We're off again today and one of the first jobs will be to clear out Chertsey's hold. One of the things we sadly have no use for is what we believe to be a complete set of British Waterways issue plywood shuts from the 1950s. These were the modern alternative to planks in the bottom of the hold, both to raise the cargo above the level of any water in the hold, and to protect the bottom of the boat when unloading. Obviously the ideal would be to replace these like-for-like, but given the price of marine ply (and these are an inch thick) it would be unjustifiably expensive - and, to be honest, they're harder to handle than planks. They's also be a lot of work to make, as many are shaped to fit a specific part of the boat. So Chertsey will be reverting to old fashioned planks. But I thought I'd mention it, just in case there's anyone out there who's looking to make themselves a set and could use a pattern...
Sarah, I hope when you say "Chertsey will be reverting back to old fashioned planks" I do hope you mean proper false floors in lift up sections that fit between the knees made out of 4" x 2" timber bearers and 6" x 1" case boarding shaped around each knee! (Just out of interest about 700 foot of 6 x 1 cost £235 and 300 foot 4 x 2 cost £130, 3 litres of creosote cost £20, 1 litre of old engine oil free, just priced up for Minnow)
ReplyDeleteOh and by the way, I think the 'horsey chain' you got will make a cracking chimbley chain, just don't know how you will fit the two rosettes to it, but I'm sure you/Jim will come up with something
ReplyDeleteacording to the FMC drawing and which I worked to, they are 9x1 boards sat on 3x2's in 34inch panels. this makes you boards level with the 10x4 pitch pine kelson.
ReplyDeleteDon't know if the GU did the same.
Andrew