tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62934972552931967062024-02-19T09:53:08.857+00:00Peak Forest Canal Towingfurnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-34988804181518991102016-11-12T09:29:00.001+00:002016-11-12T09:29:16.438+00:00My LorryAs well as owning Badger, I also have an old Bedford lorry, which I bought after selling Alton. My intention was to leave the canals and retire gracefully and visit historic shows.<br />
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Fortunately, the canal bug new left me so along came Sandbach, closely followed by Badger.<br />
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I still have the lorry which sees the light of day from time to time and it will no doubt come out properly when I am finally too infirm for locks.<br />
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I have been asked about it so I am attaching some photos.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDenB2dQuqc5P9n6sG4ubGG2ewYuTQC4k4cRc1Pm9WJibKHycBss3ddkn8YjbAwzHZ9HJfrhjMSXVm2LlRoULQ718mlLQ9zVBasW4ldTTOA-ltHnNYozegySlVfv0GX7WAA-AmWJbQ2g/s1600/Front1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDenB2dQuqc5P9n6sG4ubGG2ewYuTQC4k4cRc1Pm9WJibKHycBss3ddkn8YjbAwzHZ9HJfrhjMSXVm2LlRoULQ718mlLQ9zVBasW4ldTTOA-ltHnNYozegySlVfv0GX7WAA-AmWJbQ2g/s320/Front1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWW60sQT92buSvvfO4dcjAvt1O7V6UD3VPPxttwXRJkqwaDuylY6hSnJewzLVu3nEnoW81Njx5vhDj__V1D3fG62AXy_QOPHWHO4roHNTZw6fOjVqLhkdrd9OKcdLnNOHvUBXBat_dnyY/s1600/ScamCoup2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWW60sQT92buSvvfO4dcjAvt1O7V6UD3VPPxttwXRJkqwaDuylY6hSnJewzLVu3nEnoW81Njx5vhDj__V1D3fG62AXy_QOPHWHO4roHNTZw6fOjVqLhkdrd9OKcdLnNOHvUBXBat_dnyY/s320/ScamCoup2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />furnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-16664327834315267372016-09-16T13:42:00.001+01:002016-09-16T13:42:12.412+01:00Following a visit from an old friend from Canada, who complained that this blog had gone dormant, I am reactivating it ASAP so hopefully more news about Badger and her exploits will be forthcoming.furnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-6185614196482488922015-09-13T22:55:00.001+01:002015-09-13T22:55:02.530+01:00I am posting an older photo of SANDBACH in Liverpool when I had to go down the weedhatch to remove a bit of weed.<br />
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The idea is to see if I can link this to a posting in CWDF.<br /><br />furnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-83971590982564669832013-12-12T20:53:00.000+00:002013-12-12T20:53:18.253+00:00Following a long cruising season this year, which saw Badger covering around 800 miles and passing through about the same number of locks, she is now on the Upper Peak Forest Canal and getting some much needed attention to her electrics.<br />
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Towards the end of the season a battery cell failed which caused the alternator to overcharge. This quickly caused the entire bank of four leisure batteries to fail. Fortunately, the alternator and Adverc have survived the experience, although the load on the alternator belts has ruined them.<br />
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I have taken the opportunity to rewire the charging side electrics in a simpler form that I can trust as I reassemble things.<br />
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I have learned one thing from this experience, and that is not to ignore a hydrogen sulphide smell coming from the engine room!<br />
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Two other things about H2S. It turns brass and copper a metallic blue colour AND it ruins your taste buds. For several days I might as well have been drinking Watneys Red Barrel for all the taste I was getting from a whole range of cask ales.<br />
