Project Dredgersaurus – Part 1
Project Dredgersaurus – Part 1
by: Peter A.
Just when you think one job (the Tug) is complete and its time to take a breather, another suddenly appears – but much bigger! Back at the start of February the BAT Squad (Boat Acquisition Team) got a call from Western Depot to take a look at a couple of craft that had just appeared for sale. They came as a pair. One was a Spud Legged Dredger, the other, a 70ft mud hopper. The price seemed reasonable, but a close inspection was, of course, required.
Our first inspection visit took us to Fenny Compton, just north of Banbury, where both were moored up in the marina there. This was a visual inspection only as the engine had had the alternator removed and was not operational.
The mud hopper was in good condition and would only require some pumping of water from the hopper. Our main attention focused on the dredger. Basically, Hamster is the same as Patricia, but before she was rebuilt. So she still has fibreglass cabins and the lighter 1AX JCB jib on the front. Inside, there is a venerable 2 cylinder Lister which drives the hydraulic systems.
One clearly obvious thing is that the craft is cosmetically shabby, the facility cabin has been gutted, however, unlike Patricia, everything actually operates, so it was possible to check all the drive systems and spud legs etc. She also sits higher in the water and hardly moves when you step on. Quite different dynamic characteristics, much better stability.
A report was produced detailing our findings, with a recommendation that the purchase should go ahead. The current project plan calls for 3 dredgers working on Phases 1A & 1B.
Two more visits were made to work on equipment and get the craft ready to sail. This included an engine oil change, renovating the alternator and testing it, together with some basic checks to ensure engine reliability and a number of safety related aspects.
The nearest location for lifting the craft onto lorries was Calcutt Marina, some 12.5 miles away and 12 locks. You get to meet many interesting and knowledgeable folk on the canals and one of the C&RT guys warned us of a potential width issue on a couple of locks on the Napton flight where wider boats had got stuck. It had been some 10 years since the craft came down the canal, so the infrastructure may have moved. The mud hopper was on maximum width of 7ft.
Once the purchase had been agreed and the payment made, the detailed planning of how we were going to get these craft to the lifting point began.
Part 2 records the two day journey to Calcutt and Part 3 will conclude with the transport and delivery to our canal.
