An unexpected trip

15-October was the South East Waterways Partnership AGM.  BBC Look East were in attendance but it was decided that the filming they wished to undertake would be better done elsewhere and Stoke Bruerne, with a cameo appearance by Sculptor, was in order.

We took Sculptor back to the lock waiting area and then up to the winding hole where David B turned her and then back to her moorings (which is why she is facing towards the lock now).  The BBC have promised us the final cut before they go home - they are editing the filming in then car park and I'll post it here when I can.

15 tons of coal and 2 tons of water (ballast!)

Sculptor approaching Braunston
bottom lock with only 2 tons of
water ballast by the back end boards

Sculptor sitting comfortably on her
mooring with her 15 tons of coal and
2 tons of water ballast

The intrepid three (Steve, Rob and Kathryn) met at Lock 19 this morning and waited whilst Julia and Richard (Towcester, Lactodorum and Bideford) loaded Sculptor and then brought her back to Stoke Bruerne in the pouring rain.  She's now sitting comfortably alongside her usual moorings with a lot less dryside.

The fore-end is now at the right height to finish the repaint which we will be undertaken just as soon as the weather allows!

An update to thank Steve Dean for fixing the new fore-end bilge pump.  When we were loading the coal Richard (of Jules and Richard) moved a piece of wood which neatly took the head off the outlet of the new pump - a complete accident.  Steve took it home and expertly repaired it and it now is 'better than new'!  At the moment we don't need it as Sculptor is down by the stern (every so slightly) but if she ends up lying slightly down by the head we will need it.

New cloths are scheduled for this weekend.

The first time since 1988

Alex, Steve and Ryan
loading Sculptor

Sculptor was partially loaded this afternoon - the job will be finished on Monday.  It's the first time she has been loaded since 1988 and even though she only has a small amount of her planned load on at the moment she looks so much more 'business-like'.

This afternoon, Rob, Steve and Kathryn took the shutts up and cleaned out underneath them in preparation for the coal to be loaded - we won't be able to get at the shutts for a while.

The image to the left shows Alex, Steve and Ryan loading Sculptor from Bideford with Southern Cross in the background (alongside Charlie).

Images from this afternoon are here.

Volunteer hours 15 (total 547 to date).

Return to Stoke Bruerne

Flooding the dry dock

Apologies but I didn't take many photos today - some more may be forthcoming from either Rob or Steve in the next few days.

Sculptor is now back in Stoke Bruerne after an 8 hour trip from Braunston.

We had the opportunity to thank Tim Coghlan for his hospitality before we left at 09:30.  We were gongoozled by Julia and Richard (Towcester, Bideford and Lactodorum) as Towcester was in dry dock at Union Canal Carriers.

There's still a little work to do but mainly some gloss paint and the like.

Link to images of refloating Sculptor are here.

Dry Docking Day 3

The tunnel bands looking resplendent in
Deep Red and White

The 'black hand' gang having their
Sunday breakfast L to R Steve, Richard
and Phil

All going according to plan.  The front cants have been undercoated in blue (final colour midnight blue).  The planks have had a second coat of Raddle Red - final colour will be midnight blue in the spring, the tunnel bands have been painted and the hull has been given a second coat of blacking - in the difficult places a third coat.

We are ready for refloating on Monday morning at 08:00 and hope to be back at Stoke Bruerne around 17:30.

Link to day's images is here.

Volunteer hours 28 (total 532 to date).

Dry Docking Day 2

All the preparation of yesterday turned into action today.  Blacking was the order of the day with attention paid to the guards and any gaps around them to be filled with blacking, followed by rolling on blacking to the flatter areas, including of course the rudder and the area around the swim.

At the same time undercoat was applied to the tunnel bands and the fore end rubbed down and primed, as were the planks.

We will need to undercoat the fore end tomorrow, put another coat of blacking on the hull which will leave us to put a glass coat on the fore end when we arrive back in Stoke Bruerne.

A link to today's images is here.

Volunteer hours 32 (total 504 to date).

Dry Docking Day 1

And all you can see when Sculptor is
in the water is the little piece at the top
of the rudder

It’s some years since Sculptor was dry docked and re-blacked so we decided to book her in to Braunston, who look after us so well.

26/27/28-September were the dates available so she was booked in.

On 25-September Rob, Mike and Steve left Stoke Bruerne at 08:30 to take her to Braunston – a trip of about 8 to 9 hours.  They timed their arrival perfectly to find the dry dock ready for them so Sculptor was left in the dry dock over night but floating so as not to let all the muck on her sides dry out overnight and become much more difficult to remove.

Volunteer hours 27 (total 432 to date).