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Georgefurnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-73042926879868196102013-10-30T11:23:00.000+00:002013-10-30T11:23:47.614+00:00Quality of workWorking on Badger has made me realise what a good job Malcolm Braine made of her restoration and conversion back in the mid 1970s. Apart from the minor issue on the port side earlier this year, the wooden cabin is as good as when it was fitted nearly 40 years ago. I have seen younger steel boats with more rot in them than Badger's wooden cabin.furnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-55671878667545922572013-10-30T11:14:00.000+00:002013-10-30T11:14:04.339+00:00Back in the wet dockBadger has returned to the Ashton Packer Boat Company wet dock at Droylsden for investigation of its wood work on the starboard side. The last visit to this dock was to repair a small amount of rot on the port side and I was keen to ensure that the other side was not similarly affected.<br />
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The good news is that the starboard side is rock solid with no rot to be found. The work at the dock will now be confined to some paint touching up and a repaint of the cabin roof.<br />
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While Steve at the dock concentrates on this, I will be investigating an electrical problem which saw my batteries gassing hydrogen sulphide. Apart from the smell and obvious health issues, this gas turns copper and brass a delightful purple/blue colour. It pervades every nook and cranny of the boat and, once I have solved the problem, I will have to use a lot of Brasso:-( to get things back the way they were.<br />
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Georgefurnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-3090543966213551302013-05-17T21:36:00.001+01:002013-05-18T22:48:30.208+01:00<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Getting Rid of the Rot</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Badger is currently in the wet dock at the Ashton Packet Boat Company in Droylsden. The wooden trim around the edge of the cabin sides, which gives shape to the recessed panels, has been showing signs of rot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This wooden trim is actually lengths of torus profile skirting board. Unfortunately, everywhere you go to look at torus boards you see a different profile. After much searching, I found a proper timber merchant who cut his own boards with a profiling machine and had hundreds of different profile cutters in racks on the wall. He managed to match my profile and I took the precaution of buying enough timber to replace everything on Badger should that prove necessary.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I put Badger on the dock and Steve from the yard set to work removing the rotten wood. I quickly found out that the extent of the rot was very limited. The cabin had been very well made in the 1970s and epoxy coating to the main cabin sides meant that the damage was confined to the trim, and limited areas of that to boot. This now means I have a lot of spare timber but it may be useful on another occasion. I would rather be in that situation than finding out I needed to rebuild the cabin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A week's work will see one complete side of the boat as good as new. A return to the dock in either august or november will see the other side completed.</span><br />
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furnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-41214265261343772062012-11-11T14:28:00.002+00:002012-11-11T14:28:41.271+00:00Badger Working<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5Y76PydleF7HN_VXgLPQbbvnapseXnC3v6VfrawH3_izKi5qsX2HueZNnFlPFRwWBk6MJT2aB5YPlaFZ7p4ryuPW_mlcaraBSJiLsgNBl4COTanxKU564fPH3QWaduY7smJZmAwYSAk/s1600/BADGER+MOTOR+mod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5Y76PydleF7HN_VXgLPQbbvnapseXnC3v6VfrawH3_izKi5qsX2HueZNnFlPFRwWBk6MJT2aB5YPlaFZ7p4ryuPW_mlcaraBSJiLsgNBl4COTanxKU564fPH3QWaduY7smJZmAwYSAk/s320/BADGER+MOTOR+mod.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Another photo has surfaced showing Badger during her working days. This shows her in British Waterways colours towing a butty. The photo is courtesy of Lawrence Hogg and is copyright to LHP Productions. He tells me this is the only photo he has ever seen of Badger in her working days so I sent him a copy of the one I published a few months ago. Still only two photos, so if anyone out there knows of any others please let me know.furnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-34844002338510078572012-11-11T13:20:00.000+00:002013-05-18T22:48:10.168+01:00Ropes on CratchesI don't know about you, but whenever I set up the fancy white ropes on the cratches (see main photo) I have trouble tensioning them due to the friction between the ropes as they pass through the eyes. Nylon makes ideal thimbles for the ropes to pass through but commercial ones are either heart shaped, which look wrong, or very expensive. I managed to source some from the USA at a dollar each. Postage for six came in at $75 so I declined.