TO BE WRITTEN

At this point the crane crew took over. Having spent weeks wincing about the cost of the cranes and the lift, I could now see where the money had gone. Two lorries, one massive crane and at least six guys to make it all happen.

The first job was getting the strops (the big orange straps) underneath the boat. These where then attached to the lifting device – a chandelier that helps hold the strops apart preventing the weight pulling them all together and putting pressure on the hull.

The crane then lifted the chandelier up to test the set up and check nothing was twisted. (Note here that the general set up of the lifting equipment does look very similar to the pencil and masking tape construction I made for the lego fireboat).

And we were off… If you remember from previous posts, one of the big unknowns was how much the boat weighed. Based on the stamp on the hull and other guestimates, it had been suggested it would be around 28 tonnes. The crane has a lifting limit and was crucial that she wasn’t too heavy. If the alarm on the crane started beeping, she would be too heavy to lift. And you can guess, the alarm started beeping. A whopping 35 tonnes (plus the weight of the chandelier thingy).

Fortunately, as with most things, there is a knack to it. The most strain is during the initial phase of the lift and it reduced as the boat comes closer in to the crane. Betty started to swing and also started to look ABSOLUTELY GINORMOUS.

Another cheesy Helen and Boat shot. I must teach Gizzi not to give me that “what the hell are you doing look”.

The relief that we had actually got off the mud was quickly overtaken by panic as we then needed to do a three point turn in quite a narrow channel. Interesting to say the least but swiftly executed.

And we were off. The journey was probably only about a mile downstream but it was quite a strange experience. Without a top, the boat is essentially a big floating platform so feels quite exposed, and despite being museum-worthy it goes at quite a rate. Again excuse the slightly duff commentary on the video..

<p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/81169703″>Down the river</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/user23207727″>helen symonds</a> on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a&gt;.</p>

I even took the wheel at one point (the point where the river was very straight and wide). The obnoxiously pink bobble hat was intentional. If things all went tits up, I would be easier to spot and fish from the river.

The wharf where the crane was waiting for us soon came into view.

Gizzi wouldn’t be fulfilling her role as First Mate and Official Ship’s Dog if she didn’t come too. She did look pretty bemused throughout. Quite a lot for a little puppy to take in.

The wharf couldn’t come a moment too soon as with seconds to go the engine faltered and ran out of petrol. One final three point turn and we were in position.

Monday 2 December. Possibly the most stressful day I have experienced for a while. Fortunately all the finger-crossing, pleading and silent prayers paid off and Betty is now snug in the yard. It is easiest to explain how things went through a series of photos and even some videos. So here goes.

After checking in with the crane guys at the wharf I rocked up to find Betty in her usual position stuck in the mud. The weather is good, hardly any breeze, no rain but totally brass monkeys.

After watching the tide rise Job one was getting the engine started. It had been prepped previously but should in theory be good to go. There was a bit of a worrying moment where the batteries seemed to have failed but it was quickly up and running. I hadn’t anticipated quite how smokey it would be and there were moments where I was wondering whether we were alight.

<p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/81133656″>Engine</a&gt; from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/user23207727″>helen symonds</a> on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a&gt;.</p>

High tide (a 3.9 metre tide) was at 10.30 and there was a lot of time spent a bit anxiously staring at the river bank. Betty definitely wasn’t moving away from the bank and, although afloat, wasn’t really going anywhere. She had been sat in the same position for so long that she had almost carved out a space for herself meaning that she needed to get up and over the mud to get into the main channel.

Captain Carl rocked up jumping from his work boat on to Betty to get the show on the road.

The first hero moment came soon after as the crew of the Walter George hitched up Betty to their boat and gave her a series of quite big tugs.

This was massively nail biting. On the first two attempts she really wasn’t budging. Not at all. I was visualising having to rive down to the wharf, tail between legs, to explain that the boat was stuck and the lift was cancelled and then being faced with the whopping lift bill….

<p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/81133786″>Tug 2</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/user23207727″>helen symonds</a> on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a&gt;.</p>

Massive thank you to the Walter George for persevering as on the third attempt there was a massive pop and a squelch (or maybe that was the nerves getting the better of me) and Betty started rolling across into the channel.