On Friday morning ‘the boys from the black stuff’ (Steve Dean, Mike Gardner, Richard (Tunnel Band Man) Cox and Rob Westlake) were there and drained the dry dock and set to to:

• Inspect the hull and the wooden bottom - pass
• Pressure wash the hull
• Rub down the cants at the front of the boat
• Remove all the paint (tunnel bands) from the rear of the counter and prime

It’s all been done and tomorrow we plan to give Sculptor a coat of blacking and attend to the undercoat on the tunnel bands and the front cants.

Sculptor is due back in Stoke Bruerne on Monday afternoon - 29-September

Volunteer hours 40 (total 472 to date).

A link to my photos of today is here

Sculptor in the news - ITV Anglia

One of the air shafts shown on the video

Recently Steve Dean and myself took Sculptor through Blisworth tunnel on behalf of the Canal & River Trust in order that ITV Anglia could produce a news item; this was following Dr Nigel Crowe's (CRT Head of Heritage) interview on Radio Northampton in which he was interviewed about the Red Wheel unveiling.

If you click here you can see the news item - apologies for the startled faces of the crew in the tunnel but television lights in the darkness, when trying to see where you are going, is quite a challenge! I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as we did.

The slide is now blue again

The slide on Kathryn's kitchen table

After what seems quite some time when the slide was painted in primer (and following a lot of preparation work from Phil) the slide is now back in its old colour of Mason's P Midnight Blue - I have undercoated it - undercoat kindly supplied by Mike Partridge of Stock Bruerne Boat Co and finally glossed it (2 coats each of undercoat and gloss). Woe betide anyone who puts a hot cup of tea or coffee on it!

Volunteer hours 6 (total 405 to date).

Getting rid of a bad smell

For some reason the ballast tanks by the back end boards started to smell (really quite badly) recently. Today Steve D and Mick G pumped around 75% of the content of of each ballast tank out, poured 3 litres of bleach (lemon scented!) into each ballast tank and refilled them.

Smell gone and things are much better now.

Volunteer hours 10 (total 399 to date).

A time for a bit of fun at Village at War

This last weekend (13/14-September) was Stoke Bruerne Village at War weekend.  The crowds flocked in on what was a lovely weekend so we decided that Sculptor should have a wee bit of exercise.

Prior to the weekend we took CRT's head of Heritage (Dr Nigel Crowe), CRT Press Office in the form of Sarah Rudy and an ITV Anglia film crew through the tunnel for them to film an 'episode' of their 'On the Water' series.  It was a slow trip northbound (about an hour) whilst the crew did pieces to camera and obtained the footage they required.  We then dropped our passengers at the northern portal and continued to Blisworth village to wind and return to Stoke Bruerne.  We have been promised a full copy of the video they took.

Steve Dean on the front of Sculptor
watching the tow with Cath Fincher on
Sickle's front deck

On the Saturday of the Village at War weekend we took Sculptor into the top lock and connected her up with Alan and Cath Fincher's Sickle to re-enact the tow that Sickle undertook with Sculptor, Sagitta and Scorpio in 1948 when the three boats were towed by Sickle to the northwest.  We are endeavouring to get all four boats together at an event (possibly Braunston) next year.

On the Sunday we worked down the flight to the A508 and back up again in conjunction with Nutfield and Raymond - the lockside at the top lock was crowded for both events and some excellent publicity was obtained for Sculptor.  Our thanks for Norman Mitchell for his usual excellent commentary and Neil Owen, Senior Waterway manager South East for his help on the Saturday.  Also to David B for making up some cross straps at a moment's notice.

A bit more maintenance

On Saturday (6-September) Phil kindly rubbed down and primed the slide whilst Steve fitted a new clamp to the exhaust where it exits the engine 'ole.  There are now no exhaust gasses escaping back into the engine 'ole so well done to the design team Mike G and Steve.

Volunteer hours 8 (total 389 to date).

An exhausting time

On Tuesday this week Mike G and Steve D wrapped the exhaust with new material.  Sculptor has been without exhaust bandage for a week or so and it was noticeable on the very short trip up to the tunnel and back and down to the A508 to wind.

At the same time Mike and Steve located the unpleasant smell that seemed to come from around the ballast tanks at the back of the cargo hold.  The water has 'gone off' to coin a phrase.  I understand the plan is to drain these tanks just prior to dry docking so that we a) reduce the weight in the boat b) have the ability to put some small bearers under the tanks to allow the shuts to breathe over the winter.

