Escaped Boats, Engines and Green Shoots

Getting the hireboats ready last March, note that Dan is wearing a t-shirt and there seems to be something called sun shining.

March 2012

Getting the hireboats ready this March.  A slight difference of about 20 degrees and a foot of snow!

March 2013

Last week one of the boats moored at the boatyard decided to slip its ropes and take itself off for a cruise down towards the lock and had to be rescued.  This proved quite difficult as there was still a considerable flow on the river and it was rather windy.  The boat was eventually pulled back to safety and a visit to the weir was averted.  On a more serious note it is important to check boat ropes, particularly during times of strong stream and fluctuating river levels.

 

 

Boat Rescue

 We are continuing to renovate our 70ft motor and unfortunately last year the freezing temperatures cracked the engine block. After much consideration, deliberation, unbolting, building of contraptions, pulling, pushing, lifting up, setting down again and general inventiveness, the Lister engine had been disturbed from its mountings, pulled apart and manhandled all the way up to the front deck with much huffing and puffing ready to be craned out and repaired.  The motor now had to be towed down to the dock at Oundle Marina ready for the engine to be taken out.  In the midst of snow, wind and freezing temperatures Bob moved the boat across the marina for us on Saturday morning.

 

Towing the motor across the Marina to the dock

 Waiting patiently at the dock side are all the boats that have been overwintering in the Marina waiting to be put back into the water ready for the boating season and Easter this week.  Admittedly it isn't really boating weather at the moment but I am confident that will change very soon.  I know the marina shop have just received their first delivery of ice cream, so we must be set for a heatwave!

 

Cruisers waiting to be craned back into the Marina

After a bit of manouevering and adjustment of the straps the engine was eventually on its way out of the boat!

 

And here it is all 3 tonnes of it suspended in mid air, merrily swinging above the marina.  This is when you hope to goodness that the straps are attached properly!

 

 

The engine safely reached the shore and has been packaged up ready for collection this week.

 

 

All that remained now was to tow the boat out of the dock and back across the marina. It was windy and very cold and after several attempts and being blown all over the marina the motor was finally towed out of the marina entrance.  Thanks to Bob & Richard for their help with this!

 

 

And finally ........

 

Just to remind you that Spring is just around the corner, I did spot a few green shoots this week.