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6ibomqEJaNRqHaAdvYxd4YIV-XuX-8KW_l7SUjIi0D5RgtreZcbKgtudjJ1qj5J0_yigSmz5otGItHPyo-1tc-uQNxjuSPFhLBMX5xbLSvvoY7f7lV21fhs5pnai1Pyc1U7td_eA-s0/s1600/Thimbles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6ibomqEJaNRqHaAdvYxd4YIV-XuX-8KW_l7SUjIi0D5RgtreZcbKgtudjJ1qj5J0_yigSmz5otGItHPyo-1tc-uQNxjuSPFhLBMX5xbLSvvoY7f7lV21fhs5pnai1Pyc1U7td_eA-s0/s320/Thimbles.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I ended up turning my own out of blank nylon rod which ended up at less than £1 each. The ropes are off now for the winter so it will be next spring before they are fitted again.furnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-34665465574339620332012-10-19T23:05:00.000+01:002012-10-19T23:05:58.000+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyTX9sPKP996_c4X66s-Ui_1EudjE_j0S8qJ_IjJzBGgCUumagoRZBRzau7kYvS43OvbNz6KngcMfVDZy2AFZp8Bq8aIvN_tJjKXWnqVIaW5BIikmgiFJZVPFo17bgd6u6Ru1TxL3WTE/s1600/SANY0275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyTX9sPKP996_c4X66s-Ui_1EudjE_j0S8qJ_IjJzBGgCUumagoRZBRzau7kYvS43OvbNz6KngcMfVDZy2AFZp8Bq8aIvN_tJjKXWnqVIaW5BIikmgiFJZVPFo17bgd6u6Ru1TxL3WTE/s200/SANY0275.JPG" width="200" /></a>Just coming to the end of a hard week in dry dock with Badger. I worked out that a full length boat has about 700 square feet of side to be blacked. Owners of modern boats have the luxury of comparatively smooth sides which readily accept paint roller application. Not so with the "patina" of an old boat. Try using a roller and the surface is covered but all the little (and large) dimples are still bare and that is just where the paint needs to be to do its job. An old boat requires old techniques and I have found the best method of application is a "Turks Head" brush. Admittedly not as economical on the paint as a roller but, then again, the best place for the paint is on the boat, not in the tin!<br />
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furnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-70189272038782048752012-10-10T19:36:00.000+01:002012-10-10T19:36:45.699+01:00Today I waved goodbye to Sandbach for the last time as she descended Bosley Locks with her new owners en route to her new home on the River Wey. Sad to see her go but I can hardly keep up with one boat let alone two.<br />
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I can now concentrate all my energies on Badger starting next week with a spell in Kerridge dry dock and an overdue blacking.furnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-55231774205764937582012-09-23T09:11:00.000+01:002012-09-23T09:11:16.728+01:00Old Boats and BoatmenLooking at the two photos below reminds me of an interesting conversation I had with an old boatman a few months ago.<br />
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He noticed the lack of rivets around the counter wrapper plate and correctly deduced it had been replated in that area, no "washers" having been used. He then went on to say words to the effect, "I thought as much. They have lost a lot of the upswing in the counter in the rebuilding".<br />
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As I look at the photos and compare, my feeling if anything, is that she has gained a fraction MORE upswing.<br />
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The moral of this story to me is, listen carefully to old boatmen, they have a lot of useful knowledge to impart, but don't take it all as gospel. Time plays tricks on old memories as I am finding out as I grow older.<br />
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Georgefurnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-4761491632999999132012-09-21T22:16:00.000+01:002012-09-21T22:16:28.969+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Having mentioned BADGER I thought I would just put up a couple of photos of her for anyone who does not know her.<br />
