Removing 10 Keel Blocks From Under the Battleship: Why? How?

In this episode we're talking about removing some of the ship's blocks.
For more on the paint colors:
• How Do You Paint Under...
To get your drydock merchandise:
www.battleshipnewjersey.org/s...
For all the details on drydock and to get your tickets:
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The views and opinions expressed in this video are those of the content creator only and may not reflect the views and opinions of the Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial, the Home Port Alliance for the USS New Jersey, Inc., its staff, crew, or others. The research presented herein represents the most up-to-date scholarship available to us at the time of filming, but our understanding of the past is constantly evolving. This video is made for entertainment purposes only.

[@dan1elhalas]

I’ve attempted to watch some of the videos of other KZbinrs about this, but I just can’t, Ryan please don’t ever stop being the voice of history for this ship. You create a whole level of interest that no one else can touch.

[@TheBigExclusive]

Because Ryan actually uses conversational tone and dialog. It seems like he's actually talking with you in a conversation as if you were there with him in dry dock. Other KZbinrs feel like they are reading facts from a book or Wikipedia. Like they are giving a boring lecture. Ryan also gets to the point quickly and understands why we are asking our questions and what interests viewers.

[@Bob_PA]

I'm not even into military history, the Navy or maritime history but I've watched every episode for the past two years. I just thoroughly enjoy Ryan's storytelling.

[@danielayers]

This is the truth! :)

[@SteamCrane]

Ryan has internalized a massive amount of knowledge about the ship, so he can easily talk about it. I hope he is around for the next yard period!

[@sbrunner69]

There are other videos about removing keel blocks from under battle ship NJ?

[@jefesman]

Thank you to all those who have participated in the tours so that Ryan & his crew can keep addressing these types of issues!!! It is awesome to have the opportunity to take care of the vessel as best as possible.... Great work!

[@Kellen6795]

If all goes well, i'd hope Ryan is still Curator in 30 years if he hasnt retired yet. The way things get explains in a clear concise manner, the ease of listening too, the formats, the overall quality and knowledge. Very very few other youtubers have the ability to get all of these in 1. Ryans a treasure and just imagine the shear wealth of knowledge he will have even in 15 years time. Looking forward to the videos from all the years to come!

[@rwdavidoff]

Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial receives operating support from the New Jersey Department of State, also from a number of other businesses, and private individuals like yourselves. It receives physical support from 292 keel blocks, and a giant honking concrete drydock.

[@justdeaf-ry6bn]

I think Ryan is making the right decision on whats best to prevent corrosion on the hull for the next 30 years. I also find it interesting on how he takes on what options he can use or not use. It goes to show how he really cares about Battleship New Jersey future.

[@politicsuncensored5617]

A "Much" older Ryan may see the next dry docking of the NJ in 30 years, but I have my doubts on myself. Even if I do I would be 101 years of age. Thank you Ryan for all that you do in keeping the battleship New Jersey as a memorial for future generations. Shalom

[@vintagefurness]

As someone who served on USS Lexington, steamed the same boilers as the Jersey, drydocked in Philly Shipyard, and worked at the shipyards in Norfolk, VA, I really appreciate your videos.

[@user-ux9my7io4p]

You guys are taking better care of NJ than the Navy did

[@phillyphakename1255]

Can't afford not to. It's going to go 10x as long without maintenance, and it's now an OLD ship. You gotta take care of the ol' girl.

[@willw8011]

USN never wanted to reactivate those. The age of the battleship ended long before the politicians understood.

[@camickelson]

Totally agree

[@2adamast]

They kept her in running condition. The idea that each successive team started counting from one is interesting.

[@AsbestosMuffins]

See when Ryan plays Jenga he uses a battleship to make things interesting

[@justaskin8523]

Now that's funny right there!

[@Firefyta2]

I must say Ryan, as a history buff and a big battleship fan, Im so happy to see she is in good and capable hands for many long years to come. Im sure her sailors are very happy and proud that you will see to her well being for hopefully many long years to come. I made it to Philly a couple of weeks ago to see her in drydock and what a sight she was. I hope to see her in Jersey when she returns home, Way to keep her in ship shape and for the most part fully operational state.

