Friday 19th
October 2018
Falcon left her moorings this morning at 4:40, they did say they were
leaving early. It was dark and misty and very atmospheric looking, with their
headlights on. The grass this morning, was all white with frost. Cold but a
clear morn.
We have to wait to have ballast delivered today. There is neither
internet or phone signals here so communication with the guy delivering is not
going to be easy. Amazing how quickly the world has become dependent on the
internet and instant communications.
Brenda walked up into the village for more shopping and to get money.
While there she managed to contact Nigel who is going to be here between 3 and
4pm, depending on traffic.
We walked to Braunston Marina. Braunston, rightly, is regarded as the
centre of the canal system. It is located on the Grand Junction Canal route
from London to Birmingham, but there is also a junction with the Oxford canal
providing a link with the north, and is close to the Leicester Section
providing links with the north and east of the country.
Braunston was the last place from which boats worked out of, involved
in commercial cargo carrying. There were, and still are, many canal trades
still thriving in Braunston. Boatyards, repairs and builders, painters,
chandleries, ropeworks and canal shops. The descendants of many of the last
canal traders still live and work here.
We visited Tradline, the ropeworks, hoping to enrol in any ropework classes,
but they do not run any. The shop was a fascinating place, full of allsorts to
do with ropework. Karen’s husband was in the Merchant Navy and their son is in
the middle of his MN Engineering Cadetship at Warsash College in Southampton.
Good for him and we wish him well.
We then went to Midland Chandlers for bits and pieces. Bottlescrews to
replace the cheap shit ones fitted from new-build, more fenders, heat logs,
de-humidifiers and a longer boat pole. The boat is filled with condensation, especially
in the mornings, and it drives Brenda mad. We intend to light the stove for the
first time today, so wanted some heat logs that burn well. And the pole on the
boat is only 8-foot-long, so not much use really.
Back at the boat I gave the boat hook another coat of paint and primed
the pole while Brenda went for more shopping. Nigel then turned up with our
ballast. Ballast is a form of weight that is used to make the boat sit level in
the water. Ever since her launch Bridge Street has had a pronounced starboard
list. Our ballast is made up of bricks beneath the sink unit. We had heard of
steel blocks that are about three times the weight of bricks for the same
volume, so we ordered 12 blocks, £90 worth, giving 100kgs.
The bricks were removed and the steel blocks fitted as far to port as
they would go for greater effect, then the bricks refitted. The result is
really pleasing. There is still a very slight starboard list which is what we
were aiming for so the shower positively drains.
We then turned to the stove. The installation does not conform to
regulations such that it will not pass a boat safety inspection. The stove is
fitted too close to the bulkhead behind and the bulkhead should have a
fireproof material fitted behind any tiling, which our installation doesn’t.
This has always been a worry to us. However, older boats have their stove
fitted as close to bulkheads as ours with no fireproofing. So we decided to try
a small fire, closely monitored, just to see how it performs. With a lot of trepidation,
the fire was lit. The boat seemed warmer immediately and it was very cosy. The
tiling behind reached a maximum of 51˚C but was only ever warm to touch. We
were very relieved. And the condensation disappeared.
We were both feeling very smug with our day.
Weather: a very cold, misty start to what became a lovely day.
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