dave moore

With time to spare this morning, I took a walk around Compton Lock on the Staffs and Worcs below Wolverhampton. Limekiln Chandlers used to have a base on the offside, below Compton, before the land was sold. I’ve driven over the bridge many times since but never appreciated the new development in its place. I was intrigued earlier to see that a stubby narrow boat shell had been set in to the lawn adjacent to the new building, the lines reminiscent of the boats built at Watertravel at Autherley in the 70s. Here she is. Who can tell us more?

Resolute’s cabin top was simply painted in raddle red, another Norton Canes. I was happy to use it when locking and never had an issue with slipping. Perhaps I was lucky.....

I’ve had star cut porthole glass cut at the Ruskin Centre in Stourbridge in the West Midlands. I’m away at the moment, but I could pop in later this week and get details of the company for you.

My thoughts exactly. Ugly bugger!!

Maroon fades terribly, probably the worst colour to use for lettering. I use it sparingly for shading, but that’s it,.

Drawings by Tony Lewery, I don’t doubt the nomenclature

As someone on the margins of the painting business, I endorse the application of varnish to preserve red paint. Years ago I wrote our boat Resolute on red panels, quite an involved livery. Some 6 or 7 years on, the red was looking a little tired. My options were varnish or strip, re- paint then Re write. I opted for the easier option, using panel wipe to remove any polish or nasties on the surface, followed by a light abrasion with a scotch cloth. A quick wipe with a tack cloth to remove dust, then varnish applied with a 4” foam roller, laid off with a good brush, used vertically. 4 panels done in less than an hour, about the same to re-coat subsequently. As Bengo said, a reapplication in 18 24 months is worthwhile, don’t let it flake or it’s too late!!

I’d also counsel patience. The yards that I work alongside are booked up at least a year ahead, though you may be lucky and drop on a cancellation. Give more information, as advised earlier, to get useful help.

Hartshill is an area of Brierley Hill, near Dudley.

I remember Calstock in Gas St around 66/67. The boat was then home to Peter and Paula White. Peter was an architect and went on to become chief architect for British Waterways later on. At the time the cabin and engine room were original with a bulky conversion forward. We lost Peter a few years back.

I’d suggest a re-skin in steel, this will be a permanent solution to future leak and rot issues. It involves removal of the outer wooden framing, followed by the fitting of a steel skin over the existing wooden cabin. Many early boats built by Malcolm Braine had wooden tops, the fibre glass coating was an interim solution until successor Graham Edgson pioneered the re-skin process at Norton Canes. Just a thought..... Dave

Another solution to the disengagement issue is to drill and tap the side of the support column, adding a bolt which pinches the gear rod. I used to hang weights on our J3, this was a neater and more effective alternative.

Any decent yard should be able to re- skin the boat in steel, providing a permanent solution to the problems you are encountering. I’ve no knowledge of yards on the K and A, here in the midlands then Norton Canes Boatbuilders at Glascote may be able to help, or Canal Transport Services at Norton Canes. Both have extensive, real experience of the re skin process.

I wrote the boat in the photograph earlier, a few years ago at Grendon Wharf. The shell,may have been Alexander Boatbuilders at Stourport, I can’t recall. Peter James was the owner then, she’s changed hands since.

RIP Olive. I first encountered the Anchor in the mid 60s, when Graham Palmer and John Dodwell used to travel north to help with the restoration of the Stourbridge 16, they used to stay with my family on Saturday evenings. On one of these, we piled into John’s Morris traveller, along with OS map and drove to deepest Shropshire to find the pub. Lily Pascall served us, descending to the cellar to fill 3 pint glasses from a tall, white, enamel,jug. Little changed many years later....

I was around when Clayton’s finished in 1966, in those days, the boats were known as gas boats by boatmen and us enthusiasts. Whether this coincides with historic correctness I don’t know. I learned the term from young Charlie Atkins who was employed by Clayton’s at the time.

Back in the day, Claytons boats were known as gas boats because they often loaded at gasworks.

Perhaps vinyl would be an alternative in this case?

I’ve known the Anchor for many years. Their beers and ciders are first class, their cobs with lashings of salad in a class of their own. Only a short walk from Caunsall bridge, it’s on my list of pubs to introduce visitors to. A couple of years ago, friends held his birthday party there on Sunday morning. The pub couldn’t reserve the room, the bar, but opened at 11:00 to admit the party. I’ve never been in a pub so early on Sunday before. Here’s the fare.

I first met Malcolm as a teen in the mid 60s when he brought the Joshers Cactus and Penguin to Harris’s yard at Netherton. I was quickly enlisted to help in the refurbishment of Cactus, work I embraced eagerly. Real boats!! He went on to establish a yard at Yates Brothers, Norton Canes. In those days the norm was to acquire an ex working boat and add a conversion, many fine looking craft emerging from the yard . Malcolm then went on to build steel hulls, the Lionheart range of memory serves. He ran the business until 1986 when foreman Graham Edgson took over, Malcolm concentrating on survey work. We remained in occasional touch until a couple of years ago, I was pleased to be able to supply some proper Ratcliffes oil based scumble for his other boat. Truly the end of an era, his vast knowledge and experience now lost. It was watching his signwriter, Ted Chetwynd, that inspired me to take up the craft, I’ve lettered many of his boats over the years. RIP.

Young Charlie is the steerer.

If that’s Cactus, then it’s highly likely that the chap is Young Charlie, the son. He did a lot with Malcolm. Looks like him too.

I’ve used it too....it actually works, unlike the average stuff available which wouldn’t pull the skin off a rice pudding!

The Royalty would be Linda, now Victoria. The right hand stern could be Sharpness, the tunnel tug owned then by Stan Clover

And here’s the other side of the story. Occasionally I’ve had an email enquiry from a boater, asking for a quote, with a very vague specification. My usual response is to reply with phone numbers, suggesting that we discuss options before proceeding. I rarely receive a call or further email afterwards. Ah well.