[@user-jq2rf4nf3o]

Ryan might opt for the extra under coating , fuzzy dice and the spinner hub caps - Earl Shiibe for $29.95

[@robertpoore7604]

Lmao

[@toddmetzger]

I would love to see her in the Black Dragon scheme please. We know Ryan loves that scheme too!

[@theshapeexists]

Maaco just under bid them and is throwing in 2 pine tree air fresheners

[@mm3mm3]

I think Ryan is the smartest, most passionate curator out there. 😊😊😊😊😊

[@Tuning3434]

hmmm, that statement is helped because Paul Farace isn't an official curator of USS Cod. Then again, Ryan introduced me to Paul.

[@mm3mm3]

@@Tuning3434 That is so cool that you actually know Ryan and Paul

[@TXGRunner]

Congrats on the success of your tours and being able to add stretch projects. You realize you're the reason that worked, right? You built a following through your videos and now that is paying off handsomely.

[@ginog5037]

She is in great hands, wish I can afford to see her. Well done Ryan and everyone involved to preserve this history 👏

[@vinceromano8245]

Ryan, you”ll still be in charge for the next dry docking. Thanks for another great and informative video.

[@johnstreet797]

Ryan you are the best and only thing I appreciate about New Jersey, having been born and raised there.

[@ryder6070]

what about the Boss?!?! MY new haircut>>?

[@Knight6831]

The Canadian Flower Class Corvette HMCS Sackville had its underwater hull completely replaced by modern steel as after the Sullivans partially sank, I had the question to other museum ships in NA like Sackville of how would they avoid suffering the same fate as the Sullivans

[@DSNSGaming]

HMCS Haida had a bunch of hull and other work in 2002 and 2015. 2002 was when Parks Canada took her on and she was moved from Toronto to Hamilton.

[@aserta]

When things are that bad, there's no point in trying to save anything. That's wishful thinking. But in this case, NJ's actually decent. Still thicker than other (functional) ships. For a static ship, the extra plate is belt and suspenders.

[@markholub97]

So glad to see New Jersey getting the maintenance she deserves after so many years of faithful service. Thank you as well for answering my earlier question about maintaining the ship near the keel blocks. You’re doing an awesome job Ryan and I look forward to the day New Jersey is 100% restored. ❤

[@jamesrobertson4035]

LOVED my tour of BB-62 with you on my 65th birthday. I look forward to another tour with "much older Ryan" in the drydocking in 30 years!

[@Steve-OH601]

Ryan, excellent video as always. Thanks for sharing the in-depth details of the work being done on the ship. Very informative. Random question - what brand of shirt is that? Thinking of picking up one for work wear. Thanks.

[@brckshouse3660]

This guild of wizards maintaining the knowledge of old

[@mtacoustic1]

So that's how it's done! Always wondered how you got to paint where the keel blocks are.

[@iangriffiths7191]

I have been amazed while watching your KZbin posts at how many holes have been cut or drilled in the hull over the years. As a land lover I would never have thought they would do such things.

[@kaziwill]

You're the only KZbin curator I can stand. I've tried watching the others and the cringe is insane

[@jar8459]

Thanks Ryan for all you do.

[@johngallus1735]

You do such a great job talking about this wonderful Ship

[@danknight5019]

Ryan you are doing a fantastic job, keep up the great work

[@zaynevanday142]

Thanks 🙏 for the update Ryan 🔥

[@imchris5000]

this seems like a way to coat under the blocks without refloating. coat under the now missing blocks then replacement with wedges and blast out the other ones

[@tomfeng5645]

Every time it's released, the hull will sag a bit relative to the remaining blocks, so I'm not sure that's viable. Maybe if all other blocks were blasted out too to balance along the ship's length, but at that point, is it any less work than just floating the ship over.

[@sibhuskyguy]

the big tan line is i am assuming the caulking you were talking about in another video?

