A BAT Squad weekend
A BAT Squad weekend
By: Bob H.
On Wednesday last week, the BAT Squad left the newly acquired floating Facilities unit “Bob” on a secure mooring at Stafford Boat Club. From here it was to be collected and delivered to the Western Depot at Eastington for minor refurbishment and painting. The Stafford Boat Club members are very supportive of our efforts down here, and as they have a very impressive slipway and a large flat area accessible by suitable transport, they would pull it out for us ready for the lift at a minimal cost.
So, a much reduced BAT squad undertook to help the highly experienced Stafford team extract the vessel form the bitterly cold surface of the canal on Sunday. This the normal time when boats are relaunched and extracted for maintenance by the Winch Team.
In order to have something of a lie-in (being Sunday) the BAT squad couple involved decided to make a short weekend of the task and stay in a hotel in Stafford on Saturday night. The lie-in (luxury for the BAT Squad!) duly ended at 07:30 and at 09:00 sharp, Stafford Boat Club was found again, this time from the land!.
The facilities here are wonderful, and all of it built up and maintained over many years by the members themselves.
When the boat already on the slipway had been relaunched, “Bob” was attached to a commandeered narrowboat Snowgoose, to be slowly and carefully towed across the Mooring area. Andy (ex Thames Tug Captain) cheerfully undertook the task while Bob – Cap’n of “Bob” attached lines and steered (aimed?) across to the slipway.
Crossing the mooring area. The Slipway is top right, next to the brick-built paint shop.
The slipway trollies run on rails, The paint shop is on the right!
Securely located on the trollies, “Bob” is carefully pulled out and up the slipway.
The Hi-Viz jackets were customised by a Club Member!
Not afraid to show their faces, the cheerful bunch of the winch team
And finally, here is “Bob” ready for collection and delivery, hopefully on Thursday
Note that the safety fencing was all put back in place, winch cable recovered and the doors secured on the unit.
All the storage units in the background also belong to the club, as do a JCB 3C, 3 tonne swivel body dumper and much other equipment. All roofs have solar panels installed!!
The very model of a well-run and enthusiastic Boating Club.