Sculptor loaded just south
of Skew Bridge - image ©
Julia and Laurence Cook

There's some more work in the pipeline.  CRT have agreed that Julia Cook may store some solid fuel on Sculptor for a couple of months or so the current plan is to go to the bottom of the Stoke Bruerne flight with Jules on Sunday 5-October and let Jules and Richard load the boat (18 tons to 20 tons) and then we'll bring Sculptor back to Stoke Bruerne on the Monday - a great opportunity to take some photos and video as my understanding is that the last time Sculptor was loaded was in late summer 1988.

In the week after Sculptor gets back from Braunston we'll need to remove the IBC ballast tanks and the barrels to make way for the solid fuel and store them - hopefully down by the container in the car park.

We are going to need to put in a new bilge pump (we'll make a removable submersible 12v pump) as the intention is to load Sculptor slightly 'head down'.

Volunteer hours 12 (total 381 to date).

A 'Red Letter' day for Blisworth

Sculptor at the Red Wheel event (RWW)

I need to back track a little first.

Mike Gardner finished off the electrics on 19-August and then stripped the lagging off the exhaust prior to rubbing it down and painting it with a suitable paint.  Next time Mike comes he will re-lag the exhaust with the lagging recently purchased from Midland Chandlers.

The VIPs at the Red Wheel event

On Friday 22-August (30th anniversary of the reopening of the Blisworth tunnel) the tunnel was awarded a Red Wheel by the Transport Trust.  Stoke Bruerne Boat Co provided a trip through the tunnel for the VIPs whilst Rob Westlake and Kathryn took Sculptor up to the forge (where the Red Wheel is positioned) to add to the atmosphere.

It was a wonderful event with the Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire (David Laing), the president of the Transport Trust the Hon Sir William McAlpine BT, CRT Head of Heritage Dr Nigel Crowe  and various other people (about 50 in total) watched the unveiling and then headed to the museum green for tea, cake and biscuits.

Sculptor was taken down to the A508 and winded by Steve Dean and Kathryn on the Saturday morning.

Volunteer hours 12 (total 369 to date).

Electrics Update

Mike Gardner beavered away yesterday (Friday) with the electrics and made some excellent progress (helped a little by his goafer - Kathryn).

The fuse box is in and working but not everything is connected but the bilge pump now works from a switch just behind what I understand is called the Castle panel on the right hand side of the steering position.

There are two switches on the back of the 'Castle' panel which face forward.  The top one is the headlight (not yet connected), the second one is not yet connected; the bilge pump is on the square switch just above the top cupboard on the right hand side.  There's no need to switch the battery isolator switch on to use the bilge pump - it is wired in such a way as to not need the isolator switch being in the 'On' position.

On the fuse box the top fuse on the left hand side when looking at the fuse box has a blue fuse and operates the bilge pump, the next fuse down is red (trying to maintain the correct colours!) and operates the headlight (when the wiring is finished).

Well done Mike.

A note from Mike (head electrickery man) as follows:

Head Light - Switch on right hand side of cabin entrance
Bilge Pump - Square switch inside cabin below cupboard
Socket Outlet - Below Bilge Pump Switch ( 10Amp only for low power appliances )
Over Bed Light - Switch in Cabin bed area adjacent forward / reverse rod.

An update from Mike as follows:

Just to let you know that the electrical installation is now complete and tested and commissioned . I had headlight , cabin light and bilge pump running simultaneously yesterday and nothing went bang and no fish got electrocuted !

All we need is a few 12 volt Bus bulbs as we currently have only one for cabin. We also need a 12 volt car type bulb for engine room light fitting as this a smaller diameter bayonet fitting than the cabin ones. Some spares would be handy too. I can source them if you wish.

All that remains to be done on the wiring front is to make and fit a timber panel under the bed base by the side of the drawer to contain and protect the cables and connector blocks where they pass through the bulk head to engine room. I have the dimensions and some spare MDF so will make it up at home , hopefully on Friday so I can fit next week.

Next job then will be to sort out the exhaust with the new collar and insulation .

Volunteer hours 31 (total 357 to date).

A belated Update

Mike, Steve and Rob before
leaving Cosgrove (Photo: Rob)

There's been quite a bit going on which I have been remiss in not adding to the blog.

Mike Gardner has been beavering away at the electrics and is nearly there with his work.  We will be able to run the bilge pump and operate the tunnel light from the steering position shortly.

