Even Margaret gets stuck

by: Myron

Monday, the Boat team intended to go to the ocean but found the Ryford flood gates and paddles shut.  The pound below the floodgates was about 8 inches down. By equalising the two halves of the pound the levels were ridiculously low. We had gone upstream while the levels equalised.  We could go no further than Hilly Orchard bridge.  Margaret would just not go further.  When we went the other way through the now operable floodgates, we had all sorts of problems all the way to Ryford locks at which point we gave up and went back, after waiting an hour for the levels to come up a bit.  The journey back was not quite so bad.

The other objective of the day was to give three of our crew members familiarisation on Margaret.  The really good thing about the day was that John Sirett, John Ferris and Bob Poole all had a real baptism of fire on Margaret and all did well.  I hope they’ll not come across conditions as bad as that for a long time.

Note to self.  If you find the Ebley flood gates and paddles all shut in the summer, then set the paddles as per standing instructions and find something else to do.  DO NOT GO BOATING.

 

Pat's Progressed

Today, we addressed our main issue, that of boat stability and ballasting.

A meeting at WD was held first thing, then we headed off to the boat to see what improvements could be made.  Pat is basically starboard side heavy, due to the large hull water cooler tank in the engine room.  With everything set to default position, there was a distinct list to starboard.

We reorganised the ballast in the rear bilge by first, getting the heaviest lumps  as low as possible and then shifting the majority of it to the port side.  Once this had been achieved, we checked the trim and then optimised it - and it was much improved.  There is a small amount of slack in the JCB boom horizontal movement transit pin.  With the boom resting at both limits, observations of trim were taken. 

The fore and aft trim also looked good.  What was most impressive was the change in the feel of the boat as it moved side to side.  The period of oscillation was about 6.5 seconds, but it no longer gave the impression of tipping too far over.  This was a major improvement.  Checks with the boom fully latched and also stretched out as far as possible showed little difference.  What is important is that the boat's behaviour when in transit is predictable and above all, safe.

There is a small opportunity to further improve matters.  If the weights could be packed more solidly together and therefore kept as low as possible, then there may be a small improvement to be had.  There's some air spaces in the rail and lumps of iron we are currently using.

Pat's Progressed

by: Bob H.

Since the original team leader has only just returned from R&R (don’t mention it took 12 weeks!) and the approved stand-in decided it was his turn to go AWOL, minor but significant jobs are being attended to. 

 This week we have cleaned out the fuel agglomerator bowl (again) and having got oily hands, ran the engine to get hot water to wash hands - what a wonderful improvement on the coal stove, kettle and bunker! 

  Later, having found the keys, obtained flexible pipework and a full bottle of gas, the gas cooker installation was tested and found to operate perfectly! 

Summit Working Party this Sunday

by: Karen Shaw

Just a reminder that the next Summit Section work party is from 10.00 am to 3/4 pm on  Sunday 19 August.

One job I was asked to look at and needs attention is the fence we put up a couple of years ago over the portal and down the towpath steps, which has become quite wobbly in places. So we will endeavour to re-set several of the posts in postcrete to stabilise it. There will be lots of strimming to do as well as manual bank and bed clearing work with hand tools. 

The date for September's work party has had to be changed as Sam ;the new owner of the Tunnel House Inn, has informed me that one of the big dog owner meets is due to be held on the 16th. 

I usually provide tea / coffee and biscuits / cake but please feel free to bring along your own hot or cold drinks, and a packed lunch or have lunch in the pub. Please do bring lots of water if the weather continues to be as hot as it has been. I am not sure we will have our assortment of mugs back in time, so could you bring one for yourself.

As usual, please wear sturdy (preferably steel toe capped) footwear or wellington boots and stout clothes. Long sleeves and trousers are recommended to avoid nettle stings and insect bites. Gloves and all other PPE are provided along with all necessary tools.

The site is reached by a well sign-posted, but rather pot holed track, to the Tunnel House Inn on the right, as you come down Tarlton Road out of Coates and after a tight bend under a railway bridge. Postcode is GL7 6PW. On arrival at the pub car park, please park on the right.

Dates for work parties to the end of the year will be:

Sunday 9 September 2018

Sunday 14 October 2018

Sunday 18 November 2018

Sunday 9 December 2018 with lunch at the Tunnel House Inn after.

Log Orders being taken for 2068!

by Dave P.

Dave and his merry men are moving into arboriculture by the looks of it and when they are all the wrong side of the grass their successors will thank them for having such wonderful foresight.

Admittedly the saplings have self-seeded – goodness only knows how – and the picture shows (from L to R) oak, sycamore, oak(2) and ash. There’s also a hawthorn hidden from the camera.

In addition we had a lovely visitor to the Logs Depot today in the shape of a red underwing moth, Catocala nupta picture attached.  Quite common apparently – but I’ve never seen one!  It will add to our wildlife collection as a stoat was spotted last Wednesday.

"Local Company donates a shipping container"

by: Frank Laurenson

Western Depot

Over the past five to six years "Tricel (Stonehouse)" has donated hundreds of imperfect trench boards, which any volunteers who deal in the art of getting dirty will be well aware of.  We have been very grateful to the company as it helps provide safer working areas, and we expend less energy by not tramping in mud.  They also adorn most of the yard at our Eastington depot.

Last week we were given the opportunity of a 20' shipping container, provided we shifted it as soon as possible.  Say no more, as it will be useful for storage and shelter when 1B gets under way. 

Needing a haulage company urgently this morning, I was steered by local knowledge to see if Andrew Wheeler could assist us.  What a brilliant result, as a vehicle made for the job was heading back to their base at Ryeford, and they diverted to help us move the container to Brimscombe Port. 

Dan Wheeler did a marvelous job of extracting the container from a tight fit amongst the factory stock in the yard and delivered it to Brimscombe.

We would like to thank both Tricel, and Andrew Wheeler for their help. 

Link:  Tricel

Traffic delays, Bridge 32

Not a common occurrence, but today, there were hold-ups at Bridge 32 on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal as 4 boats owned by CCT members from Western Depot converged on Bridge 32.

Bob H, heading south on the return leg of his epic holiday to the Wash and beyond, followed by Peter A. running just behind met Dave P. and Richard A. sailing north.  Unsurprisingly, some words were exchanged as each took it in turn to go under the bridge. 

Later in the day, a thunderstorm struck and the heavens opened.  Fortunately, a brief event.