Update On Operation Longboat

Welcome to our joint Guy Fawkes/Diwali edition of Operation Longboat. This week we want to talk to you about paint, in particular red oxide.

Earlier in the year we needed to get hold of some red oxide at short notice. Unfortunately it is quite expensive so we only bought one pot of 2.5Ltr. This time we need a lot more so we used the power of the internet to source the best price. We were able to source the paint at Tool Station for only £3.48 per litre.

Wait it gets better. We placed the order at 15:24 on Wednesday. At 15:26 we received a confirmation email that the order had been received. At 15:30 on Thursday Fed Ex knocked on the door with the order – 24 hours and 4 minutes later.

Any way, what have we done with all the paint we bought? Well we are moving so fast we have now completely painted the hull, wall, tank and framework that were under the former starboard side toilet.

We need to keep an eye on George as he’s already started to dismantle the port side toilet and shower. We’ve asked him to knock just in case someone’s on the loo when he wants to nick the door!

So how did we celebrate Guy Fawkes and Diwali? First off Brian made a delicious Indian Curry with loads of chicken and leeks. The leeks are a Welsh thing! Next Sean let off his own brand of fireworks.

The curry also sets the night on fire. Going in and coming out!

Operation Longboat Phase Two

We couldn’t hold back any longer knowing our experiences of last winter. With a crowbar in one hand and a claw hammer in the other we set about phase two of our major refurbishment programme.

In the first part of the programme we were able to:

• Create a spacious day room
• Provide new folding beds and chairs
• Create more under deck storage
• Strip back areas of paint to bare metal

In this second part of the programme we will be undertaking the following:

• A new wet room
• New LED lighting
• A new galley and refrigeration
• A new energy management system comprising:
  - 24 volt charging from the engine
  - Solar power & Charging
  - Wind Generator
  - Inverter to provide 240v power 24/7

In our first weekend of work we have already stripped out the starboard toilet, cupboards, hot water cylinder and part of the galley. Over the next couple of weekends we will continue to strip out the old before we start building the new facilities.

Working with us over the next few months on our energy management will be Jack Giles from FX Technology. Jack has recently installed new electrics on ‘Challenger’ at the Canal Boat Project. As our work progresses we’ll keep you updated with reports and photos.

More CCBM Training & Exam

So, the three volunteers who have ploughed through the training programme over the past year finally got to complete their CCBM at the Canal Boat Project in Harlow.

Joining Brian, George and Sean were David Powell of the steam narrowboat ‘President’ and Ron Abbott of Blackwater Boats Ron kept us well feed during the two days on board

For further information on ‘President or Blackwater Boats go to:

http://www.nb-president.org.uk/index.php

http://www.blackwater-boats.co.uk/index.html

The trainers/examiners over the two days were ‘Banny’ Banyard, the national voice of the NCBA and Tony Plunkett a trainer at CBP and Trustee of DCBT.

Monday Evening
Mainly going through the programme and a meal in a local pub

Tuesday
We started by getting Red Watch ready for the trip – pump out, water etc. Soon we were reversing up the river to the nearest winding hole so we could cruise up river.

For the first part of the trip we tried unsuccessfully to tow Banny’s own narrow boat that was going up river to be slipped at Kecksy's Farm. Once we had unhitched the boat it was plain sailing, until the rain started. Although we all own waterproofs of some description or other, in heavy rain they are quite useless. My £14 German Army Poncho gives more protection than my intergalactic storm proof jacket!

On Tuesday evening we moored at the entrance to Little Hallingbury Marina as they wouldn’t let us in, even though some of us were using the restaurant. Not sure who thought of mooring there as it was right under the flight path for Stanstead Airport!

Only got a few hours sleep that night as Sean snores like a steam train in a tunnel. Must be the reason the river was full of stunned fish early in the morning.

Wednesday
Yours truly was in charge of the boat when the trainers shouted man overboard and fire in the galley. This was our full blown evacuation test, which took 5 minutes. Getting the stern of the boat into the bank was a bitch as by this time reverse gear was acting up. We suspect it was a lack of gear oil. Needless to say the two supposed people in the water would have died as it was bitterly cold.

Anyway, the rest of the day went without incident and we’re glad the CCBM is over apart from a few loose ends next week.

CCBM Training

Back last November we had a full crew on board as we held our last training day of 2009. Roll forward to June 2010 and only three intrepid sailors remain. Most of the others have dropped out due to the fear of hard work and missing the football!!.

Anyway, on 12/13 June we decided to take the boat up to Little Venice as part of our final CCBM training days. Needless to say it was blazing hot, all the locks were against us and we made the Islington Tunnel slightly larger!

On Sunday morning as we came back through Camden Locks it was like a bloody war zone. Cans, bottles, plastic bags and rubbish bins in the locks and canal. There had also been some serious pebble dashing of pavements and walls during the night. Still you're only young once.

If anybody out there has boating skills or a CCBM and you want to get involved with our charity, surf over to our website at http://www.dcbt.org.uk/ and give us a call.

At DCB T we were supposed to celebrate our 25th anniversary on 6th June. Unfortunately our President ended up in hospital, our Chairman came down with a nasty bug and the rest of the team wore themselves out during our refurbishment programme.

However, on 27th June Challenge returned to Three Mills to participate in Lee Valley’s open day. Fitting really as Challenge was officially commissioned at Three Mills back in June 1985.

During the day the boat was fully booked as we gave free trips up and down the river. So successful was the day we are discussing having a permanent presence at Three Mills during their monthly open days.

Operation Longboat

Operation Longboat is the name we have given to our extensive refurbishment project. although we have no money to do this work we have started in earnest as soon issues just could not be put off.

The boat has served the community well for the past 25 years but it is now looking tired and past its best.

Structurally it is very sound with just a few wooden areas that need replacing. Inside we have decided to undertake the following:

• Replace the front flooring
• Rip out all the fixed bunks and replace them with modern folding beds
• Clad the walls in pine
• Lay new flooring cover
• Build a new galley
• Create two day rooms
• Build a new wet room
• New furniture

Externally we are stripping back to base metal as best as possible and building up new paint layers. We are also:

• Fitting new front fenders
• New side fenders
• Revamping all the lifebuoys
  

We hope that the refurbished boat will continue to give years of service on London's waterways.

A Year on the River with Docklands canal Boat Trust

2009 was a great year for the new team at DCBT. During the year we were able to put in numerous training days for the team with Tony and roger our resident trainers.

We also ironed out a number of problems with the mechanics and electrics, which give us a good idea of our future maintenance requirements.

We also made lots of new friends on the river and set up some strong partnerships with Lee Valley Park, LB Newham, LB Hackney, British Waterways and Lee Valley Canoe & Cycle Hire. This year we are hoping to build on those relationships.

The video montage pulls together a number of photos taken during the year. We decided not to use Celine Dion's theme from Titanic!

BriDev

Update on Challenge

It's been a few months since we've had chance to update the blog. Every weekend we've been busy stripping out the boat for our 'Operation Longboat' refurbishment programme. We are now in the process of putting the interior back together.

I've posted a montage of Skipper Rogers photos from last year which shows what we were upto during our training sessions.