Repair Preparations

Preparations for Shamrock's forthcoming repairs and engine fitting have started with the replacement of two missing planks from the bulkhead (dividing wall) between the after cabin, which is due to become the engine room and her cargo hold. As the engine room will need to be secured the bulkhead access hatch has had a door fitted and this will also serve as an escape hatch. Vent holes will need to be drilled in the bulkhead to assist in the airflow through Shamrock.

Cargo hold bulkhead before

and after.

Removing her anchor and chain was made a lot easer than normal by taking advantage of a mid morning high tide and floating Shamrock to the head of her dock allowing the anchor to be dropped onto the dock and the chain flaked almost straight into the cart. Although once loaded the cart was not exactly easy to move!

Shamrock Cartoon

During Shamrock's handover weekend a cartoon of Shamrock's 1985 return passage from Dartmouth appeared in the boat shed along with photo of the intrepid crew. Some of the present crews time has been spent finding the cartoon characters in the photo.

Shamrock

After a hard physical days work this years rigging of Shamrock has finally been completed using her windlass* to help stow the anchor chain followed by the hanging of her anchor.

Not so empty cable locker.

Ready to be dropped.

*WINDLASS A special form of winch fitted in the bows to haul in the anchor-cable. Shamrock has a patent reefing windlass, heavily geared, with a 'gypsy' wheel patterned to fit the studded chain cable, which stows it self as it is heaved in.

Winter Storms

So far Shamrock has survived the winter storms with only minor chaffing of one of her mooring ropes, resulting in the loss of some of her hull paint. The offending rope has been repositioned.

Storm Imogen did manage to lift the workboat ‘Edgcumbe’ off her support wedges on the boat shed slipway and move her onto the grass at the side of the slipway. Luckily her bow was secured to the boat shed and she did stay upright.

At present the crew spends most of their time in the boat shed close to the log burner. They have not exactly been idle though, much time has been spent in the preparation of the rigging of Shamrock, her anchor and rigging blocks have now been painted and varnished as required. Also a new hold guardrail is being manufactured as the old one was found to be rotten and has been consigned to the log burner.

Nancy Belle's refit continues with her wooden centre seat knees being replaced with phosphor bronze knees, new deck boards have been completed and are in the process of being painted. Side bench seats have been roughed out and lines checked, the after bench seat sections causing the most problems as there is a 3 inch (8 cm) curve towards the stern. This meant that to end up with an 11 inch (28 cm) wide seat along its full length,15 inch (38 cm) wide planks have had to be used.

New Knees

New Seats

Shamrock well afloat on Thursdays spring tide