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)