Sculptor spent the last weekend of June at the Braunston Historic Boats gathering.  Tom, David B and David's grandson (also Tom) took Sculptor through the tunnel to Gayton where the boat spent the evening.  Steve D and Tom took Sculptor to Braunston on the Friday where she joined some 70 or so other historic boats for the weekend.  Richard Parry was a guest on one of the parades that Sculptor took part in.  Steve D and Tom brought Sculptor home in the company of Stanton; to Norton junction on the Sunday night (to avoid widebeams at Braunston tunnel) and then on to Stoke Bruerne the following day.  It is important here to acknowledge the extremely kind and generous donation of £1,000 by Tim Coghlin of Braunston Marina to go towards Sculptor's maintenance in the coming year.  Any suggestions as to how we should spend it.

We ran a trip through the tunnel the following Tuesday to collect the two Blisworth tunnel signs which were at the Gayton BW buildings.  Rob Westlake is kindly going to refurbish them; the one from the north portal in time for the Blisworth Festival and the one from the southern portal in time for the unveiling of the Transport Trust 'Red Wheel' commemorating the engineering excellence of Blisworth Tunnel.  Kathryn and Mike G were on board along with Joe (a work experience pupil from Towcester) together with our volunteer coordinators Miriam and John.

Sculptor was taken to the festival at Cosgrove last Friday (18-July) by Rob and Lorna.  Kathryn and Rob took her on a short trip across the Iron Trunk Aqueduct in the company of Nutfield on the Saturday and that was repeated by Kathryn and Steve D on the Sunday. On Monday last we were mob-handed when Mike, Steve and Rob brought Sculptor safely back to Stoke Bruerne.

Volunteer hours 30 (total 328 to date).

Dry Dock

Sculptor is booked in to Braunston dry dock on 27/28/29-September - we need to have her in Braunston for 25-September as there is a chance we can get her into the dry dock on the Thursday (26-September)

We need help as follows:

Wednesday 24-September
Crew to take Sculptor to Braunston and someone to bring the crew back to Stoke Bruerne
Thursday 25-September
Crew (4 max I should think) just to be available should we be able to get Sculptor into the dry dock
Friday/Saturday/Sunday 26/27/28-September
Crew (4 max again I think) to be available to pressure wash, black the hull and to tidy up the other areas that need attention. Happy with different people on each of the three days
Monday 29-September
Crew to bring Sculptor home to Stoke Bruerne and some to take the crew to Braunston

Braunston Historic Boats Gathering

Sculptor nestled between Barrow and
Chertsey at Braunston

June 26th            

Boat left moorings at 17.20 for Braunston, crewed by Tom Stewart and DB. 25 minutes in tunnel and arrived Gayton Junction 18.20. Dry weather. Engine run 1.5 hours.

June 27th

Crew Tom S and Steve Dean left 07.30 and joined “Stanton” at Bugbrook Fields. 11.40 bottom of Buckby and out of top 13.10. Into Arm at Braunston by 15.30. Engine run 8 hours

June 28th

Joined by Kathryn D and DB for first parade at 10.20. Slow until called into Arm after which it speeded up until after Ladder Bridge. Rain then commenced and continued for rest of the day, causing all thoughts of afternoon parade top be abandoned. Engine run 3 hours

June 27th

Better weather today. Tom took the morning parade with Bob Westlake and Steve D as crew and Tim Coghlan and Richard Parry, CE of CRT, as passengers, DB accompanying aboard his old motor boat Emu. Afternoon parade went quite swiftly and boat awaited Stanton at end of trip in Marina Arm, then left at 15.35. Up locks and tied at top of Buckby by 18.00. Engine run 5 hours

June 28th

Left top lock 07.30 and good run home in better weather. Winded at tunnel end and tied on mooring by 14.40. Engine run 7.5 hours

July 2nd

Mike G returned from holidays and continued with electrics. All cabin work now complete and so the painters can now get on with final rubbing-down and undercoating etc. Measurements taken for boxing-in wiring in engine room and MG departed with materials for making up said casings.

