London Canal Museum Is Looking For a Tugmaster

[Tim Lewis]

At the London Canal Museum we have a Bantam Tug which although in relatively good condition suffers from a lack of TLC so we are looking for a volunteer who can take charge of it to get it to and maintain it in a condition as befitting the Museum

 

I attach below a job description however we can adapt this as necesary to suit.

 

The engine is a JP2

 

A few Pictures at http://www.canalmuseum.org.uk/collection/bantam-tug.htm

 

 

Tugmaster – London Canal Museum

 

Purpose of Role: To care for and manage the maintenance of the museum's tug Bantam IV

 

Core Responsibilities

 

To attend site and carry out routine inspections and maintenance at least once per month throughout the year, including starting the engine and running it for a few minutes.

 

To carry out minor maintenance work such as oiling, cleaning, bilge pumping, battery charging, minor electrical work, winter frost precautions, engine adjustments. There will be other maintenance needs that will arise from time to time and the tugmaster will be expected to either carry out such tasks or manage the arrangements for having them carried out by others.

 

To organise occasional refuelling, the renewal of the Boat Safety Certificate, and periodic dry-docking and works to the hull.

 

To carry out external paintwork maintenance

 

Core Competences

 

• An all-round general ability to carry out practical work on a boat
• An appreciation of the special care that is required in the maintenance of a museum collection boat
• A high awareness of health and safety considerations
• Aptitude and willingness to work alone unsupervised and to carry out the core responsibilities without reminder.
• Physical fitness and strength are essential to the role, which involves starting a diesel engine by hand in a physically demanding manner.

 

Additional Role responsibilities (not essential but desirable)

 

• Attend between two and four events per year, driving the tug, and participating in its exhibition in various ways.
• Project management of more major repairs, modifications or other works to the tug.
• Carry out external repainting work periodically
• Carry out more extensive maintenance work within limits of own skills and knowledge

 

Additional Desirable Competences

 

Understanding of older diesel engines and their maintenance

[frangar]

For once it's a shame I'm not closer to London....I would happily do all that....can't you move the museum to somewhere sensible like the Midlands??

 

Cheers

 

Gareth

[Stilllearning]

It's a shame we moved to France, I used to volunteer at the Museum, and have steered the tug along the Regent's Canal to Paddington. If still in the UK I would be applying for that post now.

It is deep draughted, about 8 feet beam, wheel steered and took me some practice to get some approximation of feeling sure of where it was going!

Good luck to who ever gets to play with it. The Museum is a great place to volunteer at too.