LUCY: the NB LUCY project 2011

NB LUCY - progress up to Dec 2011

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.

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.

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.

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.

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