Well the weather totally sucks but, in the mere minutes when it isn’t raining sides ways, work doggedly continues.
Noisy, messy, dirty…
Not sure it is the best thing to be able to see straight through the hull…
The blaster fully loaded. The blast medium looks like cupcake sugar crystals.
The shop primer about to go on..
The most budget bit of welding on the bow. More like patchwork. I reckon I could have a better crack at it…
Before and after…
Beauteous
The next job is to work out how to get them up in one piece, then back down at a later date. Like the worst kind of 3D jigsaw project you never wanted to do…
I know I keep banging on about this, but one of the real upsides to this project has been discovered how truly lovely Rye is.
More photographic proof below. Please come visit!! (But not all at once and don’t make a mess or eat all the bacon sandwiches or anything. And don’t come if you are a hipster)
The photo above was sent to me by Maria, granddaughter of the former owner Bob Balcomb who owned Beta III from late 70s until early 80s. It was taken aboard Beta III. Super cute. (I am pretty sure I had the same jumper growing up!)
I think it would be great to do a Dear Photograph (check it out if you haven’t seen before http://dearphotograph.com) style montage of the above photo and the picture below. Must enlist the creative help of KSJ for this!
Now the proud owner of my very first shipping container. Albeit with slightly leaky roof…
Round these parts you aren’t serious until you have at least one shipping container full of “stuff”.
Or lift off… Or whatever. What I am trying to say is that the Shotblasting has started and I am relieved and thrilled to say it is working a treat. There was always a niggling doubt that the two different bits of kit would come together and actually work but it seems to be happening.
The site is pretty waterlogged but the weather has cleared up enough to get a fair amount done.
It is hard work to control the nozzle shooting out the blast material, grubby and noisy. I say that like I have been doing the grafting. I haven’t, and tbh don’t think I could… Lack of upper body strength, clumsiness, and the high probability I would accidentally blast off a foot in the process. So big thanks to Led and Lee for their hard work so far (suns out, back to it chaps!!).
Apart from a 10 inch strip round the waterline and a few dinks here and there, the hull seems in pretty good shape for its age. While the blasting has smoothed off the surface beautifully, it hasn’t revealed many more holes or weak spots than the scabbling uncovered. The photo below shows the before and after and the difference between the rust and the freshly blasted and shop primed surface.
Below you can see the holes along the waterline that will need welding.
And the shot blasted rudder that was the test area for checking the pressure on the equipment.
Already starting to look smarter. The riveted sections above the waterline look really good and, apparently crucially, there are no missing heads on the rivets so in good shape. The steel that makes up the striker rails is stamped with “Port Talbot Steel” (photo next time).
She will look good but also quite strange when it is all done. From black, red and rust to a grey battleship…
(Stolen from link on liquid highway)
How about some dazzle camouflage on Beta III? Just discovered this exists – totally my aesthetic.
(Photos from @shipwrecked_sam twitter account)
Some more info from Ben about Beta III in the 1980s…
“Found out some info from a skipper in the 80s
– She operated from Tower Pier to Barrier Gardens pier stopping at Greenwich on the way and was moored at Greenwich overnight
– her owner was a guy called Mick Mcgilligan
– The company eventually went out of business and the boat was sold to Greenwich Yacht Club “
This has been a bumper day of photos and info. The connection through the Liquid Highway site put me in touch with Rob Balcomb.
Rob’s Dad was Bob Balcomb of F&B Boats. They owned the Beta III from 1979 to 84 operating her between Kingston and Hampton Court providing river cruises and floating discos (I definitely need to recreate the early 80s floating disco at some point!)
Rob has kindly given me access to even more photos. I reckon she looked quite smart in her blue and white phase!
The photo below is my favourite. I need to try and recreate it when I am down there next – with blue not white overalls and a far less impressive moustache!!
A big thank you to Rob!
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