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