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).