Restoration Round-up by Colin Greenal: BARMERE

Following her move from Heaton's Yard in St.Helens to Spike Island in Widnes in mid October, we were given our first opportunity to work on the BARMERE while she was afloat, so our next work party was going to be a little different from the norm.

Sunday 16th October: I arrived at Spike Island with the Land Rover and a trailer full of equipment - more hatch covers, ropes, generator, tools etc. and was met by Peter, Neil and Bernard. Our first problem was to get to the barge, which was moored in the middle of the canal. Frank Smith from the West Bank Boat Club came to our rescue by lending us his dinghy.

Now we were ready to bring her in to the bank, this was achieved with out too much difficulty and we started to fit the hatch covers. First we lifted the three spare ones on board and discussed how they were to be fasten down, with the decision taken to bolt each cover together and then to use extra long bolts to secure the hatches to the hatch combings.

We soon got into a routine and things progressed well. Bernard was happy to drill the holes in the covers, while Peter and Neil lifted the covers that were in the hold up to me on deck. so that they could be manoeuvred into position. After dinner George arrived, and he assisted with the bolting down of the hatches (left) and the job was soon complete. Next we had to cover the holes in the deck that had been cut out by the welder, this was achieved by using sheets of plywood screwed on to battens inside the hold. When all the bolts had been tightened up and tools etc. put on the bank it was time to put BARMERE back onto her mid-channel mooring again. By passing ropes from the boat through the hoops on the mooring buoys and then back to the bank, we were able to do this, and now the boat could be pulled out to the middle and secured with the chains on the moorings.

I would like to say a big thank you to Peter Keen, Neil Forshaw, Bernard Marshall and George Bruce for the efforts and a special thank you to Frank Smith for the loan of his dinghy. To all who have helped over the passed twelve months, thank you and may I take this opportunity to wish every one a Happy New Year.

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.

Left: Our Work Party on the bows. Moving the boat around on the water is, despite its 30+ tonne weight, quite easy. One person can actually tow it.

Below: On its mooring among the Boat Club vessels, as seen from the bank, and from the top of the Catalyst Museum.

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