Derek R.

Thanks Alec.

It's short, it's comparatively light in the water, there are three people on the 'blue tops', and Ian and a Gent who worked tugs and maintenance boats beside him (Tina driving). And it can be seen that two grown men on one side does have an effect! Two others joined on the gunnels shortly after, which caused some fun! (SICKLE following).

So, the Gent that drove LAPLANDER when steam powered (as in 2010) has gone over to diesel powered? And the 'big-end' refers to the diesel engine? Or the steam? Just curious.

Cowburn & Cowper boats had rounded chines, and 'went' very well. Was it the Town Class boats (metal) that had rounded chines? Off hand I cannot recall, and there's little reference to the chine shapes in the Faulkner booklets, though mention is made of the less 'stable' factor allegedly made by crews regarding the Middle Northwich boats. The square chined boats would have a 'damping' effect on roll, though how perceptible it would be comparing a full length 'Large' Woolwich or Northwich to a 'Middle' is unknown to me. Was there some discrimination amongst crews for their favoured type - or simply hearsay? Those who worked these boats for confirmation or denial are now few and far between, so we are left with the printed words passed down, with or without errors, save maybe for the few that are available today that can be directly compared, and probably none that could be compared with fully loaded boat(s).

Oh yes! Exacerbated by the shorter length. This is inevitable with a large prop creating the 'paddle wheel' effect, 'walking' the back end sideways. Best you can do is to counter the expected direction of the stern by steering the opposite way prior to going astern, and even then - go easy on the speed wheel when driving backwards. 'Backwards', 'astern', 'aft', same difference. Best boat I steered for going backwards was Ian Tyler's SENTINEL when she was 50'. Quite an eye opener - she actually was controllable!

Having owned TYCHO for 13yrs, I can attest that steering needs attention. Any boat with just 40' of hull in the water will not be as directionally 'stable' as one of 60' plus. At times this can be advantageous, with a section of canal that is 50' wide, slowing down to barely walking pace and on a raised tickover, the wheel can be left untouched for a full 180° turn using rudder and gears - she will 'turn on a sixpence' with neither bank being touched.

No worries, I thought if it was an indirect system, the water within could have been treated with anti-freeze/corrosion inhibitor medium as it would be quite separate from the 'hot' water from any tap. It would of course, have to have its own header tank to maintain said separate supply. It can get complicated.

Is this a direct system, or indirect?

Interlocking? It comes in rolls. Cut to fit. Some examples. https://www.onlinecarpets.co.uk/products/black-white-candy-vinyl-flooring?msclkid=e64c422f7dd81565452e25a815ebc8b8 As mentioned in a previous post (and it's just a personal opinion), I would paint the boards dark green and use rugs. However, vinyl flooring cut to fit is easy to fit, easy to mop. Far easier that masking off scores of squares, waiting for it to dry, removing masking tape and hope the edges are sharp and clear. Then (as with all painted floors) being subjected to footfall, it will wear away, and you are back to square one and masking etc. Talk about rod for your back. Painted wooden floor, clearly worn, and a piece of stair runner covered for appearances sake. Keep it simple. Wipe feet when entering, and it should only be the top step that gets wet and muddy.

Chequered vinyl floor covering is available at several outlets, from £9.99 sq.m - to £48 sq.m. Nice work on HAMPTON's cabin. That's a lot of polishing you've set yourself!

Boat painters of old were indeed very skilful, but painting perfect squares on a wooden floor? Looking closely at where the edges but up against the scumbled woodwork, I cannot help but think that is vinyl. At £9.99 per square meter (todays prices) how much would it cost to hire a painter to paint a cabin floor to that perfection? I suspect that in the 1930's, the then (as now apparently) popular chequer board pattern would have come available from house clearances and like gas mask clips, found a new 'position in life'. It is bold and stands out, and then as now, is more easily mopped cleaned than painted wood. But to my jaded eyes, it's overpowering, but that's just my opinion. Cover it with rugs yes, but I'd put it in a skip and cover a green or red oxide painted wooden floor with a rug, leaving painted wood beneath the crossbed. Simpler, cheaper.

