Restoration Round-up By Colin Greenall : BARMERE

At last the "Barmere" project gets started again with funding from Halton BC and a lot of hard work from a few dedicated volunteers.

During the months of July, August and September, we have been preparing BARMERE for its move to Spike Island.

In early July contractors shot blasted the hull and applied a two part epoxy resin undercoat which was followed a week later by a topcoat of epoxy type gloss. During this time we had been and removed the hatch covers.

At the end of July we where back to clear out rubbish that had somehow found its way into the rear cabin. Then a start was made on painting the name and port of registration back on to the hull, this job was made a lot easier for us because the letters had been permanently chiselled into the steel work. (Left: Peter Keen concentrates on the job)

The rudder for Barmere has been in storage at Spike Island Visitor Centre since being retrieved by Halton BC from Callis Mill on the Rochdale Canal. So this meant a trip there to paint it, this was done on a glorious sunny Sunday in August.

Williams', the contractors who painted the hull, kindly donated a 25litre drum of epoxy undercoat to paint the deck, with this we painted the hold coamings then returned two weeks later to give it a coat of green gloss.

In the mean time the services of a welder where obtained to cut out all the thin metal in the deck and to replace it, he also plans to remove the broken bollards and reposition some of them.

With the deadline for moving getting closer one more work party in October was required to complete the painting of the hold coamings at each end and then to paint the lockers, vents and bollards etc. in their original colours. Since removing the hatch covers the hold had collected a few inches of water, which we drained by setting up a siphon.

Once she was on the water at Spike Island, the hatch covers were replaced and our next job is to trim them to size.

The next phase will be the fitting out of the inside to provide a exhibition/ classroom facility.

May I say many thanks to the people who turned out.

If you would like to join in the fun on our next work party Contact Colin Greenall tel. 01744 731746, or (daytime) 01744 732031 or e-mail colin.greenall@btopenworld.com.

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