Getting ready for Braunston

May 30th          
DB repacked stern gland with one new packing ring, stopping persistent drip. To be checked after next few trips and tightened as necessary.
May 31st          
KD and Steve D left 11.00 to wind boat above A508 bridge. Weather dry for once. Engine ran 2 hours.
June 9th            
Fuel tanks topped up from NB Towcester with 147 litres Diesel.
June 11th          
During the previous day a passing boater had managed to pull out a staple holding the rearmost white strings over the cratch, leaving the fore end looking like a dog’s breakfast. At the end of the Stoke Bruerne Volunteer day DB, KD and Rob W managed to replace the missing staple and to restring the drooping ones, returning the fore end to some semblance of order for next weekend.
June 13th          
Tom Stewart arrived to take charge over the period of the Stoke Bruerne Family Festival.
June 14th          
Tom drove to Braunston and returned with sufficient 7mm rope to replace all the breeching strings and also rings and hooks for top and other strings. He and Richard Cox removed the cages in which the plastic tanks had arrived. These have now been taken over by the Friends of the Museum site management team for storing some of their tentage. Tom and DB discussed a plan to tidy up the back end of the hold using tension straps and planks to prevent the tanks from bowing out under water pressure. The tanks can then be covered with a black tarpaulin and form the basis of a small deck for visitors at shows etc.
June 15th          
The boat was taken for a short trip to the winding hole, then down the locks and back up under Tom’s captaincy. Crew included Louise Stockwin and Miriam Tedder (both CRT) and Lorna York. Engine ran 2 hours.
June 21st          
Tom Stewart and Richard Cox continued with preparations for the Braunston Gathering. The white strings over the cratch were tightened, Rob W brought back two shutts which he had repaired and these were replaced, the boat was completely pumped out, and the two steel cages were transferred to the Friends of the Museum’s Site Management team. Other jobs including rolling the side cloths so that they looked properly trim, blacking the cabin range, adjusting the exhaust chimney collar, freeing and oiling the swivel hook at the stern, and making up a covering platform at the back end of the hold and covering all with tarpaulin. Finally, all the brasses were polished. The boat now looks ready for trade.

It might not seem a lot but the boys did spend quite a bit of time on this.

Volunteer hours 42 (total 292 to date).

Tom and David are taking Sculptor to Gayton on Thursday evening and Tom and Steve Dean will take her on to Braunston on the Friday.

A bit more fettling

Mike Gardner and Steve Dean came over today.  Mike continued with the electrics and Steve tackled the stern gland by making sure that the greaser worked and delivered grease to the seal in the stern gland.

We now have a new seal (thanks to David's work on Friday) and Steve's disassembly and reassembly of the greasing mechanism and cleaning the copper pipe it means that the stern gland can be greased easily so - we must all remember to wind the greaser down at the end of cruising each day.

Mike's work on the electrics continues as expected.

There was some discussion as to how best to cover the two big IBC ballast tanks at the rear of the hold - a bit of design/development work was undertaken by Steve and Mike who hope, with help from Rob, to do something before too long.  I will leave it up to them to explain what they have in mind.

Volunteer hours 27 (total 250 to date)

A quick pirouette at the A508

Following Sculptor's return from Crick earlier in the week CRT wished her to be turned to face towards the tunnel as this gives the Museum staff an easy view of the cabin on Sculptor to ensure she is safe.

Steve Dean and Kathryn moved her on Saturday morning starting at 11:00 following the work DB had undertaken to stop the stern gland from leaking.  A trouble free trip down to the A508 and back despite a rather large number of boats using the flight.

Steve tweaked the nuts on the stern gland on our return - it had, as expected, started to drip following the new seal being fitted on Friday.  Just ten minutes work and there's no leak but we expect it to require a little more 'bedding in'.  Mike Gardner has kindly offered to fix the stern gland greaser next week after which we hope it will become 'standard practice' to give the greaser a couple of turns at the end of each day of operation.  Engine hours: 3

