Thames Sailing Barge Stuff

[Dave SansomParticipant @davesansom26019]

4 jaw self centering are rare.

Plus die holder

Now that's a workshop

Keep up the good work

Dave IOW

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Dave,

I learned a long time ago your only as good as your equipment & tools 😀

Here is Portlights rudder a ply sandwich with 1/8" core and 1 /16" each side with a recess for the clear acrylic sheet extension for sailing, cheating really but they won't turn enough with just the scale rudder. The straps on the rudder & stock have 1 /16" diameter tubes soft soldered on, with a brass rod down through the gudgeons, this is in my view the most important part of the barge, I have seen other skippers loosing the rudder while racing 😲

regards Ray

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hi Ray

Are those holes in your Lathe casing?

Or should I go to Specsavers?

Bob

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Bob,

Only the bracket that holds the motor on the back, all present & correct 😀

Regards Ray

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Hi. Ray, very nice neat work, she is comeing along well now, when I had my fisrt lathe, over forty years ago, I couldn't afford two chucks so I bought only a four jaw independant chuck, using that for several years taught me to centre work very quickly by eye, and then to use a DTI if i wanted real accuracy, my current Harrison makes life a real doddle with taper turning, screw cutting gear box etc.

I have just been to specsavers Bob and I hadn't noticed the holes!

Regards to both.

Eddie

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All,

Portlight has progressed well during my enforced holiday, but back to London for work on Monday 😀

The rudder and steering servo in it's place, hatch covers built in situ using Clingfilm to help the release from the hold coamings

Regards Ray

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All,

Going back to work after 3 months has brought back the enthusiasm for being in the workshop in the evening and on with the stem brass and various attachment points for the forestay soft soldered on, the triple sheaved block I bought in 1972 , just knew I'd use them some day 😀 they cost £2.33 each back then, a lot of money when I only earned £10 a week as a trainee !!

Regards Ray

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

That’s a stupendous cost Ray! As you didn’t use it then it was either a compulsive extravagant purchase, or an astute one for years ahead….

Nice to see that you have invented a use for it after all these years. 😎

Are you going to leave the nice strip brassy or splash paint over it? Could be a nice feature at the bow.

Ashley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Very nice Ray

But, I`m slightly disturbed by the plain glossy hull?

OK on a yacht of course, but a Barge?

Ooooooooo ………Sharp intake of breath

No offence, Ship Mate

Bob

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hello Bob,

Have no fear it's only the GRP hull, she won't be shiney plenty of bits and winches to fabricate yet before she goes to the paint shop (The Shed) Then the trickey part masts & spars

Regards Ray

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All,

Veronica & Gertrude out for a gentle sail this morning at Bluewater, why is it that there was always a good breeze yesterday 😀 but it did rain 💧

Portlight's anchor windlass cobbled together from various odd bits and went to see Rob at Chatham dockyard model shop for materials and a ships wheel 👍

Regards Ray

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All,

We are trying to organise a barge match at Chantry club (Bluewater) Dave Watts AKA Mastman is on the case 😀👍

Meanwhile I am laminating the main horse for Portlight which curves both ways to follow the deck camber and the radius of the main sail, I'm enjoying this build 👍😄 also the brail winch.

Regards Ray

[Dave SansomParticipant @davesansom26019]

Hi Ray

It would be interesting if a barge match could go ahead

Let's hope there's lots of notice before it happens

Keep us posted

Dave on IOW

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Hi Ray, she’s. coming on fine, as soon as I have finished my current build I must get Cambria back on to the table.

As soon as our lake is clear of weed I must get Susie May out for a sail, and I have heard this morning that Hearne Bay is now clear of blanket weed.

I hope to see you all soon.

Regards.

Eddie.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Eddie,

Your always welcome at Chantry Bluewater if your on your way to or from Broadstairs to sail your barge, day membership is £2.00, but as you know the wind is all over the place !!

You can't beat Herne Bay for the sea breeze 😀⛵

Regards Ray

[Tim RoweParticipant @timrowe83142]

Hi Ray

Its a conundrum about the curves on the horse. In reality it is one curve that is shared between the radius and the camber.

I did the same thing some while ago and at first wondered how I was going to make two curves in the same piece of brass tube then it clicked. In the end I found that a radius only ned to be a fraction shorter to account for the camber.

I'd love to do some barge racing but first I have to build me a barge and it's a long way from Mallorca.

Perhaps I should make a mould and hack out a few one designs to see if I can drum up some local interest.

Nice work Ray and how are you finding being back to work.

Tim R

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hello Tim,

Yes the barge building is the ultimate multi media modelling exercise , woodwork metalwork & sewing 😀

Work is now rocketing loads of tenders to programme 👍 working from home going forward, now have a lovely A3 printer, went to London last week nobody there !!

I hope your still busy? Had a look at the live web cam of your harbour, it looks great 😀 my kids and grandchildren off to Rhodes next week 😮

KR. Ray

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All,

The Lee board winches are plasticard frames, dowel & brass for superglue together will look the part 😀 some brightwork mahogany for the companionway hatch and doors.

Regards Ray

[Dave SansomParticipant @davesansom26019]

Where does the Colman's mustard get used LOL

Nice job Ray

Dave IOW

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Dave,

I use it to keep me keen as…………

Treat today off to Maldon Essex barge spotting, you can't beat checking the real thing for detail 😀👍👍👍

Regards Ray

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Nice build Ray

How many models have you got, stored up in your workshop?

Bob

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Bob,

Around 22 at last count 😀 I must have a clear out 👍

Regards Ray

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Wow, Ray, that's a lot

I sold my big Gents vintage cruiser to a club member……… and he had 40 stored up in his cellar!

That was the daftest thing I've ever done and I regret it now

I had a good reason at the time though…….(Impending serious illness, which I have since recovered from)

Bob

[Richard Cole 2Participant @richardcole2]

Please may a newbie ask for some help? I knew nothing about Thames Barges (I race IOMs) but a few years ago, on impulse, I bought a used model barge – Celia Jane. It was complete but tired and needed some TLC. Apart from a repaint it looked as though new sails would be a good idea. ­­­­I got in touch with Models By Design and they helpfully sent me a deck layout drawing and a sail drawing. It has waited until now for me to make time to begin work on it.

Now I find some puzzles. The top sail, as fitted, has a gaff which won’t fit the sail shape shown on the drawing I have. I don’t have a hull or spars drawing. The mainsail is not free footed but has a boom; the sail plan shows somewhat different shapes from those on the boat. The sprit is pivoted from the fore end of the boom – not on the mast.

The barge is about a little over 50 inches long with rudder fitted but without the bowsprit.

I’m uploading a picture of the barge on the water just before I bought it.

Please can anyone tell me whether I have a DIY modified version of Celia Jane or is it an earlier design of the same boat? Where could I get a copy of the rigging plan/instructions?

Any thoughts or help on what to do would be very much appreciated.

Richard

[Dave SansomParticipant @davesansom26019]

Put the request on AMBO Facebook page

There's some guys on that site will give you all the details you want to know

Dave on IOW

[Author]

Posts