[@F-Man]

Seems like a rather heavy responsibility.

[@Stan7670]

That's an understatement.

[@diytwoincollege7079]

Yuk yuk yuk

[@justincase9638]

It steels the show

[@henrycarlson7514]

So Wise , Thank You

[@arthurbrickley4108]

Glad I could contribute to the extra task going on with the extra money from fry dock tours. I enjoyed it very much. Continue doing fantasic work.

[@tsmall07]

Did my drydock tour last weekend. Drove up from Northern Virginia. Definitely worth it.

[@ypaulbrown]

Bravo Ryan, you are the Best.....

[@bazra19]

As Much as I am against doubler plating, because she is not going to sea again, I think you have made the right decision.

[@DavidSmith-cx8dg]

Doublers are probably the best for a museum ship where you want to keep the original material . The quality of welding and preparation will be all important I would think .Ryan does a great job of explaining the choices and limitations of planning a docking . It's great that the scope of work can be expanded to make sure New Jersey stays afloat without undue concern can be achieved .

[@JackDrinkn2DollarJim]

There must be some kind of paste they would use between the new plates and the hull to eliminate as much empty space as possible.

[@MrOlddude1957]

Does leaving the ship on those blocks affect the underside of the ship in terms of its weight is there a limited amount of time it can be on the blocks?

[@zimbabwesteve4620]

What does the prep look like before adding the doubler plating? Id assume that the hull will be cleaned so just the coatings are under the plates?

[@cerad7304]

Hopefully cryogenics technology will advance quickly enough that Ryan won't be as old as he might expect to be when the next dry docking rolls around.

[@billsimpson604]

That is the nice thing about steel. It is easily welded using electricity. These days, they even weld some skyscraper joints.

[@Tuxon86]

Back in the day, and in the dead of winter in Montreal, my father who worked at Vickers as a plater had to break those blocs using wedges and sledgehammer. People were build stronger in those days.

[@aamiddel8646]

If you use a doubler plate 'glue' it to the hull so no water can get in and weld it as intended.

[@justincoggins694]

Saw, you on the news a, few days agp funny because I was already subscribed and stuff.

[@guidichris]

Bondo on a battleship? Love your videos so informative.

[@nicholasnewman5349]

I wonder how many times he's used the phrase "System of Coatings", At least 200 for sure

[@nightkil13r]

The main issue with Doubler plates and has caused vessles to sink, is you have no easy way to keep an eye on the corrosion levels of the hull between the plates, that could allow for corrosion to go unchecked till the doubler plate itself cant stay fully sealed and now you have water intrusion thats more difficult to repair. I would consider doubler plating with a heavy heavy distrust. Then again im not a ship builder, and only know from the incident reports ive read.

[@marcbiff2192]

They could use flanged pipe penetrations welded to the inner hull where they have placed a doubler plate these bosses will have two valves on them they act as a tell tell open the inner valve for a period than close, then open the next valve any water that has accumulated between the hull and the doubler plate should be observed,they are normally welded at the lower side of the doubler with 40 or 50 mm pipe.

[@nightkil13r]

@@marcbiff2192 that make so much sense. Thank you.

[@fsj197811]

Considering the coating was in good shape and what you're putting on there is even better, I'd have left it alone and left the money in reserve for other upgrades or put it towards that next 30 year dry dock. Thanks for sharing.

[@justincase9638]

I have some fear about the air gap in between.. I hate rust - and even more so rust I can't see.. Though I suppose at the bottom of the ship no one is going to see anything!

[@petegossett5494]

I agree. Either leave it alone, or cut it out & replace it. By just welding a plate over it they’re potentially inviting problems they’ll likely be unaware of.

[@GregoryVeizades]

Yeah those doubled plates fell out of fashion because of rust jacking. Rust starts in-between the plates and jacks them apart.

[@phil20_20]

To get to the other side! 😃

[@williamcarl4200]

Interesting. I worked a dock for 3 years. Never removed a block. We got em in and got em out. Was pretty efficient and a bargain for the Navy. We were sailors after all, and we rocked. Bet no sailors drydock a ship anymore.

