Carib Inn dock is better than ever!
October 14, 2008, the tropical storm Omar
sat on Bonaire for about 48 hours doing extensive
damage to shore areas.
Our dock was one of it's victims.
Dock has been finished as of December 24, 2008
Before the storm.
During the Storm. In the left picture you can just
see a silhouette of the pier.
The two pictures above courtesy of John Shumate.
After!
Of the 4 original concrete filled steel pilings, we
have only been able to find 3!
The walkway down to the dock was completely undermined
by the storm and we had to break it out.
Some of the materials for construction.
Construction starts on the main pier block on shore.
November 17, 2008
Bonaire Marine Park Chief Ranger Din Domacasse (far
right) watches carefully
over construction so it meets all requirements to
protect our sea.
The next phase - driving the pilings.
December 2, 2008
The Beast on shore...
and moving to location.
The
pilings in place and ready for PVC Sleeves. Pouring
special concrete in the PVC sleeves around the pilings.
Drew
Moffat, one of our guests, helped pour concrete!
Walkway is ready for the pouring of a very strong
concrete mix.
December 17, 2008
7 cubic meters of concrete were purchased and arranged
for delivery between 1 and 2 pm on Wednesday December 17. Extra
men and wheelbarrows were all ready. At 1 pm the concrete people
called saying that they needed the truck for another job
at 3 pm so wheelbarrows would be too slow and a pump was needed.
Frantic calls and an hour later the pump was on its way.
After setting up the pump, we waited for another 2
hours for the truck to arrive. It was now 4 pm! It finally got
here and pumping began only to have one of the pipe connections
blow out and concrete sprayed everywhere. Another hour of finding
the clog and pumping finally started in earnest. By 5:30 it was
done. (We would have been finished with wheelbarrows 2 hours before,
a lot cheaper and much cleaner if allowed to do so)
We came back at 8 pm and after another hour finished
the walkway!
Concrete Pump
What seemed like a mile of pipes from the pump to
the pier.
The sun had already set as we did the preliminary
floating.
Thank you Marie Gentele for the photographs of the
concrete pour.
The next morning.
The all stainless steel work begins... and finishes.
December 19, 2008
The last board.
December 22, 2008 - the decking is done.
December 25, 2008
Oh ye of little faith - the dock is done!
The first user (and abuser) of the dock!
The first boat trip. Back at the dock again.