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The first photo is her present appearance and the second is how she looked when new.furnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-33216299140789417642012-09-18T09:31:00.001+01:002012-09-18T09:31:13.343+01:00Sandbach has now been sold. Thank you to all who have shown an interest in her and she has gone to a good home with a couple who have a long history in ex working boats.<br />
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Georgefurnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-54591568105851748072012-07-13T20:18:00.001+01:002012-07-13T20:18:13.267+01:00Sale price reduced again.SANDBACH has still not been sold and the price is now further reduced to £38,000.furnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-44655786919568529302012-03-29T22:36:00.001+01:002012-03-29T22:37:21.030+01:00The purchase of BADGER has now been completed. SANDBACH is still for sale at a now reduced price of £39500 ono.furnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-12437636068261879032011-10-22T17:00:00.002+01:002011-10-22T17:02:52.021+01:00Sandbach for saleSandbach is currently for sale and is being advertised on Apolloduck.<br /><br />The asking price is £43,000 but, as with all things, this is negotiable.<br /><br />Provided things go to plan, I am replacing Sandbach with ex FMC Josher, BADGER.<br /><br />Georgefurnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-31570790384821871992011-07-08T10:26:00.003+01:002011-07-08T10:42:51.441+01:00Trip to Braunston Show<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghalXky1QRXWnutvXtYPpEIBVlIY8VmIk0eqVkRKwYdH30fzu1a9cTnCaAOZfznq98Dy_eVLSqndDDTqXdvaMOpbtm3jCo7rxTbu9yOCuHQjpWbq6hDVM7Q2GaVeJVbQHbEHmXShWWZLM/s1600/SANY0168.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626911613990462594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghalXky1QRXWnutvXtYPpEIBVlIY8VmIk0eqVkRKwYdH30fzu1a9cTnCaAOZfznq98Dy_eVLSqndDDTqXdvaMOpbtm3jCo7rxTbu9yOCuHQjpWbq6hDVM7Q2GaVeJVbQHbEHmXShWWZLM/s320/SANY0168.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>The recent trip to the Braunston saw SANDBACH pick up a small towing job from Furness Vale to Etruria top lock.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>The new build day boat JOSHUA, built by Paul Dawson from Trafalgar Marine , was being delivered to its new home on the Caldon Canal. The cheapest and easiest way of doing this was in the water being towed on cross straps.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>SANDBACH was en route to the historic boat show at Braunston so the tow as far as Etruria was quickly arranged. Final delivery to Hazelhurst on the Caldon was made under her own steam.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The photo shows SANDBACH and JOSHUA waiting for permission to enter the Harecastle Tunnel north portal. </div>furnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-55837879410835792962010-10-27T18:40:00.004+01:002010-10-27T18:51:19.105+01:00Towing a Block of Flats<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6aQevu5My0zbAETLZg8oPBeXJHpX1mo2XmqDoDfkSE9n3hQeV5Htf8inkvr15NDeINnSucXGjb5L5r8zIntjMLwKWMPABqtYCwSX7mw7-xKI1AvSs769GPoQRep5w6TQ0-FUifTaYAs/s1600/DSCF2796a.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 285px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532784009410785330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6aQevu5My0zbAETLZg8oPBeXJHpX1mo2XmqDoDfkSE9n3hQeV5Htf8inkvr15NDeINnSucXGjb5L5r8zIntjMLwKWMPABqtYCwSX7mw7-xKI1AvSs769GPoQRep5w6TQ0-FUifTaYAs/s320/DSCF2796a.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Thanks to a recommendation from my old friend Brian McGuigan, I recently got a job towing a block of flats from Macclesfield to Marple. Just to make matters more interesting, we tied the owner's GRP cruiser on the back to complete the convoy. The whole move took half as long again as a normal tow thanks to the square pontoon shape of the houseboat.<br /><br />Revenge is sweet! I got a phone call from the houseboat owner yesterday asking for another tow from the bottom of Marple to Portland Basin. I knew Brian was going that way today so I persuaded him to do the job! </div><div> </div><div></div><div>(The photo shows my arrival at the top of Marple with the convoy in tow.)