The idea that a smartly restored boat priced below £20K would attract people with less money, and would therefore lead to a better looked after boat, flies in the face of logic. Most wooden* boats that are in the twilight of their years (and several beyond those years) will be cheap, and therefore attract people with very little in financial reserves. And so their 'fate' is almost secured as there is no money to carry out the regular and very necessary repair work to keep them afloat. ETHEL looks attractive, she looks as if she has been restored well, and that would have cost a lot in getting to that state. To keep her in that state, any future owner would need a solid financial position, probably someone who is beyond their first flush of youth, though they could be greybeards with resources, and an existing love of historic craft - perhaps already with a motor. It's a lifestyle 'thing', requiring long term responsibilities and a network of like minded enthusiasts. The only thing that jars with me personally, is that dreadful black and white chequered lino. Can't be having that. That would lead to a price negotiation in the thousands. * I do know ETHEL is not wooden.

I would hope no one is wanting to 'make fun' of you, and whilst 'history' may get changed from time to time, I do rather think the general practice of delineating cabin sides by paint or panelling, does follow a certain protocol. Though clearly there are always anomalies. Sometimes down to the painter. The motors of Cowburn & Cowper mostly had a small panel at the back of the cabin side in which a Castle scene would be painted. How many 'wrongs' make a 'right'? Or is there no 'right'?

The vertical bar farther back is more commonly found on butties.

Nice little documentary such as the BBC 'used' to do has risen again on the 'Tube'. Well worth another look and listen to voices and people no longer with us.

I'd have been tempted to call it 'Toff', or 'Tot' . . . coat.

Greater, lesser. Higher, lower. And the descriptive words as used, are from a language in use 300yrs ago. Just a thought.

Good to hear all that Mark. Cheers. Grey, with the letters big : M O W (T) in a darker grey did sound appealing at one time.

Thanks Paul. I knew Roger decorated the cabin, and both the old (how old? No idea) cabin doors are hanging on our living room wall right now. Had to cut an inch off the bottoms due to rot. I understood Rex Wain had a hand in TYCHO too. When I turned up at Stockton, Graeme said Rex would appreciate the brass all polished, which it was. I met Roger very briefly at one of the Braunston do's but didn't get into any in depth conversation. I was a 'newbie'. You may well be right about the cabin, but it had that old smell to it. And the headlining planks looked old and fragile around the edges, especially around the 'Bulls' eye'. The 'Classic' in the cabin was distorted from corrosion, though still took a fire. Roger's hallmark on the step: Early days with TYCHO After the butchery to gain access I was told the 3" step was rotten, and had to be replaced . . . I was not happy. That replacement was only 2". And instead of a rebate for the doors to close against, they'd put a ¾" square oak upstand. I cussed it every time I stood on it - which was most of the time. And where were the Pennies . . . King George's face upward - no date showing! At least the bilges looked good. The new ash back deck was a great disappointment, as it lifted and split (despite sealing and being scrubbed). I heard the oak cants also showed 'issues'. Neither of which as I understand it was anything to do with Graeme's work. I made a start on rebuilding the cross bed and table cupboard, but 'life' took a turn in another direction.

Thanks Brian. The sketches are little bigger than an average business card. I was in France at the time on holiday with the family and did something very quick out of simply wanting something to do. We had not long had TYCHO, and our youngest daughter had been given a pocket sized set of water colour paints, so I licked a brush and put some colour on them. All good fun. Boatman's Cabin - I never made the connection - but having had a BMC Commodore (ex Taxi) in YARMOUTH made that connection instead!

