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Appendix G

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Supplementary Information On Care of the Ramp

The ramp is one of the most distinctive features of the LCVP. It is essential that it work smoothly and easily at all times. Keep your boat's ramp in top-top condition by breaking down, servicing, and re-assembling it frequently.

The ramp system of the LCVP is divided into three main parts:

  1. The windlass, which includes the frame, gears, crank and crankshaft, cable drum, brake (drum, band, and lever), and the safety pawl and lever which raises it.
  2. The cable system, which includes the cable and sheave.
  3. The ramp, including hinges, window, and latches (or dogs) with their hook and levers.

The procedure in breaking down, servicing, and assembling the ramp are as follows:

  1. Drop ramp completely, checking to see that there is no strain on the cable.
  2. Remove screws holding safety pawl lever.
  3. Remove windlass frame bolts, taking care that windlass does not fall.
  4. Remove U-bots, releasing cable from spool.
  5. Carry windlass forward in boat in order to facilitate work.
  6. Remove cotter pin and bolt that secures brake band.
  7. Remove cotter pins and tapered pin in safety pawl and handle.
  8. Proceed to wire brush, scrape, and emery paper entire windlass unit. Open all oil holes with pin or wire, using fuel oil to help loosen rust. Flush liberally with fuel oil at all bushings.
  9. When unit is completely clean, inspect for breaks, cracks, and bad lining.
  10. Grease all moving and contacting parts.
  11. Force grease into all lubricating holes, making certain that all parts are operating freely. (This includes both drive gear and driven gear).
  12. Wipe cable down and check for weak places both in cable and in splices.
  13. Check padeyes.
  14. Check sheaves, seeing that they are free of rust, well oiled, and operating freely.
  15. Grease cable where needed.
  16. Check and lubricate ramp dogs.
  17. After making certain that all sheaves are operating freely, reassemble winch.
  18. Replace all cotter pins.
  19. Be sure that the brake drum is free from grease and that brake band is scuffed with emery paper.
  20. Attach the cable to the drum prior to mounting windlass on boat frame. Every precaution must be taken to insure that the cable is secure and in no danger of slipping on drum.
  21. Mount windlass on boat frame, securing all bolts and nuts firmly.
  22. Wind slack out of cable, checking to see that there are no kinks and that cable winds correctly on the drum.
  23. Raise and lower ramp several times to see that everything works properly.

--104--

[End of Appendix G]

Published: Tue Mar 24 11:29:49 EDT 2015