[@aserta]

0:59 Keel block no 81 looks a bit sad. Someone give him a hug on the next dry dock tour!

[@AbrasiveCarl]

" a much much older ryan" made me giggle for some reason

[@fsodn]

Thanks for posting about this. I took the tour this last Sunday morning (w00t!) and they were talking about this. It's great that you're posting further details. Is there any possibility that the plates you're welding on are enough different that you'll get dissimilar metal corrosion? Or can you eliminate that possibility with testing?

[@BuddyMcNugget]

Amazing work. I hope to make it down to see it some day. And it sounds like it should still be around when that day comes.

[@PaulCyclist]

Could you explain how this added plating will be coated after welding to the original this mild steel? Also, did you say the welds will be 100z% around the edge, making the inner sandwiched areas waterproof by way of a sealed plate seem.

[@hololightful]

How do they form that curve in the new plates you're adding?

[@jasonreed8862]

Are you going to apply the full system of coatings to the doubler plating?

[@Name-ps9fx]

I would've thought that when the Navy brought it out of decommission status, they would consult the records and find that they completed the first area and the second, so now it's time to do the third. That way they wouldn't skip any areas over time.

[@theshapeexists]

Thats a lot of steel thats been eroded away. Impressive. I remember watching an old movie on the mothball fleet and they gave some insane statistic of the weight of steel that rusts away from the fleet in a given year from just sitting in the water. I don't remember the number, but it was a very large one.

[@TheBigExclusive]

Will you also be painting and coating the doubler plates too?

[@cruisinguy6024]

Obviously…..

[@physicsphirst191]

The doubler plate does not restore the full bending strength or stiffness of the wasted metal because it is not fully bonded to the substrate area, but it does provide equivalent material for wasting.

[@rleeAZ]

Wondering if flame spray build up might be an option to build up the steel?

[@johnwinters9235]

When is the re-floating to move it 4 feet? I will be there on Sunday May 19th

[@bobjohnson2172]

Thank you.

[@justincase9638]

Fantastic !! See you this weekend!

[@hoseman1]

I would have loved to have seen her in dry dock, unfortunately I am recovering from surgery and could not handle all of the steps. Keep up the good work and she will still be here in 100 years.

[@billcattell5520]

How are you going to roll the plates to match the contour of the hull?

[@SteamCrane]

Good reason to go 1/4". The yard should have plate rollers, most ships have curved bottoms like this.

[@SteamCrane]

I will be 110 in 2054, looking forward to being there!

[@robertgarrett5009]

Hope you're using a bedding compound. This should prevent water ingress between the plates as it fills the gap.

[@johno7370]

Will there be a video showing the entire hull so future generations can see what the hull was like when NJ was drydocked? Also including what you found and what work was done this drydock event?

[@kfree1966]

How is the heat from the welding going to affect the existing coats on the hull?

[@tobingallawa3322]

Good question adversely impact it I would guess

[@capnkwick4286]

I wonder if the material that is used for spray-on truck bed liners would be useful.

[@Wvanbramer]

Exterior corrosion or internal? I would think internal. Bilge area?

[@CarreraTrackOntheFloor]

Will the new doubler steel plates be painted to protect against corrosion?

[@kevinm5177]

Thanks!

[@GardNRailCrucible]

Do you plan to cover the doubler plates with the system of coatings and gap sealing caulk to ensure the plate won’t have problems to the best of your ability through 2050?

[@robertschultz6922]

I hope they take a picture of the check when they pay the yard to show how much this whole thing is going to cost at the end!!!

[@chrisglen-smith7662]

Hope you remember to check and repair the burnt off paint on the inside of the hill where the welds damage it.

[@danmur15]

i really hope im going to be able to see you promoting the drydock tours in 2054 😂

[@aldolajak1267]

".....liquid metal epoxy..." JB Weld !!! On a serious note, Belzona is a series of products, nine categories, worth looking into.

