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.
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.
