Thats us ready to go...

oldgit

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Just been lifted back in.
A good clean up, new " shorter" propshaft plus new cutlass bearing .
Treated boat to new bilge pump, trod on old one and broke it. :(

Who ever fitted previous shafts made em a tad to long. Fine if you spend your entire time in 1000 fathoms of water but blimming useless when trying to moor at Henley.
Now a nice big gap between blade tips and back of counter balanced rudders.
Can really thump stuff now and not hit rudders.
....and yes did have a couple of tins with a mere lick of A/F in each.

 
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Looking superb! Hopefully that's not a view you'll be treated to again for at least another Year!
 
Looking superb! Hopefully that's not a view you'll be treated to again for at least another Year!

Looking forward to trips to...
Queenborough.
Burnham
Conyer.
Ramsgate.
Titchmarch
Holland/France
St Kats.
The Thames
West India. AYTC.
Plus all the RCC local cruises and events................
Have my spare props on stand by and apparently about to perform miracles by being in two places at once ?

Xmas cruise to MDL this year...preferably by boat this time.
 
Patmans Wharf. Upnor

The crawler crane is doing the lifting .
Terry Patman has now retired but his relatives have taken over operating the yard.
If you are prepared to set slings,get a mate or two to help steady when lifting and do your own blocking off, a very economical place to get your boat out of the water.
Sorry,no outlets selling boat shoes or Raybans or restuarant on site but there is a proper pub just across the road,
 
Re: Patmans Wharf. Upnor

Wondered where you'd gone, came past your berth last Sunday. Would you kindly mend the weather, it was alright while you were out.
 
Re: Patmans Wharf. Upnor

Wondered where you'd gone, came past your berth last Sunday. Would you kindly mend the weather, it was alright while you were out.

The chap in the next mooring down contacted me by email demanding my prompt return.
Apparently my boat shelters his from the waves and wind/sleet usually coming from the direction of some place called Cuxton.
He had to turn his boat round in order to get nights sleep.
What thinks you of my new innovative Blue N Red contrasting designer A/F scheme.
Was either that or new Rolex to keep up my image as a boater,that and my Amarni overalls .
 
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Re: Patmans Wharf. Upnor

The crawler crane is doing the lifting .
Terry Patman has now retired but his relatives have taken over operating the yard.
If you are prepared to set slings,get a mate or two to help steady when lifting and do your own blocking off, a very economical place to get your boat out of the water.
Sorry,no outlets selling boat shoes or Raybans or restuarant on site but there is a proper pub just across the road,

Sorry didn't notice the other crane, thought the rusty one was doing the lifting, hence my surprise!
 
Re: Patmans Wharf. Upnor

Very innovative Fred, we've got to come out sometime soon.
Do you know anyone that would be able to fit new shaft seals ( in a couple of months)
.I've still got to work out what I want, got DSS at the moment.
 
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Re: Patmans Wharf. Upnor

Sorry didn't notice the other crane, thought the rusty one was doing the lifting, hence my surprise!


That old crane is probably listed, think it was installed in 1930s.
"They" spent a small fortune preserving the crane on the opposite bank just below MDL lock and large fortune tarting up the crane at Rochester waterside in "Limehouse Reach", cost rumoured to be about £300.000.
Patmans wharf was once used to load sand from the adjacent pit into barges for transit to the Ford Motor Works.
The sand was apparently ideal for moulding the castings for engine blocks.
Can personally remember unloading steel bar/rods there when wharf was still active.


New yard management is trying to get rid of some long term tenants, three boats have been siezed due to non payment of storage costs. One boat (a Broom ) has been there for 20 years to my knowledge. Both its engines were removed at some point and left lying under boat. A large wooden boat is only fit for firewood.
Suspect this the case in many boatyards up and down the country, stuff well past its sink by date and no plan to tackle the problem
Next time you are passing below Rochester Bridge look at the ever increasing flottilla of abandoned wrecks being quietly dumped by owners and boatyards after dark in Strood Bight.
 
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Re: Patmans Wharf. Upnor

Very innovative Fred, we've got to come out sometime soon.
Do you know anyone that would be able to fit new shaft seals ( in a couple of months)
.I've still got to work out what I want, got DSS at the moment.

No suggestions apart from the usual suspects.Do know that a couple of club members did try to get a lift in Gillingham Marina in May and were told no prospect in near future, as totally booked.
Never personally had any luck with MDL after Mike Gates departure.
Not sure about Medway Bridge or Cuxton.
Problem with those two as you know, is tidal restrictions.
 
Re: Patmans Wharf. Upnor

I can get it lifted next door at Port Medway, its finding a reliable and competent person to do the work as I think it may be a job I don't have the tools for.
 
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