[@marcbiff2192]

The hull was built with only 10 mm plate on keel/bottom plating,are you sure? i am working on the RN Type 23 Frigates the plate thickness around that area is 20mm at the keel to 15mm /10 mm upto the bilge keel,10mm/3/8 seems a bit thin for battleship construction.

[@tonydagostino6158]

To prevent any water intrusion, couldn't you "trowel on" a thin layer of that epoxy before welding the doubler plate? That would fill any possible void between the two plates wouldn't it?

[@anilhaksever]

I was thinking the exact same thing. Basically why not to "glue" inside part of the plate while welding the edges.

[@ghoti221]

Depending on the sealant/expoy, it won’t cure properly, creates too much of a gap to get a good weld bead, won’t bond properly to the existing system of coatings, or expansion cycles might damage the weld bead as the material flexes. There are a lot of different engineering things at play here, but hard to know for sure without knowing exactly what they’re doing.

[@black07rr]

Then you have a gap between the epoxy and and the plate, no matter what you do there would be a gap, the only way that truly add metal and not have a gap short of cutting out old and putting in new would be pad welding the hull via weld stringers. Butt that would be ugly and cause some pretty severe warping of the outer plate unless they let ample cooling between each pass, which after a certain amount of time would still get extremely hot unless you really really let it cool off 100% between passes. That would also be extremely slow and expensive, and with how thin the metal is a high chance of having leaks due to welder blowing a hole through it and not seeing it. 1/4 inch is not thick at all in the welding world. Structural tests are given on 3/8” plate.

[@philiplettley]

An idea for a video while I dry Dock, would be to talk about the pit sword again, and show where it comes out of the ship, if you can find it lol

[@BuranStrannik]

That's one of the areas of higher stress during normal operation, perhaps that contributed to faster corrosion too.

[@playlist325446586]

What does the "blocking position" mean?

[@jess2690]

Random question, is the Reddit account, BattleshipNewJersey really your official Reddit account?

[@CITYNEWSSUPPORT]

Are you guys comfortable with a 30 year stretch between dry docking? In a perfect fund raising world would it be cheaper to do it every 20 years? Would catching on going damage faster be cheaper to fix?

[@ruikazane5123]

Isn't slapping on metal plate on top of another plate and welding around it would let rust form between? The navy would never do such a thing either. As much as preserving as much parts of the ship, as recieved, is important as a museum, compromising on something to make that happen doesn't exactly sound right. Or there is something on it that I don't know yet.

[@chrisglen-smith7662]

Wow, fancy a jet wash that can cut through a yard or more of solid wood!

[@richardverrett2891]

Outstanding results Travis. Tube Town Baby. Nice to have a visitor stop by.

[@nickpopelka]

If nothing happened more since 1990 I would have just left that with a good fresh paint job welding two plates together and making a area between is scary to me

[@Onerouss]

I thought you all had already put what you considered to be the "minimum" number of keel blocks under the ship, yet now you are removing even more? Does this risk cracking structural members in the hull?

[@patrickradcliffe3837]

I would say hydro-dynamic erosion would be the cause of plating thinning out.

[@Armyassasin455]

Why has Sabaton not performed on the New Jersey or Texas while they’ve been on dry dock? That would be kickass and would raise a lot of money

[@pcspecialistpdx]

I'm surprised no one has come up with a way to glue 1/2" sheets of plastic to the hull and plastic weld the seams between sheets. I'd think, for a museum ship, that'd be better than steel.

[@scottsee5766]

45k psi!!! Wow.

[@FishKepr]

I want one of those to clean my driveway.

[@fredinit]

@@FishKepr After you're done you'd be wondering... where's my driveway? Much more pressure than a waterjet. It just doesn't have the garnet abrasive in it.

[@dpeter6396]

I think he mis-spoke. Slipped a decimal point.

[@senoJSR]

You all keep removing keel blocks. You're making me nervous about walking under the ship. :)

[@michaelchamberlain4618]

May God bless you all the name of Jesus Christ Amen❤

[@timbonjovi]

So they're not afraid of water getting in between the 2 layers?

[@bigsarge2085]

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