A stupid set screw had come loose due to lack of locktite.
Oops! The value of locktite and the right kind is the difference in something staying together and you getting it back apart. Blue, Red and White (you have to
heat).
I'll tell what's spooky, I was on a tug and there was a fire in the front portion of the bilge behind a guy changing a starting aid bottle. He managed to
puncture the can, spay one of the two engines and set it ablaze, that ruptures an active diesel supply being pumped at 5psi through a 1" supply line.
It got hot QUICK and then the Halon extinguisher goes off. I got one good breath for a minute climb in gear. I had to pull the other guy out of that
friggin' hole who was blown up and really burned.
He weighed over 250lbs. I swear he felt like a feather. One handed snatch from his leather belt. His pants were burned off below the knees and his face
and chest were set ablaze because he had a heavy beard and was as hairy a person as he could be. He went up like a torch. He wasn't even wearing cotton.
He was a crewman on that boat.
That put a stern rule in place for me. I don't work in confined space with anyone unless they were part of MY crew.
That cost 250K and burnt the crap out of my hands for the 2nd time.
The maintenance boat pushed off the blaze was so intense. I was in leathers as usual and if I wouldn't have been I would have looked like the other guy.
He was over a year with several grafts. Me, 8 fingers and both thumbs 2nd and 3rd and my neck from reaching in and pulling that guy out. He took a
nice gulp of fire and then halon. His eyes were as big as saucers and he couldn't take a breath. He went out like a light. It probably saved him. I got him
on deck and his airways open back up and I started rescue breathing. After getting burnt I wasn't going to let him die, but I sure felt like kickin' him in
the the old onions for being so darn irresponsible with that ether can. Ether and diesel are a serious fire and the way he was dressed. In rayon, nylon
crap.
The worst fires are on water, no doubt about it. You wouldn't think a metal boat would burn. They sure do. There is a TON of hydraulic oil, diesel fuel
rubber tires, ropes, people they all burn pretty good once they catch on fire.
he was filming for his documentary at the time not trying to help his friend.
I was referring to the stingray that killed him, "as his friend." The report says he didn't harassing the creature.
I lived in Alabama for 12 years and was born in WACO Texas. "Hillbillies" are a little further north, real close to the RED NECKS.
You know the guys that wore a red bandanna around their NECK to show solidarity in the Union process. My father in law was a RED NECK
in the upper desert mining towns of Arizona in the 1930s. It means they were Union organizers just like ME!
BUT then I did get Mr. Irwin first name wrong. My apologies to Steve, where ever he's at in eternity. I've worked with a few guy from
Perth, soil mixing columns using Bauer BG15s
We all used to watch him. I never had a dim view of the guy myself. I just thought he was a little crazy messing with crocks and snakes and
spiders the occasional bat and sharks and then a friggin' stingray.
many people thought Irwin was a bit annoying,
No just the ones you know. The people I knew, really liked the guy. We watched him from the start. Great family show, for sober family watching
that is. I liked him, because drinking wasn't an Olympic sport with the guy. I think he was pretty genuine.
I admit I'm not in to crock kissin' though! But I did catch one tryin' to eat my dog in Jamacia. That's him right there 37 year later.
Shot him right between the eyes with a P-14-ACP45 twice. He was in my swimming pool. I don't like snakes either. It's the Alabama thing.
Regards