Readying and taking Sculptor to Crick

• 10-May Phil Kidd painted port gunwales while boat lay facing south
• 11-May Boat unloaded, marquee set up immediately on Museum Green for use of Museum while Education Centre is being rewired, staging and tables placed inside and the rest returned to store. Gang included DB, Trevor Allum, Bill Man, John Samuels, Lynda Payton, Kathryn Dodington, Ray Pollard, Alan Ricketts
• 17-May Boat taken down locks to A508 and winded by DB and KD. Left 11.15, back by 12.45, much interest shown and weather glorious. Engine ran 1.5 hours.
• 18-May Richard Cox tidied up white strings at fore end and dropped the planks ready for running to Crick next Wednesday (21st).
• 19-May More electrical work by Mike G. Cable runs in back cabin now sorted and agreement on how cabling should run in engine room so as to maintain the 'vintage' appearance.
• 21-May Left 08.30 for Crick. Crew DB, KD and Mike G. KD steered through tunnel, which was clear and we got through in 25 minutes dead. Beautiful morning, warm and sunny. Passed Steve Dean at Bugbrooke 10.40 and he promised to meet us at Buckby. Arrived bottom of Buckby 12.45, progress much held up by moored boats. Breasted with a single-handed boat at bottom, whose steerer remained glued to his tiller all the way up. Steve D helped us up the flight, but very slow going with two holidaymakers in front who were not to be hurried (one of them tied up at the top!). Out of top at 14.45 and then good run to bottom of Watford, arrived 15.15 and joined queue. Steve meanwhile had arrived at top and informed lockkeeper what was going on and we eventually got into bottom lock at 16.15 and left the top an hour later. Slight problem with finding which Marina entrance to choose, but eventually entered the right one at 18.10. Manoeuvred into allotted length and tied up by 18.30. Engine ran 10 hours.
• 24-May Crick Show – Sculptor team Mick and Catrina Butler, and Roger Hasdell
• 25-May Crick Show – Sculptor team Mike Gardner and Kathryn Dodington
• 26-May Crick Show – Sculptor team Trevor Allum and Steve Dean
• 28-May Still raining for third day in succession. Crew DB, Steve Dean and Trevor Allum. DB arrived in style by sliding down grass (or rather mud) bank to the boat on his backside.  Boat very full of water under cabin, what with rain water and slight stern gland drip. However, kept things as they were so as to have some 'fanhold' for getting out of Marina. Left 08.45 with wind attempting to blow the boat in the wrong direction so reversed up to the entrance and then came out head first. Tight turn getting out onto main line, missing fore ends of Nutfield and Raymond by inches. On main line at 09.00 and then steady run to top of Watford (10.00). One boat in front and so only had to wait ten minutes. Only fifty minutes in flight, round Norton turn 11.45 and in top lock by 11.55. Breasted with Girl Guides’ boat from Weedon and out of bottom lock by 13.00. Slacked at Weedon at 14.00 and away by 14.30. Raining steadily all trip. Through Blisworth Tunnel in 25 minutes, including meeting a single boat inside, and tied at Museum at 18.00 dead on. Pumped boat at Watford for 45 minutes and again on arriving at Stoke.  Engine ran 9 hours.

More painting

Over the weekend Phil Kidd kindly travelled down from his home in Yorkshire and painted the gunnels on the left hand side of the boat (now it is moored the right way round for that to be done safely).  Phil also a took the slide off, stripped it and under coated it.  It just needs a final coat of blue paint.

Volunteer hours 8 (total 223 to date)

Trip to IWA Northampton Rally at Braunston and return

The following has been kindly provided by David Blagrove.

The image shows Sculptor leaving Stoke Bruerne on 1-May with the newly painted rear doors on display.

April 26th          

Work party. Phil Kidd, Kathryn Dodington, and DB painted Starboard gunwales and continued clearing cabin. (Engine run 4 hours)

April 29th          

Brian M completed paintwork having grained new panelling in cabin, cabin doors and weather board panel, and lined door panels in red and put flower painting on doors. DB and Mike G tidied hold and arranged contents ready for loading FOCM marquee and other gear for transport to Braunston on May 1st. Mike also made final adjustment to throttle so that charging light stays off at lowest revs, thus ensuing battery is continually charging whilst engine runs. New Elsan set up in position.

April 30th          

DB, KD, Mike G and others loaded Marquee once it was dismantled following the official re-opening ceremony at the Museum. Photo taken of Richard Parry, CEO of CRT on back deck with Louise Stockwin, DB and Lorna Y.  Later that evening more equipment loaded for IWA Rally, team now DB, Trevor Allum, Bill Mann, and Sam Samuels. Half sheeted since rain forecast overnight. Finished loading 20.00.

Passing Bideford and Southern Cross
at Dodford

May 1st              

Crew Mike G, Rob W and DB. Set off 0903 from outside Museum. Weather cloudy and damp, making the sloping gunwales v treacherous. Also engine very smoky at first, due to too much idling when at the moorings. Out of tunnel 09.45 with completely clear exhaust at the stack and thereafter a steady run to Buckby arriving just after 13.30. Photos taken at Blisworth and near Skew Bridge by Steve Dean. Good run up Buckby in 90 minutes but then held up by slow boats in Braunston Tunnel.  Came out of tunnel at 16.00 and then had long wait to get into top lock, eventually getting to Marina at 17.50. Gang from IWA unloaded boat quickly and it was then placed in position for Rally just outside the large dry dock entrance. After assisting with site jobs the crew were given lifts back to Stoke, leaving at 19.50.

May 2nd-5th        

Boat lay at Braunston during IWA Rally and on display. Rob W looked after it for two days. Monday 5th reloaded with all material from the rally and half sheeted. Sam Samuels retied strings, following a tutorial given last year!

