Frame going up!

Wednesday 9 Jun 2021

After what seemed a quiet few weeks with the site looking still and empty, Reside are now well underway with construction of the new boathouse and the first part of the frame for the new boathouse has been installed today.

The framework is constructed using Glulam beams which are made and computer-cut to size and shape off-site and then lifted and bolted into place. The beams are 'glue laminated timber' made by compressing together high-quality wood laminates and fixing them into place with a special adhesive. The result is a strong, light and long-lasting material comparable in strength to light gauge steel or concrete. The process also reduces construction cost and time as much of the work is done off-site with little wastage and the full frame can be erected relatively quickly. Although the beams and design look modern, the technique goes back over 100 years and there are C19 public buildings with Glulam beams still looking good and in service today.

On the beach to the north, the new all-weather lifeboat launching ramp has quickly become part of the scenery and has already been adopted in recent hot weather by visitors to the beach, providing a sitting spot and even some welcome shade. 

Although it won't be in use until next year, the ramp was given an informal christening when the inshore lifeboat and Softrak vehicle was briefly driven onto it during the launch event this week for the RNLI's Launch A Memory scheme which lets people commemorate a loved one by adding their name in small lettering to the hull numbers on Wells' new Shannon lifeboat when it is built.