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NB LUCY

What's new - December 23rd 2011:
  • LUCY moved sideways
  • W W article on running blocks
  • Photo from 1991 received
  • Next working party 22/1/2012
LUCY is a wooden butty built at Braunston for the carrying fleet of John Knill, entering the fleet in 1953. She was built by Frank Nurser at the Samuel Barlow Coal Co.'s boat dock at Braunston in 1951 and 1952, and was first registered at Daventry as number 548 on 24th February 1953.

She was re-registererd by Barlows Ltd. in January 1955, and worked by them until 1962. Finally she was re-registered by Blue Line Cruisers Ltd. on 12th April 1962. Steered by the Whitlocks, and paired with motors RENFREW and IAN, she finished carrying on the long distance Jam 'Ole Run in October 1970, and retired to Braunston with the Whitlocks in 1971. Rose Whitlock lived on her outside the Marina until 1977.

Since 1977, she had been a private residential boat, and latterly sank at Braunston Puddle Banks. In 2008, she was acquired by Pete Boyce as the start of a reconstruction project. In May 2009, she was raised from the mud and placed on a purpose built cradle in the Tess yard at Braunston Turn.

Restoration has begun with new parts being made and new timber delivered in 2010 and 2011.

LUCY is listed on the National Historic Ships Register, number 2017.
Click here for entry. 		back end frame
Winching LUCY sideways - 11 December 2011 - photo © Pete Boyce



The Restoration Project in 2011

LUCY moved sideways and chocked
On 11th December we moved LUCY on the lifting frame sideways across the yard by about ten feet, using steel angle, rollers, jacks and a Tirfor winch. Then on the 12th we started to winch the frame out from underneath her, up the yard, in preparation for lifting CLENT in January. Then I have chocked the boat up on sleepers and blocks, and she now rests in the position where she will be rebuilt. There is sufficient room BOTH sides for bending on new planks, and beams have been laid for the work shed sections to be fastened to. Also I have plans for a railway alongside the boat for moving planks and beams into place.


chocked up - underside

chocked up - port side

Waterways World article featuring LUCY
The lady from Oakfield came and presented us with a copy of Waterways World from October 1981. In it there is a John Pyper article on running blocks, featuring LUCY and RENFREW and the use of running blocks. Thank you very much. For her report on LUCY from 11th December go to her weblog.

Photo from 1991
Andy Robinson recently sent in a photo taken in 1991 at Runcorn, he believes. The collection slowly grows - if you have anything that you can let me have do contact me using the details below.


1991 Runcorn


New back end knees
were made on October 23rd for frame 5. The photographs show the knees offered up for initial fitting, and lined up with the cabin frame timbers.


port knee frame 5 stbd knee frame 5


Back end knees removed
The work party of 16 October removed the two knees from the back end of the cabin (frame 5). We also removed several sections of rusted galvanised sheet from the side of the hull, and unloaded all the very long oak planks, brought from Coppermills by BCN 108 and HAYLEY, and transhipped onto CLENT last month. The planks were slid up the yard and stored away for seasoning. A template was made from the old knees, and timber allocated for the replacements.

The Sales and Display Stand
This has been at Rickmansworth Canal Festival and Braunston Historic Boat Gathering, and the Braunston Village Weekend.

Kelson timber located
A sawmill near Goole will supply the 36ft lengths of 10" by 4" oak required for the kelson. We are planning to bring them from Goole by water transport - firstly by Humber Keel to Newark, then tranship to RENFREW for the inland journey to Braunston, in April 2012.

Strongback frame
The internal strongback frame inside the cabin has been completed, and all is ready to attach new knees and cabin frames. Work started on replacing the first knees on Sunday 16th October, and the new knees were made on 23rd October.

Workshed erection
The workshed has been made using ex-marquee poles and a custom made tarpaulin held down with lorry tarp clamps. It covers an area of 15ft by 20ft. I have the tarp and poles for a second section which will telescope with the first, and both will be mounted on wheels. The workshed will protect new timber as it gets added to the boat.

Contact Details
The NB LUCY project address - The NB LUCY Project, Tess Buildings, London Road, Braunston, Northants, NN11 7HB. you can email the project at LUCY@phobox.com. Telephone Pete Boyce on 07729 139765.
Let me know if you can help, supply tools, or parts, or just would like to be informed. View tools and parts list

Download the Newsletters:

Photographs are organised in a photo gallery.

launched LUCY with motor LUCY's hatches 2008 The lift out 2009 Plank survey 2009 Timber 2010 Drawings New parts

You may find some historic photographs and other information by following the links below.

Links and references

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© Pete Boyce 2011 ----- Last updated: 23.12.2011