Caulking at Dudbridge Lock
Caulking at Dudbridge Lock
by: Tony J. & Olly Y.
A picture beats a thousand words!
A week or so ago, before the stop planks were removed at Dudbridge Lower lock, it was noted that the joints in the upper gates were gaping after their long drying out during the long stoppage for repairs to the offside wall. Incautiously, I suggested they would benefit from being caulked, an age-old method in wooden shipbuilding to seal gaps between planks by driving in oakum (old rope fibre). The result of my suggestion was that Olly Youldon and I found ourselves on the lock bottom doing the job soon after!
We had no old-fashioned oakum but fortunately a quantity of sisal rope salvaged from a skip which could be unravelled and made an excellent substitute. Old skills were revived and Olly took to the job with enthusiasm and was soon wielding hammer and extempore caulking iron (an adapted bolster chisel) like an old hand. The result of our efforts was most gratifying as, when the stop planks were removed, the gate seams were proved as virtually all sealed.
Today found us aboard the ‘Aquila’ caulking the bottom gates. Starting with the lock full and Phil Stapleton on the lock side tending our ropes, lowering the level, and unravelling strands, we slowly worked down the gate seams. The temperature was in the mid-thirties and with no shade the lock chamber was like a steam-oven, we were most glad to complete the job by around midday.
On filling the lock we were very pleased to see the difference, as Olly’s photos of the offside (above) nearside gates (below) show.
I thought back with gratitude to the old boatbuilder who taught me caulking many years ago and think the old chap would have grudgingly approved!
