BCN Day boat rudders

[stagedamager]

Evening all,

I have another query which i hope the collective may be able to help me with.

Is there a resource anywhere which i may be able to tap into which would show me the different styles of BCN day boat rudders?

I would like to build one for BCN 1645, but at the same time i would like it to be relatively authentic.

Thank you in advance

Dan

[Chertsey]

Evening all,

I have another query which i hope the collective may be able to help me with.

Is there a resource anywhere which i may be able to tap into which would show me the different styles of BCN day boat rudders?

I would like to build one for BCN 1645, but at the same time i would like it to be relatively authentic.

Thank you in advance

Dan

Not something I know anything about myself but I wonder whether Bernard Hales (Enterprise) might be able to help as he owns a few and does actually tow them about; or that the BCN Society might have photos that would be helpful, or be able to point you in the direction of other photo collections? Apologies if that's stating the obvious.

[Laurence Hogg]

This might help. The BCN day / joey boats rudder was essentially the same construction as other long distance boats but was lighter in weight. This was pricipally because most of the boats were double ended and the rudder had to be changed over. The boat in the picture below shows a typical example. Not the rudder stock is not as thick in section compared to say a GU butty one. Thet

iller too was smaller and lighter. In may yards there would be a stack of rudders in a corner and they got swapped about between boats. A common feature was the carving of the companies initials into the stock and the tiller to prevent theft.

 

Taken at Wednefield on the Wyrley on the run to the Weldless tube on the Bentley Canal.

 

Edited September 1, 2012 by Laurence Hogg

[stagedamager]

Thank you Laurence,

As an aside, do you know what dimension the rudder stock would have been or did it vary from yard to yard?

Dan

[Speedwheel]

The one Malcolm did for the Spoon dredger I believe is fairly close to original. The ironwork is certainly the real thing.

 

[Timleech]

The one Malcolm did for the Spoon dredger I believe is fairly close to original. The ironwork is certainly the real thing.

 

 

 

I made a direct copy of a Leonard Leigh helm for the 'Coronation' many years ago, and (AFAIR) re-used the ironwork. I don't know whether it still carries the same one. I think the top of the original Ram's Head might still be lying in the grass, I'll check this afternoon and measure it if it's there.

 

Tim

[stagedamager]

Many thanks one and all, your input is most appreciated!

Dan.

[Laurence Hogg]

Thank you Laurence,

As an aside, do you know what dimension the rudder stock would have been or did it vary from yard to yard?

Dan

I am guessing this but around 8" long 6" wide at the top. I used to have one in the garden years ago and it was easy to lift unlike a one off a Shroppy fly which took two people to move it.

[Timleech]

I made a direct copy of a Leonard Leigh helm for the 'Coronation' many years ago, and (AFAIR) re-used the ironwork. I don't know whether it still carries the same one. I think the top of the original Ram's Head might still be lying in the grass, I'll check this afternoon and measure it if it's there.

 

Tim

 

 

Very strange, I can't find any trace of it but have a distinct recollection of 'tripping over' it a few days ago, a bit surprised it was still there and identifiable. Maybe I dreamt it, but if so an interesting coincidence.

 

 

Tim

[stagedamager]

No worries Tim, if i had a tenner for everytime i thought i knew where something was, and then it isn't.......

 

Laurence,

Would the rudder stock have tapered towards the bottom pintle like a Woolwich, or Saltley rudder would, aiding water to the blade, or would it have been a piece of, say 8 x 6 (hypothetically) with no shape added to it?

[Laurence Hogg]

No worries Tim, if i had a tenner for everytime i thought i knew where something was, and then it isn't.......

 

Laurence,

Would the rudder stock have tapered towards the bottom pintle like a Woolwich, or Saltley rudder would, aiding water to the blade, or would it have been a piece of, say 8 x 6 (hypothetically) with no shape added to it?

The one I had tapered slightly although others I saw were just plain box section, the "blade" was quite large however like the one in the picture and unlike Malcolm's which is quite short.

[Laurence Hogg]

I was going through some uncatalogued pictures of mine today and found this. This was on Alred Matty's dock in 1979, two helms probably off Bantock boats.

 

[stagedamager]

That's great Laurence, it give a different viewpoint from other pictures I have seen.

Many thanks

Dan

[Speedwheel]

Here are some more I have cut from a larger picture. Sorry they are not that good. I'll see what else I can dig out.

 

 

Can't these pics to work properly. Follow link to my photobucket account and you can see them.

Edited September 3, 2012 by Speedwheel

[stagedamager]

That's amazing, especially the S & L shot, I hadnt seen the Logo in full, and it shows a bit of blade!!!

[Blossom]

It could be worth a trip to the Black Country Living Museum with a pad/pencil and tape measure as there are several joey and day boat 'elms inside the Castlefields boat dock buildings

[stagedamager]

Thanks Blossom, I shall hatch that plan!!
Dan