Operation and Maintenance Costs

[Veg-Art]

Got c4100 tonnes per year to fell for 5 years of unthinned 39 yo spruce block grade 15-18 in a remote island location but on reasonably good rising ground.  We are thinking of doing it ourselves with an experienced operator using either a Valmet 860 or similar, or an excavator/tractor-trailer set up.  Will chose depending on running costs/availability of spares etc.   Interested to know say a per 1000m3 cost for operation and maintenance of either set-up other than labour.  Expecting to be in the forest for 45-55 days a year and intending to fell whole tree for biomass fuel using boom fitted energy head and weigh device.  Are the weigh devices accurate?  Intending to  load small boat but need a failsafe to check weighbridge return which is done elsewhere by others.

[s o c]

Sounds like the boat might be the bottleneck.

im not sure if there’s much point in weighing at felling stage , it’s tons/cubic metres on the truck that will count.

[waterbuoy]

If the work is being done on a coastal island (ie instead of an inshore loch or lake) then there are established operators of sizeable landing craft type vessels who will take away large loads in a single trip.  A number here on the west coast of Scotland, and I think there are others elsewehere