In response to comments; The fore end of TYCHO (and probably SICKLE too) also had extra plating fitted internally (rivetted) in the bow section, along with logitudinal strengthening for extra stiffness. It perhaps need to be emphasised, that such was not intended for 'ramming' other craft, but for breaking ice. We took her on in Summer 1999, and having stripped the back cabin for steelwork repairs, it did look evident that the cabin internals as present were original, though I can not provide documented evidence of same. I suspect rather than go to the effort of stripping a standard back cabin for the sake of providing a 'mess room' for crew, it would have been left as was, and having ourselves had as many as six in the cabin, see no reason why it would not have accommodated crew. In most events, there are images of TYCHO being operated with two, and at the most three crew when breaking ice. She rolls very easily even when two people step on the gunnels. It might also be noted, that when approaching bridgeholes, several steerers of other boats would not notice there was anything 'odd' about TYCHO's fore end from their perspective, and I have had to 'wind it back' several times to let others through first. As to choosing a boat with said appendage for crusing (it's what 95% of people do today), the presence of the ram invites much comment, generally: "What's that thing on the front for?", which generates interest from all sorts and gives opportunity to educate and inform - a floating history lesson for many - it's why people are drawn to historic craft. 'Cruisers' are ten a penny. TYCHO is unique, but still vulnerable to the whims of prospective owners looking for 'pretty'. It's a personal thing, but to my eyes that side on view I posted previously - she's beautiful. It's Sutton Stop, but more likely 1961/62: Some have identified Joe & Rose Skinner beneath the bridge In the vicinity of Long Buckby Wharf (as one picture credit has it) heading for Braunston tunnel Note the number of crew. Engine change: I have the original Rotadex card from BW regarding "Floating Plant" that states the Petter PD3M was fitted at Saltley in 1958. This replaced the Russell Newbery DM2. No BMC at any time.

@magnetman This may appear to be collective victimising, and we have met face to face in the past during which you came over as a sensible sort of chap. But I am puzzled by why you should elicit repeatedly that the ice breaking ram on TYCHO should be removed, then add your name to the list of 'Greenies' amonst those who would wish to see it retained. You are not the only person who declared the ram should be removed, the lock keeper who lived in the Cassio lock house back in 1999 stated the same, to which I disagreed. Once removed, it would never be put back on again. So can you explain please your contradictory claims? You don't have to of course, we are all at liberty to have opinions, but is this a tease - a bit of fun? [I see our posts have crossed, but the humour is lost on me.]

I do recall . . . Cheers.

Dammit, that's got me a bit emotional. Some shpiel I wrote shortly after I took her on: https://hnbc.org.uk/boats/tycho

The ice breaking ram adds 5' to the length, to make the overall length of 45'. The ram was put in place of the original stempost in 1942 - just 6yrs after build date - when she was shortened to 40' plus ram, and represents an important part of the boats history, indeed Waterways history. If anyone does not like the look of the ram - do not look at the boat. If what is wanted is a 40' boat, I'm sure there are brokerages that can fulfil such requirements. Similarly, if one wanted to put her back to 'original' appearance, another 30 odd feet of Middle Northwich hull would need to be found or manufactured, and an age related Russell Newbery DM2 found to replace the PD3M. TYCHO is no 'poodle' of a boat, she is a Bulldog. I'm glad to see she is back in BW colours again. It is an historic boat in its working condition as a maintenance boat/Ice boat. Long may it remain so. It's also a pity that the boatmans cabin was rebuilt without the cross bed and table cupboard, it was always my intention to rebuild same after the uxter plates and other back end steelwork were replaced, but circumstances dictated otherwise. The Larbert range was not original to the boat, and came from a Camden Town antiques shop. There appears to be a considerable lack of TLC having been applied. I owned and worked on her from 1999 to 2012, and have an extensive image and text file on her should a responsible owner come along for further stewardship. Edited to add: I note the overall width dimensions are stated 6' 10". I very much doubt that. The widest point will be at the forward engineroom bulkhead, and quite likely 7' ½" at least.