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 Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society

Dedicated to Preserving our Shipwrecks and Maritime History
"From Prevention to Preservation"



HomePretoria Boiler Securement Project 2017

Pretoria Boiler Securement Project 2017









       



Click Here to see more photos of the 2017 Project


This year, the GLSPS once again sponsored a Project in the Apostle Islands to support the Wisconsin Historical Society in keeping the Pretoria Shipwreck's Boiler near its wreckage. 

Selected active members of the GLSPS cruised the RV Preservation research vessel from Silver Bay Marina to Outer Island of the Apostle Islands.  This was a continued project from 2016 when the GLSPS lifted and moved the boiler 300 feet back to the shipwreck.  This year 2017, we needed to secure the boiler. 

The boiler was attached to the bottom of the lake or near by the Pretoria Shipwreck by drilling eight holes into the bottom of the lake which is sandstone.  We then used pinch bolts and epoxy to attached four 1/4 inch thick plates with two holes in each.  We then attached a chain to each bolted-in plate and attached it to the boiler.  This will provide four attachment points to the boiler to help prevent the boiler from moving around in the future.

Both the 2016 and 2017 Projects were intense projects with many hours of planning for this type of underwater construction project.  Many hours and days were spent to locate equipment, design and build the underwater parts to secure the very large and heavy object.  The Pretoria Project was a very hard project for the GLSPS and Participants and we thank them for all their hard work, especially Tim Pranke and Jack Decker, which shared the Project Leaders position.  Without their support and commitment to the project, it would not have taken place or be as successful as it was.

A special thanks goes out to both Jay Hanson and Phil Kerber for their use for the commercial dive equipment and rigging.  Ken Knutson for his expertise and on-board consulting on underwater construction and rigging advice.

The project was a success!  We still have a few things to do on the wreck and are planning another 2018 Pretoria Project.  Please check back to see what is next.  We will be opening the project up to other GLSPS Members.  Please check the 2018 Project Schedule for more details and registration requirements.

For more information please contact us at info@glsps.org

Jack Decker
Pretoria Project Leader
i7decker@gmail.com
641-512-1046


Tim Pranke
Pretoria Project Co - Leader
dirttrackin2001@yahoo.com
651-395-9451


Phil Kerber
President
Captain - RV Preservation Research Vessel
pkerber@glsps.org
612-720-2825