</div>furnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-14091450861946821122010-07-29T14:33:00.004+01:002010-07-29T14:41:45.765+01:00Back to Work<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvko0eCO9_fo3j7IMBA4mMXmizWzDlmcrqSSVy19v9sOLhq74jSYf8yHKkkB6IlWK6S7y50kECKeprSnwB9YTaULXxf7m6AEtHDhLpTrRZuZB5BKpVr_VCyIUDSuje-bW1ngm5BQhzKA/s1600/27072010344a.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvko0eCO9_fo3j7IMBA4mMXmizWzDlmcrqSSVy19v9sOLhq74jSYf8yHKkkB6IlWK6S7y50kECKeprSnwB9YTaULXxf7m6AEtHDhLpTrRZuZB5BKpVr_VCyIUDSuje-bW1ngm5BQhzKA/s320/27072010344a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499322927276483762" /></a><br />Following five and a half weeks away at the Braunston show, combined with a trip to London, the Thames and Oxford, on return to the Peak Forest it was straight back to work with a tow for CAVALIER from Marple to Furness Vale dry dock for repairs to a broken rudder.furnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-58689677931044185672010-06-16T18:59:00.004+01:002010-06-16T19:17:21.919+01:00Etruria 2010<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HLnetqf-jBQY7mFUZwmpdfrxyADlQYbVeqomVqNOY54fTeQ_XjE-6cab8JpOmm3Jwq6mySJeM-ELKGNbOJgy3SCKoysam6eMNb5GrhYUJfG8NBQTqA-PbYXcheQQJ6RntBqrnHsi9y0/s1600/ETRURIA2010a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 242px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483434764966232002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HLnetqf-jBQY7mFUZwmpdfrxyADlQYbVeqomVqNOY54fTeQ_XjE-6cab8JpOmm3Jwq6mySJeM-ELKGNbOJgy3SCKoysam6eMNb5GrhYUJfG8NBQTqA-PbYXcheQQJ6RntBqrnHsi9y0/s320/ETRURIA2010a.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Sandbach attended the Etruria Canals Festival on 3rd-5th June. Other working boats present included Alton, Daphne, Darley, Ibex, Skylark, Towy and the modern, but no less a working boat, Stokie.<br /><br />Daphne was having engine trouble so was towed by Sandbach from Kidsgrove to Etruria, where temporary repairs were effected. "Just in case", Daphne was towed northwards back through the tunnel . To round off a good weekend, Sandbach assisted both Towy and Alton who found themselves well stemmed up in modern canal conditions. <br /><br />Photo shows Sandbach emerging from Harecastle Tunnel south portal towing Daphne. (Photo by Brian McGuigan)</div>furnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-11706399564807114082010-05-12T19:31:00.003+01:002010-05-12T19:38:20.719+01:00Black Country Living Museum<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6yQJE2Ye_tAF6AIfqTYmeVm-J7wnrOT2rVdUuSr35CuHnz2eLzqQc36xE4F1l1x73DfHxmrnO_9FbO8qlwEwmaGAw42C_SZxe7GSL75cmMSS0IZd7moxInHKx22oQq2FX3fXIK8QPYk/s1600/01+010b.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 145px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6yQJE2Ye_tAF6AIfqTYmeVm-J7wnrOT2rVdUuSr35CuHnz2eLzqQc36xE4F1l1x73DfHxmrnO_9FbO8qlwEwmaGAw42C_SZxe7GSL75cmMSS0IZd7moxInHKx22oQq2FX3fXIK8QPYk/s320/01+010b.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470454072045363986" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmp2uSe3WRAC3n55YNjoJXzpglca14IdHClbSyC07QN2AiMfGnyVwROK_J2ozLAMMv68idZFT2fyKDQhwXhD8Jo5LNhczoZ0-SgDh9N15EJnfc4nH9kGNPcNpYp3NzRMKw56vjjqzWKg/s1600/01+002a.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 147px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmp2uSe3WRAC3n55YNjoJXzpglca14IdHClbSyC07QN2AiMfGnyVwROK_J2ozLAMMv68idZFT2fyKDQhwXhD8Jo5LNhczoZ0-SgDh9N15EJnfc4nH9kGNPcNpYp3NzRMKw56vjjqzWKg/s320/01+002a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470454061427662818" /></a><br />We have just returned from a trip to the museum to attend the bi-annual tug gathering. Some 16 tugs attended and given the low number of original tugs around this was quite a creditable score. It was good to renew the acquaintance of some tugmen I knew from my Alton days as well as meeting new faces in my new world of "little" boats. The top photo shows Sandbach in the museum arm and the lower photo is at the top of the Wolverhamton 21.furnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-9630655151135386622010-03-15T16:02:00.006+00:002010-03-15T16:32:36.492+00:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUg0BjLrCiF9gY8zfPO6P0mGbo18rW-ndf5NC1-TN26bEtFk0WGyzJFwcXUUp6CES4-oRMuBH8EFLbPW9Q4xXveEk1dua_s426i6FdlhYMQUcE5y0iPamY0nIutVjEA4Gdyy0ivmKjs0/s1600-h/IMG00053-20100311-1555.