TimberLOK Structural Wood Screws

 14 Aug 23:

TimberLOK structural wood screws. We discovered these screws last year and have been using them in place of 3/16th inch diameter lag bolts. We use a lot of SPF (Spruce Pine Fir) lumber and the TimberLOK has over twice the shear strength of the lag bot or 16d nail. Easy to install, even more so with an impact driver. Most recent application today was to attach handrail posts to the new and and improved ladderwell for the light ship.

Hard to read the TimberLok shear load number in this photo, but it is 260 pound foot. 

Second post and handrail went up today. 

Ladderwell v2.0

 13 Aug 23:

As mentioned a few weeks ago the operational testing of the ladderwell for our new lightship identifed some serious ergonomic issues and safety hazards. Since the playset was built for wee tikes up to age 4, I scaled down the steps to those of a young child. For some reason I did not consider that Skipper and Crew would spend more time on the children's playset than the 3 year old...

Grumblings from the crew about the small steps, has led to a complete rebuild. The steps were rebuilt with a 10 1/2 inch tread run with 1/2 inch overhang and a 6 7/8th inch rise. We used a 2x12 stringer so that there was room to raise the stringer an inch or so above the treads. For the steps we used two 2x6 boards, with one trimmed on the aft edge to lead a 1/2 inch scupper slot just before the riser, as we didn't want rainwater and leaves pooling on the steps.

Today, with the 113F heat index, we got the bottom riser attached, landing stones fit, first handrail post and handrail fit. The Skipper and Crew gave the steps a test and there were Thumbs Up all the way around.