Dropping down the Buckby flight

May 6th              

Crew DB, Rob W and Mike G. Left Marina 08.45 and arrived bottom lock at 09.00. Breasted up with a Napton hire boat and had a steady run to the top in 50 minutes. In tunnel at 10.00 and through in 20 minutes in spite of meeting boats inside. Top lock of Buckby at 10.50, meeting up with a private boat just starting from below the top and breasting up. Met Towcester coming up loaded in second pound and out of the bottom by 12.20. On to Weedon where we slacked for an hour, left 14.20 and pleasant run home. Beautiful spring weather and arrived back on home mooring 17.50. (Engine ran 8 hours)

Brightening up the back cabin

Brian Mayland came over today and painted the back cabin doors - there's still a little bit to do but it does make the boat look so much brighter and cared for,

Volunteer hours 4 (total 215 to date)

A bit of painting

Not to be outdone by Brian's scumbling of the back cabin we decided today to paint the towpath side gunnels, sweep out the back cabin, run the bilge pump (due to some heavy rain yesterday) and run the engine.

We accomplished everything we set out to do between Phil, David B and Kathryn.

The boat is off to Braunston on Thursday to support the IWA Northampton branch annual rally.

Volunteer hours 16 (total 211 to date)

Scumbling the back cabin

Brian Mayland scumbling (Painted graining make it look like wood) the back cabin doors on Sculptor this morning - goodness me it was cold.

Volunteer hours 6 (total 195 to date)

Some more work accomplished

Mike and Lorna having a
chat in the sunshine and
showing off Brian's doors

After Mike Gardner had finished the bilge pump he kindly came back and undertook another couple of days work on Sculptor endeavouring to make some sense of, what should be, simple electrics.  A lot of the previous wiring was disposed of and replaced by a more simple but age-appropriate wiring. Mike spent an additional two days on this work.

Not to be outdone Brian Mayland, who has kindly agreed to repaint the interior of the back cabin started on that task today (Monday 14-April) by undercoating the doors and surrounds in a yellow undercoat which, importantly is oil based.

Mike is returning tomorrow (Tuesday) to look at the wiring again.

Volunteer hours 20 (total 189 to date)

A good day's work

We achieved a lot today.  Richard and Tom rebuilt the font cratch with help from Phil - it looks much better now; David B tidied up the back cabin and lit the stove to help dry things out.  Rob and Kathryn cleaned and lubricated the gear change mechanism (it works better now) and then with help from Richard adjusted the idling to get the tickover to a sensible (lower) speed.

Later in the afternoon Rob continued with preparing the back cabin for painting.

Volunteer hours 31 (total 169 to date)

More mid-week working

Water from the bilges coming out
of Sculptor in the right place

The bilge pump deep in
the bowels of the Sculptor

Mick Gardner has today done some work on permanently fitting a 12v bilge pump and tidying up the cabling and piping for the pump.  It now means we can get rid of the little bit of water that comes in through the stern gland without having to resort to putting the 240v submersible pump into action and we can give the pump back to its rightful owner.

At the moment we need to connect the pump via two bulldog clips but when the wiring issues are addressed there'll be a switch available.

I have agreed, for a small fee, not to publish the photo of Mick G standing in the engine room door hole looking as if he is attending to mother nature!

Volunteer hours 9 (total 138 to date)

A midweek working party

There was a midweek working party today following the successful repair of the flagpole at the top lock.  Rob Westlake kindly introduced our new volunteer, Mick Gardner (what a lovely name for a volunteer on a narrowboat) to Sculptor with help from David Blagrove.

There was quite a bit of work carried out - it seems we may well have a more formal midweek working party quite often which will help us tremendously.  Mick has kindly offered to help rewire Sculptor which is great as a rewire is needed.

Volunteer hours 12 (total 129 to date)

Saturday 21-March work party

David Blagrove and Richard
Cox either struggling with the
cloths or perhaps planning
on some hang gliding!

A bit of a challenge today with the scaffolding on the museum coming down - it was planned for yesterday - so we moved Sculptor back to the lock waiting area in order that we could pump her out more easily and offered a lock wheeling service for boats transiting Stoke Bruerne for the period we were on the lock waiting area.  As soon as we could we moved over onto the water point

The cloths were then removed (not easy in the wind) and stowed.  We also washed the gunwales to get rid of the green winter slime and polished the cabin sides - what a difference that makes.

Sculptor is now ready for the summer with the cloths neatly stowed.

The plan for our next work party, scheduled for Saturday 5-April is to clear out the back cabin and get it ready for scumbling.  Brian Mayland kindly visited to see what needs to be done to the back cabin.

Another achievement today was to remove the old ballast from the uxter plate where it was helping promote rust - we have managed to sell the ballast for a donation £30 - it has now gone to a boat in Birmingham.

