Lucy is saved!

[carlt]

Well, as of lunchtime today, Lucy has a new owner who has enough space, skills, resources and love of wooden boats to rebuild her.

 

She will be craned out, on a cradle, and rebuilt in Braunston.

 

There is, obviously, not enough good wood left on her for a restoration but I am confident that the mistakes made with Raymond will not be repeated.

 

The new owner is also happy to let me be involved in the work, so I won't lose touch with her entirely.

[Bullfrog]

Excellent news Carl. Is anyone likely to run a re-build diary for us?

 

david

Edited June 20, 2008 by Bullfrog

[NB Alnwick]

Well, as of lunchtime today, Lucy has a new owner who has enough space, skills, resources and love of wooden boats to rebuild her.

 

She will be craned out, on a cradle, and rebuilt in Braunston.

 

There is, obviously, not enough good wood left on her for a restoration but I am confident that the mistakes made with Raymond will not be repeated.

 

The new owner is also happy to let me be involved in the work, so I won't lose touch with her entirely.

 

Excellent news! Best possible result and it sounds as if all parties will get out of it just what they want.

[carlt]

Excellent new Carl. Is anyone likely to run a re-build diary for us?

 

david

I would hope so.

 

I will certainly hope to keep a record but blogging/diaries aren't really my thing and, as it's no longer my boat, it would have to be with the consent of the new owner.

[Liam]

I'll drink to that!! :lol:

 

Excellent news Carl thanks for letting us all know.

 

Dare I ask, but what about Usk ?

[Chris J W]

Excellent news!

 

Fingers crossed for Usk, too, or at the very least, her timbers can be used as part of the restoration.

[carlt]

Dare I ask, but what about Usk ?

Usk has been floating now for a week without taking on any water. Her hog is looking even more scary, with the charcoaling of her top planks.

 

It's possible that I may have to take her out of the water and dismantle her.

 

She has spread and I don't think I can chain her in, as I used to, owing to the brittleness of the top planks so I don't think she'll fit in a narrow lock, in order to make the journey to Bargeeboy's yard.

 

If, however, she comes out of the water in one piece, I may put stocks under her and start replanking.

 

 

Excellent news!

 

Fingers crossed for Usk, too, or at the very least, her timbers can be used as part of the restoration.

Timbers from one boat can rarely be reused, for another.

 

Old boat timbers often make nice garden furniture but Usk's are so tar-soaked (or cinders) that I don't think they'll be usable even for that.

 

Should get the steam box fire roaring nicely, though!

[Chris J W]

Usk has been floating now for a week without taking on any water. Her hog is looking even more scary, with the charcoaling of her top planks.

 

Timbers from one boat can rarely be reused, for another.

 

Great to hear that Usk is floating now.

 

Without wanting to drift OT, how come the timbers are rarely resued? Too much reworking needed due to shape etc, or just too 'used' (for wont of a better word) to be of much use?

[AMModels]

Carl, this is fantastic news and has cheered me up no end. That Lucy is to be saved and rebuilt is just brilliant, if there is anything I can do to help regarding Usk as and when needed you only have to ask.

 

I think so much credit should go to carl for fighting and refusing to walk away from the boats in the face of so much official and private sniping as well as the much publicised arson attack, you are a true wooden boat stalwart/hero in my eyes.

 

I doff my hat to you sir.

 

[carlt]

Great to hear that Usk is floating now.

 

Without wanting to drift OT, how come the timbers are rarely resued? Too much reworking needed due to shape etc, or just too 'used' (for wont of a better word) to be of much use?

They have bolt holes in the wrong place and vertical ramper spikes pinning one plank, to the next.

 

There's so much ironwork in a wooden plank that your tools would be damaged remachining it.

 

When the protestors lost the fight to stop the Newbury bypass, they returned, after the oaks were felled and drove 12" spikes into the trunks, rendering them useless.

It wasn't safe, or economically viable to machine them.

 

Nails and saw blades don't mix.

Edited June 20, 2008 by carlt

[Chris J W]

They have bolt holes in the wrong place and vertical ramper spikes pinning one plank, to the next.

<snippy>

 

Ta!

[magpie patrick]

First class news! Brilliant and pints (or calvados if I remember Carl's tastes from his birthday correctlly!) all round

 

Edited June 20, 2008 by magpie patrick

[Debby]

 

Fantastic news! Now we just hope that there will be more good news about Usk. We can't help physically - we're too far away, and not too good at practical stuff - but if there is anything we can do, we'd be more than delighted to help.

[Paul H]

Yes great news indeed. Are we allowed to ask who the new "lucky" owner is?

 

Paul H

[carlt]

Yes great news indeed. Are we allowed to ask who the new "lucky" owner is?

 

Paul H

I didn't think to ask if he'd mind me broadcasting it.

 

I don't think he'd mind but I ought to check first.

[Phil Speight]

Well, as of lunchtime today, Lucy has a new owner who has enough space, skills, resources and love of wooden boats to rebuild her.

 

She will be craned out, on a cradle, and rebuilt in Braunston.

 

There is, obviously, not enough good wood left on her for a restoration but I am confident that the mistakes made with Raymond will not be repeated.

 

The new owner is also happy to let me be involved in the work, so I won't lose touch with her entirely.

Great . Are you going to tell us who ? Whatever , it`s good news and it must be a relief to you .

Cheers

Phil

[alan_fincher]

Yes excellent news Carl.

 

Great result, and I'm assuming BW are "happy" enough with the outcome to let it happen.

 

I'm guessing there is one person at Braunston who will not be the new owner, despite his supposedly championing the working boat cause so strongly!

 

(Although she would look lovely rebuilt and tied up again on the spot she occupied for so long! ).

[Delirium]

Well, as of lunchtime today, Lucy has a new owner who has enough space, skills, resources and love of wooden boats to rebuild her.

 

This is such good news. I've known Lucy a long time and am very relieved that she has this opportunity for a future. Every post I've seen you make about her has had such a ring of passion for her about it.

 

I know you wanted to complete her yourself but what you've done is to keep and hold her despite it being easier and more economical for you not to and thus enabled her to survive long enough for what sounds to be a really promising chance. Well done and I hope you enjoy being involved in her rebuild

[Scotty]

Great news Carl

I hope the restoration goes well, it would be great so see some pictures of her on the mend.

[NBMike]

Brilliant!

[Guest]

Great news Carl. Please keep us up to date.

[sueb]

Good news! I bet you are relieved Carl

Sue

[carlt]

Good news! I bet you are relieved Carl

Sue

Very!!

I'm off to the lifeboat now, to sun myself on the Essex mud, for the weekend!

[saltysplash]

We passed Usk and Lucy yesterday. Really really chuffed that things are looking up. Hope the essex mud dont pong too much in the sun

[cheshire~rose]

Fantastic news!

 

All the hard work and heartache was worth it!

 

Well done ....... 10/10 for persistence........ it paid off!