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)