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Lumberdude
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| Joined: | Fri Feb 11th, 2005 |
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| Posts: | 16 |
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Posted: Sun Feb 20th, 2005 03:02 pm |
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Hi. I checked with the Moderator of this forum, about posting this and was encouraged to do so.
My Son and I are Underwater Loggers in Florida. For the past 2 Centuries, the massive Cypress and Pine Forests of the South were decimated by large Logging and Sawmill companies.
The logs were dragged out of the Pine Ridges and Swamps, and rafted together, to be floated downstream to the Sawmills. The water is Tannic Acid stained, and it's like diving in coffee. There is NO visibility. When these large and dense logs were put into the water, some of them sank to the bottom. Sometimes, they would be in the open rivers and break loose and sink. There was no way to recover many of these logs, and they have rested in their present location, until divers discovered them.
The logs make very high quality lumber, even after being submerged for over 100 years. We are harvesting and sawing these logs, instead of cutting the few remaining trees left from the Virgin Forests.
Sometimes we have to bribe the guard to get to the logs. 
I am certain that these same conditions exist all over the world. This is just another Alternative to have Environmentally friendly logging take place throughout the world.
Thanks. Hope this stirs some interest in better ways of managing our resources all over the world.
Anyone wanting to view our website, click on this link. http://www.floridasunkencypress.com
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Fred Morgan
Sponsor
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Posted: Sun Feb 20th, 2005 03:08 pm |
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Hi LumberDude,
I know when I first found out about what you were doing, I wondered what kind of person swims with gators - and now I know!
It is interesting, I always figured anything that was in the water was gone and not available for harvest. I know we have some very nice Tempisque in the river on our place that I figure we will get out this summer. You are not even allowed to cut tempisque anymore it is so rare.
Even though the forum is about reforestation, anything that slows down deforestation helps.
Thanks for the article, and the neat pictures.
One question, do you bribe your guard with Chorizo? 
Fred
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Lumberdude
Member
| Joined: | Fri Feb 11th, 2005 |
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| Posts: | 16 |
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Posted: Sun Feb 20th, 2005 03:43 pm |
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| We usually use Pescado, but, sometimes we have these "Speed Demons" that go way too fast on the winding rivers, soooo, we threaten to use them !!! Works sometimes
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Fred Morgan
Sponsor
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Posted: Sun Feb 20th, 2005 03:50 pm |
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Of course, feeding them could end up just chumming the area...
I have a question if you don't mind. You saw the river on the finca - how would you get those logs out of it? What would you use?
I think one of the tempisque logs is about 3 feet in diameter and about 20+ feet long.
Any ideas?
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Lumberdude
Member
| Joined: | Fri Feb 11th, 2005 |
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| Posts: | 16 |
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Posted: Sun Feb 20th, 2005 04:06 pm |
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I don't remember exactly how high the river bank is, where the log is, but, when the dozer is there, plowing new ground for you, I would have some chains or cables ready, and have the operator "roll" the logs up the bank.
I would trim the limbs as close to the trunk as possible, and cut the log into usable lengths. Go back from the edge of the river, about 15 feet and dig a trench, about 3-4 feet deep, parallel to the river bank, and have a good sound log ready to bury in the trench. Put 2 chains or cables from the buried log, down to the logs in the river. Run the chains or cables under the logs from the bank out toward the river, and run them back up to the dozer.
You will be "rolling" the logs right up the bank and onto the field. Sounds a little complicated, but, it could all be done in a few hours.
Dragging the logs is not an option, because of the high river bank.
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Fred Morgan
Sponsor
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Posted: Sun Feb 20th, 2005 06:40 pm |
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One of the locals suggested that a backhoe might be able to get them up the bank. There are some pretty big backhoes in the campo for construction work, and I think we will have one on the place to work on the tilapia pond.
The bulldozer sounds like a good idea as well. I would hate to not use that tempisque - that stuff is expensive! Imagine a wood you can stick in the ground with no treatment in a tropical rainforest area for 30 years, and still not be rotted.
There is a wood that is nearly gone in Guanacaste that I would like to find a downed log - it is so hard that they used it to make axles.
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Lumberdude
Member
| Joined: | Fri Feb 11th, 2005 |
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| Posts: | 16 |
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Posted: Sun Feb 20th, 2005 08:58 pm |
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| Ever hear of Lignum Vitae ?? It was used for driveshafts. It is black, like Ebony. Hard stuff. There is some of that in CR. I had someone tell me he knows where there are several trees. Last edited on Sun Feb 20th, 2005 08:59 pm by Lumberdude
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LogRite
Member
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Posted: Fri Jun 10th, 2005 10:23 pm |
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| I never knew that lumberdude had a website. I'm off to learn more. See you when I get back!
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Lumberdude
Member
| Joined: | Fri Feb 11th, 2005 |
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| Posts: | 16 |
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Posted: Sat Jun 11th, 2005 12:11 am |
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LogRite
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Posted: Thu Jun 16th, 2005 12:39 am |
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lumberdude,
You have a very professional looking website. Very nicely done. I never realized the size of your operation. That twin engine log hauler looks custom made. Do you develop it just for floating logs or is it some time of special purpose work boat?
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Lumberdude
Member
| Joined: | Fri Feb 11th, 2005 |
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| Posts: | 16 |
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Posted: Thu Jun 16th, 2005 12:45 am |
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Pete, that was a Custom built boat, made in my backyard. It is ½" plywood with 2 layers of Fibreglass. Pontoons are 24' long X 4' wide X 2' high.
The winch carriage travels the full width of the boat, so we can tie the logs under the beams, to get as many logs per trip as possible.
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LogRite
Member
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Posted: Thu Jun 16th, 2005 12:52 am |
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| Kevin and I custom built an all aluminum, front mounted, hand cranked, mississippi type paddlewheel racing catamaran that held about 20 people. I wonder if he has any old photos of it hanging around. We entered it in the CT river raft race for a few years running. We never won anything, but it was fun trying! I think it was the only front wheel drive paddlewheeler in history.!
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