Volunteers, We Salute You

by: Ian Moody

Sometimes you just have to take the time to step back and salute the dedication of our army of volunteers.  Despite the appalling conditions today we had a good turnout of folks wanting to continue the seemingly endless battle with vegetation.  It was so wet even the digital photograph

got soggy. We decided against a fire....

Project 'DNF' - No.5 Refit

Thank goodness the weather predictions were essentially set for a dry day as we had arranged a HIAB to come along and move large heavy parts of No.5.

The morning was spent in preparation for this.  Our main concern was the Turret interface to the boat.  The release of all the bolts that we considered would separate the boom assembly at the slew ring, did not work and  following a spell consulting the drawings, realised that the set of bolts, of which 4 had  sheared off under the slew ring, required extraction.  

These, once out, did allow the assembly to be jacked up.  Eventually, the HIAB was used to raise it to a level where some activity could take place to sort out the remains of the sheared bolts.  A job for Wednesday.

At 15;30ish, in fading light, the HIAB lorry arrived.  By the time tea had been taken and the stabiliser feet deployed, the light was quite dim.  We started by removing the engine cover and then the engine.  Both these lifted away quite easily.

More tricky was the old capstan assembly with its big hydraulic pump.  Some flange bolts remained, despite their heads being cut off! So whilst these were being attended to, the HIAB moved to the front and did the lift on the turret/boom.  Great care was taken to ensure that the raised position was safe and secure,

(sorry, very poor light)

Eventually, the capstans and their heavy associated metalwork were teased out of the boat.  The hydraulic motor projected out one side and this made the jiggle out quite challenging under what was now flood lamp illumination.

The HIAB was provided by Andrew Wheeler based at Ryeford and it was really satisfying that we could successfully complete the job given that the operator had endured a  very busy day.  Oh, we have a few bits for sale.  An tired but working Perkins engine. plus the capstans with their hydraulic motor and gearbox.

Amey's Visit

by: Ian Moody

On Wednesday we hosted a team from Amey plc.  We took them to Whitminster where the task was to clear the area where the canal will meet the river. We need to survey this area to determine the exact route of the canal and to identify any trees that will need to be removed.  The group may have been small in number but they certainly worked hard and the area was soon looking much better.

Chop stuff, burn stuff. Great winter work!

Thank you Amey

Ham Mill Update - Weds Dec 12^th

by: Andy P.

Bob continued in the spill weir to try and finish the bypass ring. Almost made it by night fall as the top level needs to be raised and most bricks had to be cut to match the sloping sides of the original.  A tricky job but it is looking good.

A bit of a wait until the mini digger arrived then Duncan set to moving soil up to the slope where Mathew and Julian pushed, scraped and dug the heavy soil across the slope.

Ron joined us and prepared a pile of soil ready to be moved at the other end of the slope.  He also fixed a hydraulic leak on the big digger-thank you.

Steve and Richard supplied us with the digger, oil, fuels and more Brimscombe bricks.

A dumper load of soil was moved up to the garden to level off the ground now the rain has settled it down. Dino, the fearsome dog, almost wagged its tail in delight.  We even managed to fix the very nice notice board so we could see what we were doing!

Ryeford Stop Planks

by: Steve P.

With Myron and Wookey’s help we managed to move the Ryeford stop planks, get the holes dug and shuttering in place ready to cast the foundations for the new stop plank cradles next week.  Thanks to all for their help!

Project 'DNF' - No.5 Refit

Today we continued preparing No.5 for major component removal.  Next Monday we will have a HIAB on site to do the big lifts.  The engine cover, followed by the old engine and skid, then the hydraulic capstan assembly which is very heavy.  Finally the boom and turret at the front end.

It took all day to release the 42 bolts that secured the thick metal flange that supports capstans to the hull.  The final five were so inaccessible that we had to resort to the gas axe to cut the heads off.  Underneath hangs a heavy hydraulic motor and drive system, so we are hoping to extract this as one piece.

At the front, the remaining turret bolts were released.  All the bolts that were spinning when the nut was turned were treated to a nut splitting treatment using a drill and chisel.  All is now ready for the lift.

In a spare moment, the two inspection covers besides the turret were removed.  Not only did this give us a great view inside the hull, which looked in excellent condition, but also provided access for the removal of the hydraulic trip hazard fittings on the edge of the deck.  

All this physical activity demands an adequate supply of fuel.  Today, we were well provided for with a fine selection of 'energy' cakes to keep us going!

Something different again

by: Myron

Monday afternoon and  a plea from Western Depot to tow Wookie Hole from Ebley to Ryeford on Wednesday.  It’s outboard has packed up and it was needed to take materials and be a work platform for a new shelter they are making for the stop planks at Ryeford.  A last minute request for crew was met with enough enthusiasm for the job to be secured.

Wednesday morning we had the puzzle of how to hitch Wookie to Margaret.  This proved no bother whatsoever, they could have been made for each other. WD then turned up with all sorts of materials and tools that they needed for the job.  It was then a new combination that progressed down to Ryeford.

 

There was the usual melee of dredgers and hoppers next to Langley’s field, but this time with a difference.  This time it was Patricia temporarily blocking our passage. I t was nice to see it dredging away with no apparent effort.  It all looked pretty stable.  It’s really good news that it is working.

After that we quickly dropped Wookie off at her destination and set about the second task for the day, training on moving mud hoppers.  There was one almost completely filled with silt at the top end of the field.  So we connected it up, moved it two boat lengths East and moored it.  Margaret was then turned round and we reconnected it to the hopper and moved it two boat lengths West. After lunch we did it all again.  result was that one of our more experienced skippers Chris Godding has now gained his endorsement for towing hoppers with Margaret.  On the way home it was the turn of new trainee Malcolm Webb to show us his virtuosity in boat handling.

Weedie good and bad news

The good news with Weedie is that it has been doing a great job of chewing up the weeds in the Stanton’s bridge section that we started last week. Six full loads at least of the size in the picture in last week’s blog were taken out today. Also, we have a newly qualified skipper on Weedie in that David Pashby has gained his endorsement on this craft.

The bad news is that Weedie’s mesh has given in to the thrashing it has had in the last two weeks.  As completely expected for quite a while, once it was really put under load, like today, the brittle nature of the heavily UV affected plastic of the mesh has resulted in it starting to break apart.  A great rent has developed and it has rendered Weedie unusable.

Knowing this was coming, we have already got a solution. We just need the money to pay for it.