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448893686310477682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUg0BjLrCiF9gY8zfPO6P0mGbo18rW-ndf5NC1-TN26bEtFk0WGyzJFwcXUUp6CES4-oRMuBH8EFLbPW9Q4xXveEk1dua_s426i6FdlhYMQUcE5y0iPamY0nIutVjEA4Gdyy0ivmKjs0/s320/IMG00053-20100311-1555.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilZl8dmPdJmoiYaD3An8y-uRoWvG9nrVI0Uom5AO66QivFqIgJmFI5lsLnCiwWdV_zVHz4lceJCUfsQHHIDIg7jFtrHG4g16vZkTqEed50aOYcl85ssvv1rVM86ZI6-kbV_3Bz67vmaY/s1600-h/original2.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 230px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448893521464430850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilZl8dmPdJmoiYaD3An8y-uRoWvG9nrVI0Uom5AO66QivFqIgJmFI5lsLnCiwWdV_zVHz4lceJCUfsQHHIDIg7jFtrHG4g16vZkTqEed50aOYcl85ssvv1rVM86ZI6-kbV_3Bz67vmaY/s320/original2.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>I have a couple of interesting photos of how Sandbach used to look when first built in 1946. Then she was 25ft long but she must have proved impossible to steer as in less than 12 months she was sent back to Yarwoods to have an extra 10ft inserted. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>The top photo shows her sister BEESTON on the bank at Ellesmere Port museum awaiting restoration (copyright Brian McGuigan)</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>The lower photo shows her as first built (copyright Cheshire CC,County Record Office, DDX 289).</div><br /><br /><br /></div>furnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-79165142576991205142010-03-14T13:42:00.003+00:002010-03-14T13:45:37.207+00:00Refit Update<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2cI9FeihHuXyldTJpI49jj_Gf9U-LHvr2a9u2DIjFY7g2CXHe0RHDocB4sWJiBfG9Yjgbc1cuhufaRLHkHAxMpX9ep9jDYYV6gr5_RJ5FWOJAGXmIwyqVF2RtNn8j05BhxpFNo1htIs/s1600-h/09.03.10+001.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448485207218023826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2cI9FeihHuXyldTJpI49jj_Gf9U-LHvr2a9u2DIjFY7g2CXHe0RHDocB4sWJiBfG9Yjgbc1cuhufaRLHkHAxMpX9ep9jDYYV6gr5_RJ5FWOJAGXmIwyqVF2RtNn8j05BhxpFNo1htIs/s320/09.03.10+001.jpg" /></a><br /><div>The photo alongside gives an idea of the new look Sandbach will have with the two front windows eliminated. Work is progressing steadily and all should be ready for a visit to the Port at Easter.</div>furnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6293497255293196706.post-62279643995227570692010-03-07T08:20:00.003+00:002010-03-07T08:27:32.813+00:00HNBOC AGM and New Can<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgLv-W4Drz1Fcv2s0ccZyXUWvG_HCSM11SWfvueQ2w15me1Ap77dvOAAwtNCWc-ARO3IE3d65a8EI1ppyHKglZmeLr3CnPon5O2R10FLtlOxgFiJI5y5Mov9PRiZLsrXFBUY3pGpIRHA/s1600-h/Sandbach3.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 306px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445805665257640498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgLv-W4Drz1Fcv2s0ccZyXUWvG_HCSM11SWfvueQ2w15me1Ap77dvOAAwtNCWc-ARO3IE3d65a8EI1ppyHKglZmeLr3CnPon5O2R10FLtlOxgFiJI5y5Mov9PRiZLsrXFBUY3pGpIRHA/s320/Sandbach3.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1waHlDR54EYgaibi0cAXZn2gNjuroEev-b0Ik7AZp4BFRL2CDmoYQ7IVibQw_hyphenhyphen8LjdwIwi_pQX3CCpYEQ9Fl517eagUx9IK4Dha-RXRyweAY1WbZS2kMuK7LkOJxhkdNcASHljGdTGs/s1600-h/Sandbach1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 242px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445805033218728034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1waHlDR54EYgaibi0cAXZn2gNjuroEev-b0Ik7AZp4BFRL2CDmoYQ7IVibQw_hyphenhyphen8LjdwIwi_pQX3CCpYEQ9Fl517eagUx9IK4Dha-RXRyweAY1WbZS2kMuK7LkOJxhkdNcASHljGdTGs/s320/Sandbach1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>Yesterday (Sat 6th March), I went with Irene to Braunston to attend the AGM of HNBOC. As good luck would have it, my new Buckby can by Terence was ready at the same time. As Terence now lives in Braunston collection was easy. I am well pleased with the end result but I now have the dilemma of........do I use it on the boat and get it chipped and scratched or should it live in cotton wool at home.</div></div>furnessvalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046190014242627431noreply@blogger.com2