Haul Out

Cotehele Quay Friday morning and Shamrock is floating on the tide, her mooring ropes are released and she is floated over to the rear of her cradle and then hauled forwards towards her correct position over her cradle only for some reason she stops about 2 meters (6ft) short and even with Nancy Belle pushing she will not move. As the tide is starting to drop the decision is made to try and get her back over to her mud dock, this also fails. So as the tide is falling fast Shamrock is allowed to settle on her cradle where she is. Once the tide drops it is noticed that steel band that protects the stempost (bow) and continues around the stempost curve and along the bottom of the keel for about 1 metre (3 ft), had become detached on the keel section and was acting like a large hook. This had originally stopped Shamrock clearing the top section of her cradle and also stopped her being pulled back off. As the Shamrock keel is ether hidden in the mud at low tide or floating in the muddy waters of the Tamar this had gone unnoticed. Later that day the offending section of steel band was cut off and Shamrock's sternpost shored up to prevent her stern sagging. The Friday evening tide was higher than the earlier one and Shamrock was finally floated onto her correct position over her cradle. Then, around midday on Saturday, with the aid of a tractor she was hauled to her position at the top of the slipway ready for her much needed repairs.

After the morning tide. 

After the evening tide.

The offending steel band.

Cut down to size.

Getting ready for the first pull.

Halfway up.

Shored up and awaiting repair.

One rotten hull plank.

Haul Out Peperation

With Shamrock's planned haul out day rapidly approaching the crew has been busy lowering both masts, removing the rudder and other items no longer required. Although the main mast is lowered and ready to be offloaded mechanical assistance is required to complete this task.

Mizzen mast rigged ready to assist in the lowering of the main mast.

Main mast lowered and removed from its tabernacle.

Deck winch rigged ready to lower the mizzen mast.

Taking up the slack.

Mizzen mast lowered and resting on a temporary roller.

Both masts ready for offloading.

Mizzen offloaded and stowed.

Rudder ready to be hauled out on the next spring tide.

Songs For Shamrock Night

Despite the best efforts of the changeable weather, Sunday nights 'Songs for Shamrock' went ahead and proved to be a great success thanks to the ‘Polperro Fishermen's Choir’ and ‘Mike & Tilly Music’ for the interval music. Shamrock was dressed ready to be used as the stage for the singers but, due to the heavy showers, the venue was moved to Shamrock's boat shed. The estimated attendance of 100 plus managed to squeeze into the shed and the evening raised over £1,400 towards Shamrock's upkeep. A heartfelt “Thank you” to everyone who attended.

Abandoned stage

Standing room only.

It's Been A Quiet Week!

Mud cleared and slipway track laying completed.

Shamrock's cradle tested. Champagne corks popped. 

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!