 CanalCuttings - Your FREE online-world British Inland Waterways, Narrowboat, River Cruiser, Canal Boat Magazine, Info Source and Britain's & Narrowboat Holiday Guide.Over 450 Pages of Information and Features about canals and their usage - We're not just a Narrowboat Magazine. The website includes River and Inland Waterways information.Working Boats in England Today - Feature:New Boat On Sand Traffic - The first sand run for 125 year old BCN Joey boat No 108
On Friday 22nd August a 'new' boat started work on the Denham to West Drayton aggregate traffic. The 1883 Birmingham Joey boat BCN No 108 carried its first load of 25.59 tonnes of sharp sand, towed by motor ARUNDEL. The pair of boats loaded from the conveyor at Lea Pit and delivered to the newly rebuilt unloading wharf at Hanson's West Drayton depot.
Article courtesy of Instrument Software Development Raymarine UK Ltd.
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The
new boat dates back 125 years to 1883, and has a varied life, and length. Shortened
by 15 feet, it worked as a maintenance craft on the Grand Union, and was restored
at that length by Eva and Piers Bull. In 2007, Pete Boyce acquired it to replace
BETELGEUSE on the sand traffic, as a more suitable boat for the short haul daytime
work. No 108 was taken to Lyons Boatyard in Warstock and lengthened to its original
71 feet. This was done by adding three more plates each side to match the original
riveted iron construction, with replica knees being constructed and hot rivets
used to join the plates. Lyons Yard provided labour and fabrication skills, and
Ian Kemp advised and managed the riveting. Below the waterline, welded steel
footings and bottom plates matched those added in BWB days. The hold was reinforced
with a steel angle 'hopper' edge, so that the hold would be unobstructed for
unloading by grab. A new rudder and a wooden lining were made by Pete Boyce.
The lining provides a clean square space for the grab to operate in. This has
speeded up unloading time by half an hour by greatly reducing shoveling of the
residual sand. The boat also has a large enclosed foredeck with flush deck, which
balances the buoyancy of the enlarged cabin area and provides a safer platform
than the fore end of a traditional butty.
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