Got asked to bid a very unusual project

[Hay Dude]

Have at it Rambo . You will not like it .

OK, Why? I love work like this.
Makes me feel full of life, risk taking, satisfied.
I have done land clearing and logging for 40 years. Just haven’t done any in a river yet.

 

[lilranch2001]

Why? I love work like this.
Makes me feel full of life, risk taking, satisfied.

I hope your basketball sized testes do not get in the way of some of those logs!

 

[Topzide]

You might want to have a couple blocks to run rope through. You would need one of those big concrete anchor blocks also. That way, you could have a little extra pulling power. Just another thought to throw into the hat.

 

[2manyrocks]

Thanks for all the replies. Some have been quite interesting.
I think it’s going to be either an 20 ton tracked excavator with a rope pulling the carefully cut debris to the bank after the pieces have been shortened by cutting the leading edges off. That way the pieces are shorter, less likely to cause damage if they get away.

With the limited access area in which to work, I'm curious how to plan to do this? I could see a situation where the rope is never quite the right length unless it was on a winch that you could let out or take in. Does the excavator actually have a winch cable on the boom?

And then, I start to worry whether you could pull from the angle needed unless you also had some re-directs in place?

Even on my simple clearing work last week, I had one simple, small hanger that I could only get down by moving the winch over a few feet to change the angle of pull a bit.

If you had multiple anchor points to winch from, at least you've expanded your options for getting something loose that otherwise might have to be cut. And the cutting part could get to be difficult and dangerous.

 

[Hay Dude]

With the limited access area in which to work, I'm curious how to plan to do this? I could see a situation where the rope is never quite the right length unless it was on a winch that you could let out or take in. Does the excavator actually have a winch cable on the boom?

And then, I start to worry whether you could pull from the angle needed unless you also had some re-directs in place?

Even on my simple clearing work last week, I had one simple, small hanger that I could only get down by moving the winch over a few feet to change the angle of pull a bit.

If you had multiple anchor points to winch from, at least you've expanded your options for getting something loose that otherwise might have to be cut. And the cutting part could get to be difficult and dangerous.

The other side of the river has a flat area from which to work. Park excavator over on that side and pull pieces to shore.

Easier said than done, but I’m up for it.

 

[Eagle1]

Pretty sure you are all in now that people told you that you can't. I work like that, tell me I can't mostly means challenge accepted.

 

[airbiscuit]

Person on the pile should wear a life preserver of some sort, and I would have a boat nearby or in the river.

Once the tops are cut off and removed, it should be safe enough to peel things away from the edges (low water, 3' depth, modest current).

 

[airbiscuit]

I hope your basketball sized testes do not get in the way of some of those logs!

Once he's in the cold water, it won't be a problem anymore.

 

[Hay Dude]

Once he's in the cold water, it won't be a problem anymore.

Won’t be cold when I’m doing it…..

 

[airbiscuit]

Then, those basketballs may float.

 

[2manyrocks]

I'd like to watch this job from a distance.

 

[lilranch2001]

I don’t think distance is really a problem, other than not getting in the way of a wicked cable, I would kinda like to be close enough to see the details, but I like working around water always have

 

[2manyrocks]

Telephoto zoom lens from the NC's nice windows. Maybe they can sell tickets?

 

[lilranch2001]

Maybe oh, Hay should video it and sell copies on TBN

 

[Hay Dude]

Some of you make mountains out of molehills and have ”paralysis by over analysis”.

It aint that big of a deal….

Surprised some of you can put fuel in your cars without hesitating to calculate the risks.

 

[lilranch2001]

I know me and my untangling logjams just at my 48 inch culvert can be a major pain in the ass

 

[Eagle1]

I know me and my untangling logjams just at my 48 inch culvert can be a major pain in the ass

Know that feeling I have four 48" under my driveway and not enough when the creek really start rolling. About then is when a bunch of logs come downstream.

 

[airbiscuit]

How floaty do you think that pile is - especially during the dry season?

It looks like it is kind of stuck in the mud. I'm thinking you will get rid of quite a bit of it before any "gob" wants to float away.

 

[lilranch2001]

Dang. Hate floaters…..

 

[Hay Dude]

How floaty do you think that pile is - especially during the dry season?

It looks like it is kind of stuck in the mud. I'm thinking you will get rid of quite a bit of it before any "gob" wants to float away.

I think I will be able to walk out, or climb down a ladder from RR bridge and begin cutting.

Honestly, my biggest concerns are
1. dropping saw in water
2. chains dulling quickly because of silt in logs.