<p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/81129080″>Beta III off the mud</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/user23207727″>helen symonds</a> on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a&gt;.</p>

(Please excuse my rather moronic commentary on the videos. Saying obvious things in a stupid voice is a very common reaction to stressful situations!)

Air punch, fist bump, high five….
Betty’s out of the water in one piece.

I have aged about ten years and broken a nail in the process but, with a lot of luck, some judgement and a whole heap of handy helpers, it all came together in the end.

Full blow by blow account to come as soon as I have sussed out how to upload video. Mañana – am totally shattered!

The final preparations are underway. Team Betty have pumped out the water from the fo’c’sle.

The WHAT?!?!?

Word of the day – fo’c’sle.

“Forecastle refers to the upper deck of a sailing ship forward of the foremast, or the forward part of a ship with the sailors’ living quarters. Related to the latter meaning is the phrase “before the mast” which denotes anything related to ordinary sailors, as opposed to a ship’s officers.”

I know where it is, but can’t pronounce it to save my life…. Apparently “foxsicle” to rhyme with “Popsicle” is definitely wrong. Either way, thanks to Led and Lee, it’s now water free ready for the lift!

In the middle of the boat lurks a many cylindered beast. A genuine 1950s Gardner engine. Now, I am no petrol head nor AT ALL familiar with engines, machinery nor pretty much anything with moving parts. But I have it on very good authority that this is (perhaps a rather in appropriate phrase here) the Rolls Royce of big engines.

Visually it is quite impressive and does have a certain beauty. More so once it gets polished up. BEST OF ALL IT STILL WORKS. I am astounded that something that was made around 60 years ago, with multiple finely tuned moving parts and so many different elements that could go wrong is still able to fire to life. Albeit with a lot of tinkering and prepping by Carl.

Gardner ceased operating in the 1990s but there is quite a lot of info about the company and the engines it produced. I am not sure exactly what type of engine this is. As a diesel engine from the 1950s, it is possible it is LW or LX… will have to do some more research to find out. There are tonnes of Gardner Geeks (and I use that with utmost respect) so think I need to make some engine friends…

UPDATE: see below. Now the only questions left to answer are a) wtf is a tappett? And b) how can I change my surname to McCool?

On Sun, Dec 1, 2013 at 7:33 PM, Helen Symonds wrote:

Hi

I was hoping you could help.
We will do our best Helen. We only get involved with Gardners. Gardners are our passion. They were the best marine engine ever made: simple, reliable and very easy on fuel.

I have a 1926 thames fire boat which I understand has a large Gardner engine aboard. It is still working but I am keen to find out what type of engine it is
It is a 6L3 and it delivers 150bhp at 1200 rpm. Parts for 6L3’s can be hard to find, but if it is not broke, then you won’t need any.
and what I need to do in terms of servicing and keeping it in good order.
Nothing special really. Change the oil often and both the oil and fuel filters. Set the tappets if they are noisey and that is it. The best oil to use is classic SAE30, nothing complicated.
Are you the people to help?
Yes, we will delighted to help you in any way we can. Just let me know.

—
Thanks.
____________________________
Joe McCool CEng, MIMarEST, SMIEEE
http://www.tangent-engineering.co.uk
(44)7802572441

Coat it in mud and then chase round with a bucket of water.

Monday 2 December.
Bring it on!

Predictably things didn’t go to plan. The bad weather and high winds in Rye mean that the boats due to come in and out of the wharf at high tide have become backed up. I am on the last high tide day (and the smallest boat) so I get bumped off the list. Totally sucks.

I am not and have never been good at dealing with non negotiable situations – airport security, traffic wardens, baking – so am miffed. As pictured below.

The only slight glimmer of a silver lining is that with the top off the boat is considerably lighter and higher in the water. This means I *might* be able to move it on a 3.8m tide and not have to wait a WHOLE MONTH EXTRA for the lift to take place.

Either way total logistical ball ache. Off to drown sorrows with lemsip.