Restoration Round-up
by Colin Greenall
The Re-roofing of "Barmere"

During the high winds of March this year about half of the hatch covers on Barmere were blown off and lost in the canal. In September we had a call from Halton BC asking if we would mind replacing the covers on Barmere because they thought that with it being open to the elements it might sink or become a danger to anyone that might climb aboard and fall into the hold. So our task today was to locate the covers, get them out of the canal and refit them to the boat. This is how we managed to achieve this difficult assignment.

I arrive at Spike Island followed by Walter and Peter, then Ian and Bob appear, the gear was unloaded from my car and placed in the wheelbarrow ready to be transported to the work site.

It is decided that we split into two groups, one either side of the canal; Ian and Bob take the south bank while Peter, Walter and I take the north side.

Whilst the rest move off to the work site I went in search of Steve White who was to lend us a dinghy so that we can get out to Barmere. Alas, he has not arrived yet - but I do find Neil, so I direct him to go and join Ian and Bob.

Both groups start searching with rods and grappling hooks for the hatch covers. At first they had no success, although I did pull out an old bike. Then Ian's group announced that they had found them, so the rest of us made our way round to join them. It was soon realised that some of them were still joined together, and that removing them from the canal will not be easy.

Eddie now appeared to swell the numbers, and added his strength to the task of retrieving the covers — while I went off again in search of a dinghy, this time with success.

When I returned two covers were on the bank and a third just being dragged out, and it wasn't much longer before the remaining five had been located and, with considerable effort, removed from the water. Those still attached to one another were separated. Some had bent corners which had to be straightened out, and others just needed the mud brushing off them.

Now it was time to try and get Barmere to the bank. It was decided that we would only need to swing the stern in to the bank, and then we could get the covers back on board.

Ian and I went out in the dinghy, and climbed aboard with the aid of the ladder, which can sometimes be quite a performance, but this time we made it without too much trouble. Once on board we had a look to see how much water was in the hold. To our surprise, very little, considering all the rain we have had over the year - just an inch or two in between the ribs.

Now to get the boat to the bank… A rope was first attached to the boat and thrown ashore, then another rope was tied to the steel rope mooring lines and attached to a bollard, then the mooring line was unshackled and pulled off the bollard and lowered into the canal making sure that the rope stayed secured to the boat, this process was repeated on the other side, and stern was pulled into the bank.

It was at this point in the proceedings that Dave arrived to add his support, some stopped to grab a bite to eat and drink, but not for long, for we knew that the time and weather would catch us out if we didn't press on with the job. During this time I got in the dinghy and went round the hull sticking on "Danger Keep Off" signs.

The hatch covers could now be manoeuvred back on board and slid along the combings ready to be bolted back in place. This was achieved in minutes, with Peter, Dave, Bob and Neil on the bank handing up the covers while Ian, Walter, Eddie and myself were on board making sure that they fitted correctly in position.

The fastening-down process went according to plan - Ian drilling holes, and Neil putting in bolts with a large washer on. In the hold I held the ladder and lamp for Bob while he fitted the nuts to the bolts that were being held down by Walter so that they could be tightened up.

Just a final check round to make sure everything had been done right and that no tools had been left on board and we had finished. All we had to do now was to move Barmere back into the centre of the canal.

The process to do this was pull on the rope tied to the mooring line then pull up the line and loop it round the bollard and put on the shackle then do the other side, simple.

Then Ian and I climbed down the ladder and into the dinghy, the rest of the team gathered up the tools etc and we set off back to the car park by the visitor centre.

Just one other job to do, during the morning Walter had managed to get one of the grappling hooks stuck, so while we had the dinghy we went to see if pulling it the other way would release it, it didn't, but it did come free when we returned to the bank and tried again.

Back at the car park the gear was loaded into the car and we set off for home just as the rain started.

I would like to thank all the team for a tremendous effort today, THANKS.

Other restoration news

During the summer I was contacted by Derek Bromley from Winwick Quay Yard who told me that, whilst digging a hole to plant a pear tree in his "garden", he had come upon the foundations of the former yard cottage and invited me down to have a look. He has given SCARS permission to do some further investigation work on the site. It is hoped that perhaps next year we can make a start on this project.

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