We have been here at Braunston since Wednesday and tomorrow we start back to Kings Bromley. The reason for our stay has been to help with the maintenance of the 1936 working boat Nutfield which is run and maintained by the Charity Friends of Raymond.
Along with all other boats on the Canals Nutfield is required to have an safety inspection every 4 years and due to it's age Nutfield's hull get a very detailed examination by an experienced and qualified marine surveyor. The main part of the inspection involves measuring the thickness of the steel plating using an Ultra Sonic device which measures down to 1/100th of a Millimetre, fortunately the hull although thinning in places will be OK for a couple more years.
The hold of Nutfield, I have just refitted the floor sections as they had to be lifted during the hull inspection.
After the inspection was completed the hull gets a coat of blacking to help preserve it.
And then most of the other bits get some attention, Robin paints the Counter.
During the last days of Commercial Carrying on the canals Nutfield, along with the Butty Raymond (a Butty is a unpowered boat towed behind one with a motor) was used to carry Coal from Atherstone in Warwickshire to Southall in London, it was known to the boat people as the Jam Ole Run because the Coal was used to fire the boilers at the Kearley and Tonge jam factory, it all ended in October 1970, the two boats were operated by Arthur and Rose Bray, and Rose's stepson Ernie, a Plaque outside Braunston Marina reminds visitors of their lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment