Lewiston Launch Ramp

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An Outdoors Niagara Exclusive!

LEWISTON NY BOAT LAUNCH REPLACEMENT
AT LEWISTON LANDING 2009

Started October 23 2009 - Finished November 16 2009

The ramp was re-opened Monday November 16th

GO TO THE FISH GRINDER REPLACEMENT/REPAIRS PAGE TO SEE THE PHOTOS RIGHT HERE

This is an Outdoors Niagara Exclusive! 
 

MEET LEWISTON LOUIE AND NAME HIS NEW FRIEND! See Below or go here
Click for larger image
New Lewiston Launch 10/23/09 ~ See more pictures below

The old ramp was removed Friday morning after the silt barrier was installed [the yellow thing you see in the water]
then the old ramp was removed and hauled away. The old original ramp was installed over 25 years ago by the same contractor that is doing the updates/replacement, Bob Mac Vie Construction from Youngstown NY.

In speaking with the contractors son, Scott Mac Vie, he said "hopefully" it will be done in about 2 weeks, depending on the weather and curing time of the new concrete pad. Remember he said hopefully ~ there are no guarantees. The new ramp will have solid pads compared to the ones being taken out. The contractor said the old ramp slabs were coming apart due to rusting away of the links that held them together. The new pads will be scored crosswise to help traction when pulling the boats out.

For now, the ramps at Fort Niagara and Youngstown Village are
being used but caution is advised because of the low water levels.
The Youngstown Village ramp is being used by the Charter Captains for the time being, the ramp is open to the public but
 DO NOT park any trailers down there. You need to park in the lot at the top and walk back to get in/out of your boat. Similar to Lewiston.

GO TO THE FISH GRINDER REPLACEMENT/REPAIRS PAGE TO SEE THE PHOTOS RIGHT HERE

Day 1 pictures ~ Click on thumbnail for full sized pictures
From time to time there will be more pictures posted so check back here regularly.

Workin' in the rain That's Bob M. getting into the Komatsu'

These stones are being put in the water

Looks like Scott lost a rock?

This hulks 'em in and out!

Dock removed from the ramp

Check back for more pictures and information ~ an Outdoors Niagara exclusive!

Day 2 Progress October 23 2009 ..........Click the thumbnails

It takes a lot of equipment to do this!

Making sure of the proper grade

Still checking the grade

Showing the sediment ring to protect the waters

Here's the Boss, Bob MacVie

NEW! Progress up to November 8 2009

Under the plastic cover is  the new pad curing. The launch will be replaced by two pads. This is the first and will be pushed in place as soon as the curing is complete

Takes a lot to do this job

Waters edge-pad just waiting to be positioned

In case you haven't seen it, even brand new steps down to the launch area

This is the old concrete ramp that is being re-placed

NEWER! Progress as of November 10 at 11:30 AM.

Scott MavVie looks like he is asking for more Labatts Blue and chicken wings! Looks like he needs 'em?

These are called "stairs" and rebar is put on top of them cris-crossed and all  together, that makes the concrete strong."

What you are seeing here is going to be the joint between the bottom slab [pictured] and the top slab.

The water level dropped a lot in 1 day. [guessed about 3 feet] You can see by the leaves where the water line was. Notice the scribe marks to help keep the vehicle tires from slipping

Enlarge this photo to see all the baby COHO salmon [25,000]  that were stocked the day before this picture. At least they like the ramp  progress!

Rain or shine, this contractor works!

NEWEST  Progress as of November 11 2009 10:15 AM

88 Loads of concrete is being delivered. 33 went in the lower section and 55 in the upper section $$$$$$$$$

To give you an idea of what is underneath all the concrete is all this 1/2 inch rebar

This is the grooving tool that shapes the groove in the concrete to help give you the extra traction

Steps in the team operation At the top is the guys screeding [leveling] and the guy in the yellow is bringing the moisture to the top and the guy in the blue is smoothing the surface. The final move is the grooving. [Next picture]

Grooving is so important and the guy doing it was very conscientious.

This will give you an idea of the thickness I was told it was 8 inches

GO TO THE FISH GRINDER REPLACEMENT/REPAIRS PAGE TO SEE THE PHOTOS RIGHT HERE

LEWISTON LOUIE Our new Harbor Master? Don't blame me for the "lame" name ask John "Lucky Eddie" I caught this guy inspecting the job! I asked if everything was ok and he said "SUPER!" Maybe he was checking PFD'S? Click pic to see a pretty bird There were two of them hanging out but  one has not showed up for quite a while

Concrete is all poured and now we just have to wait until it is cured That will be about a week and that depends on the weather. Rain will delay

Good picture Click and enlarge   MORE PICTURES BELOW

GO TO OUR NIAGARA RIVER WINTER STEELHEADERS PAGE HERE

The pictures below are from Friday 10/13 and Saturday 10/14

A nice day to fish from the dock. Several people using the stairs to get down there. [Road closed]

A nice weekend Saturday 10/14/09 day Lots of fishermen and they travel all the way from Fort Niagara and/or Youngstown to launch Browns, Steelies, odd

What do you suppose this guy was doing out in his boat? Fishing? Ho! Ho! Better have your NEW license This pic is from Friday

Your welcome sign

Be careful - low water levels - this the Youngstown ramp. Fort Niagara south ramp - use this one - north ramp is too shallow. But be careful here too!

FINISHED PRODUCT! This is It!

BEAUTIFUL! Boats were launching on November 16th 2009!

This is the finished Ramp Pushed in place in two pieces

This is the west dock Which eventually will be made a permanent floating dock so when water levels change it will float accordingly.

Notice the water line from high water to the low water in the picture

This is looking at the riverside ramp. This ramp will be removable to prevent damage from the ice

It takes cooperation between the contractor and the Village. Pictured here is Bryan Meigs, Lewiston DPW head [L] and Bob MacVie the contractor, discussing the angles

Outdoors Niagara Exclusive! 
GO TO THE FISH GRINDER REPLACEMENT/REPAIRS PAGE TO SEE THE PHOTOS RIGHT HERE

VERY LATEST: THE NEW PERMANENT FLOATING DOCK! -  Pictures December 1 2009

This is the new FLOATING dock which will be permanent Floating so it will conform to the constantly changing water leverls.

This is the part where the dock joins the land It is flexile up & down [se next picture]

The dock reaches out to take care of some of the bigger boats

Looking from the water end of dock Next pic show how it stays in place with the changing water levels.

The dock "floats" and slides up & down with this connection. The pipe you see is permanently welded and the D ring slides on it. There are two of them.

Lewiston Louie sez, Make sure you pay the Harbormaster!

Meet Lewiston Louie - Our new Harbormaster Louie oversaw the complete construction of the new ramp At one time he had a partner but has since disappeared He took up a new friend though and it is pictured here on the right. « Be sure to click the pics!   ► NEW! A story about Louie and his friend Lady Louise GO HERE FOR THE STORY

Louie and his new white feathered friend "Lady Louise"

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