on the back of an envelope!