Proposed Haul Out Day

After consulting the tide time tables the spring tide of Friday 6th October has been pencilled in as Shamrock's haul out day. This will allow time for the slipway track to be completed with the last two sections needing to be cut to their respective sizes and laid. Once completed Shamrock's cradle can be moved to the bottom of the slipway track to check it rolls freely and gauge the minimum tide height required to float Shamrock onto the cradle. The amount of silt that the river Tamar deposits on the slipway also means that it will need to be cleaned at least twice more before haul out day, once before laying the final sections of track and the day before haul out. Both of Shamrock's masts are also scheduled to be lowered and removed before the move.

From no mud to this in six days.

Shamrock's Cradle

While the crew has been waiting for the tide to be right to finish laying the slipway track, the time has been used to collect the various sections of Shamrock's cradle from Cotehele Quay boat yard and place them at the top of the slipway track. Next came the Chinese puzzle of assembling the cradle and it was discovered that the weld numbers on the various sections are not in order, but assembly was achieved successfully. The cradles old base timbers, which where rotten, have been renewed, levelled off and finally topped off with old railway sleepers on which Shamrock will sit when she is hauled out. So much for August being a quiet month!

Cradle sections arrive.

Cradle assembled.

Re timbered and ready for Shamrock

Track Laying

No sooner had the job of clearing Shamrock's slipway of accumulated mud had been completed, than a lorry appeared with some second hand “rail chairs”, “fishplates”, “steel clips” and “rails” ready for laying. The clips should hold the rails more securely than the wooden wedges used on the old track. A few tricks on how to make the job of fitting of the remaining tracks where picked up during laying of the two topmost sections of the track. Shaune was heard muttering something about being a boat-builder not a railway navvy!

Two down four to go.

The new door fitted between the after cabin and the cargo hold has had a latch made and fitted that is more in keeping with Shamrock's existing door latches.

Space is getting a bit tight in the boat shed!

Songs For Shamrock

One for the diary.

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!

Evolving Mainsheet

After her restoration Shamrock's running rigging mainsheet consisted of 4 cm (1.5 in) manila rope with a 23 cm (9 in) double block and a 23 cm (9 in) single block with becket and a bulls-eye.

Original layout.

During the 1980s’ this was changed to two 23 cm (9 in) triple blocks, one with a becket and the bulls-eye resulting in more rope being required and such a complicated layout that the crew would have to use a model of the blocks to assist in the mainsheet reeving procedure. When not in use long bights of mainsheet rope were draped over the mizzen sail cover.

Shamrock rigged with triple blocks.

Model triple block.

As the manila running rigging ropes are in the process of being replaced with Polyhemp, the opportunity is being taken to simplify the mainsheet by using only two 23 cm (9 in) double blocks, one with a becket and no bulls-eye which also means one of the deck eyebolts can be removed and a lot less rope is required. This layout also enables greater control of the main sheet with the bight running from the lower block and making it easier to deploy the mainsail to starboard or port. Replacement blocks have already been selected and are in the process of being renovated.

Renovated double block with becket.

Bullseye.

Shamrock's Slipway

With the delivery of the new rails for Shamrock's slipway due, the crew has used the time preparing the old rail chairs ready for re-use. This has mainly consisted of removing the old rusted-in securing screws with the aid of a large hammer and the clearing of any rust from the seat area. Replacement “Coach Bolts” are also being cut ready for the securing of the chairs to the sleepers.

Swans

After  two years of failing to raise any young, the pair of swans that normally nest in the mill creek gave Cotehele a miss this year. With their recent reappearance, along with five cygnets, the new nesting site they used, believed to be between Cotehele and Halton Quay, has obviously been a success.