Volunteer hours 32 (total 102 to date)

Volunteer hours by Rob Westlake refurbishing the hand pump 15 (total 117 to date)

A bit of summer preparation

The engine room doors
now stand out on Sculptor 
and the brass porthole
looks cleaner

A couple of us (DB and KD) spent a little time on Sculptor yesterday morning giving the brass a bit of a polish and, with advice and help from Mike Partridge of Stoke Bruerne Boat Company, polished the right hand engine doors - what a difference that made.  Mike and Kathryn are planning a road trip to Braunston during the week; we'll buy a bottle of the same stuff (Carnauba by Craftmaster) and polish the right hand side of the boat - we'll leave the left hand side until we turn the boat!

Volunteer hours 4 (total 70 to date)

Work on the back cabin

The new panels in the back cabin

Old wood being burnt and
warming up the cabin

Iain Dunkley, who undertook some work on the back cabin last year, has kindly started to sort out the remaining work that is required before we start to restore the cabin to the decorative state it was in when the boat was taken 'on charge' by the fore-runners of Canal & River Trust.

It strikes me that with the wood against the steel of the cabin side good, regular and proper ventilation of the back cabin is important to keep it in good condition.

The primed new panel with the
mouldings in place

We now have to decide on the appropriate style of decoration for the back cabin.  I have been advised by some very knowledgable people what the style was when Sculptor was taken on charge as an exhibit and I understand that it is that style that the back cabin should be kept in.  There have, I understand, been differing opinions over the years and I suppose it falls to me to ensure that the decorative style agreed upon is agreed by all parties and fits the legal requirements of an accessioned exhibit - not easy!

Volunteer hours 22 (total 66 to date)

01-March work party

The space for the containers

One container in place

We had a planned work party today to re-ballast the boat.  We had a good clean out in the hold just forward of the engine room bulkhead to make way for the 2 1,000 litre containers.  Sadly they would not fit in their 'cages' but did fit like a glove without them - that means they are supported on three sides by the structure of the boat. If filled to capacity they will add 2 'short' tons (4,000 lbs) to the ballast.

Rob's repaired pump
in action

Pumping out the rear
bilges using the 240v!

We then pumped the boat out using Rob Westlake's repaired hand pump - well done Rob - it worked very well.

We also plugged the boat into the 240v mains and pumped out the bilges at the back of the boat - they need doing because the stern gland needs some attention - that's on the list for the next working party.

The boat did appear to be sitting in the water in a much more appropriate way and just looked better. She sat in a way that befits a lady of her age!

Once the 240v pumping was finished we moved the boat back to the water point to put some more ballast in the new tanks - she sat down a bit and looked every inch the boat she is.  We also put 2 additional barrels just aft of the mast.  We still need to remove the iron ballast on the uxter plate which is now in the plan for the next working party - we have a cunning plan as to how to get rid of it (and not by dropping it into the canal!).

As it was such a lovely afternoon and because we had the OK from CRT to move the boat we gave her some exercise and took her up the winding hole just short of the tunnel, down to the A508 and back on to her moorings.  The consensus of opinion was that she handled a lot better and certainly stops much more quickly now.

Some photos of the day:

Sitting better in the water and life-jackets on
A CRT requirement we are happy to comply with

Rob Westlake winding Sculptor at the A508
For those that know her she is sitting better in the water we think

Volunteer hours 24 (total 44 to date)

Maintenance - Initial 'work party'

We did have a meeting in the Boat Inn a week ago to discuss moving things forward on Sculptor but today was the first 'hands on' event of 2014.

We had that 'hands on' event at the boat today to discuss the maintenance programme for the year and what needs to be undertaken as a matter of priority.  Present were David Blagrove, Richard Cox, Rob Westlake, Phil Kidd and Kathryn Dodington.

We have decided that the priority work is as follows:

• Get the boat ballasted correctly - remove the iron ballast from on top of the uxter plate and purchase two 1,000 litre water containers to be placed in front of the engine room bulkhead (these have now been purchased
• Install a second battery to run an automatic bilge pump
• Investigate why the headlamp doesn't work - quite important when one is so close to a long tunnel
• Move forward on the back cabin under the guidance of Rob Westlake - we are endeavouring to contact the gentlemen who did some work on the back cabin in 2013

We plan to meet at the boat again on Saturday 1-March.

If anyone is interested in joining the Sculptor team please either turn up at 10:00 on Saturday 1-March outside the Museum in Stoke Bruerne or post a comment on this blog - the comment will be e-Mailed to the originator of this blog but will not be published on-line.

Approximately 20 volunteer hours (total 20 to date)

Actions completed

• Two 1 cubic meter water containers have been ordered (£40 each) and will be collected by Bill Mann and delivered to the boat in time for 01-March. Containers delivered to Stoke Bruerne 21-February-2014.

The water containers which will give
us the ballast required