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Moving the Hulls
Moving hulls is a topic of great interest for boat builders! How easy will it be to move? How heavy is it? Will the cradle support it?
Might the hull topple? Could someone get hurt? Most builders move their hulls to a boat yard long before they are finished. In our case,
though, each hull is very nearly complete and they probably weigh over a ton apiece. Our hulls also had to negotiate a slope before
getting to their storage place.
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A hull is born! It emerges, butterfly-like from its cocoon and it looks almost as fragile on its flimsy looking cradle. Wooden fence posts are used as rollers. We had to roll it sideways first, on scaffolding poles, to line it up for its exit. Pushing it out of the polytunnel was quite easy but, outside, the terrain is irregular and sloping. Top of Page 
What the hell do we do now? The angle is wrong and it is beginning to tilt as it goes up a slope. At this rate of progress it will take days. Top of Page 
We get the hull to the top of a slope, which is where the real fun starts! Somehow we need to turn the hull to the right and take it down the slope. I know where the centre of gravity is along the hull but not how high it is. How much tilt can the hull cope with before it tips? Top of Page 
But first some lunch and a beer. Top of Page 
If you look carefully you might be able to make out that the hull is airborne - it is off the rollers.
Top of Page 
The bow is now clear of the ramp and the stern has emerged onto the ramp. The teleloader driver and the farmer deserve a lot of credit for a very tricky bit of manoeuvering. Top of Page 
The first hull is safely in its new home. If the cradle can survive the punishment it has just had, there will be no problem getting the hulls to the sea. Now for the next one! Top of Page 
The second hull is here being lowered onto the rollers for the last part of its journey. Top of Page 
It is now mid March 2014, three months later. The hulls are about to start their journey to Sharpness Shipyard and Drydock. Mac's car is doing the towing and there are the usual farm hazards such as slurry drains and potholes to avoid, which may not worry a tractor but are obstacles to a delicately balanced hull on rollers! Top of Page 
The most difficult bit was getting down the lane to the main road. Here am I watching a little anxiously. Pippa, the King Charles Cavalier, is indifferent to the drama! Top of Page 
Here is another shot of the hull going down Long Street, Tetbury. It is a tall load but a very light one. The trailor often carries 14 tons of hay; the hull,
at about 1 ton, is an easy tow.
Top of Page 
We arrive at our destination... Top of Page 
The Yard man, George, drives the forklift truck, expertly guided by William and ... Top of Page 
The port hull joined the starboard one two days later, without incident. This is the first time the hulls have been side-by-side the correct distance apart.
It is also the first time they have been outside exposed to the elements. It is good to be in a shipyard at last. It feels as if a milestone has been passed.
Top of Page 
The last and lightest load also posed a challenge. A cradle had to be constructed to hold the coachroof within the width of the trailor but below any overhead wires likely to be encountered en route. Top of Page 
Getting it off the trailor is easier with a forklift. The dry dock behind is full of water for a change, with a ship in it. Top of Page 
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Slowly does it! Look how big the hull is and how small the supporting cradle. Top of Page 
Fortunately, the farmer had a battered landrover he could lend us. This speeded things up a bit and meant we could lean sideways on the hull as it was going forward, thus pivotting it so it would go in the right direction. Top of Page 
For the next stage we have to involve the farmer and a rather large and expensive piece of equipment.
Top of Page 
The hull is now on the slope with the landrover providing tipping insurance. It is time for the cavalry to ride to the rescue. Top of Page 
The lifting is being done by the farmer's teleloader with its forks underneath the cradle. It is still a very tricky manoeuvre since the hull has to be turned to clear the ramp and moved across the ramp at the same time. The teleloader can not only lift, but extend its forks, and tilt them up or down. Both pairs of wheels can also be turned independently of the other. Top of Page 
The turn is complete and the hull is now at the bottom of the slope. The teleloader is lowering it onto its rollers to be pushed and pulled
into its new home.
Top of Page 
The second hull is rolled onto the slope. At this point just 2 people can move it - actually the problem is now stopping it before it hits the ramp. Top of Page 
It was still a tricky manoeuvre but at least created new photo opportunities. Top of Page 
A new challenge is load it onto a trailer and make it fast. Fortunately for us the farmer's right hand man had worked in the haulage industry. Top of Page 
Here we are passing through the historic town of Tetbury. We must have been an unusual site but no one seemed to notice! Top of Page 
A view of the open road, snapped by Mac following along behind. I like this photograph because I feel it is arty-farty - reminds me of Mac! Top of Page 
... where we have a site which has been carefully prepared. The bearers have been positioned the correct distance apart, levelled and marked with
each hull's centreline.
Top of Page 
... and, in no time at all, the starboard is sitting on top of its bearers. I have a big grin of relief on my face! Top of Page 
Here is the "man of the move", our tractor driver and haulage expert, known to most as "Minnie". Mind you, he could have done a better job of cleaning his tractor; those brown splodges on the transom are slurry splatters thown up by the tractor's wheels. Top of Page 
Four of us were able to manoeuvre the coachroof onto the the trailor and into the cradle, but it was hard work on account of its size and weight. We also took the opportunity to transport a bench, our steps and the tools cupboard. Top of Page 
The coachroof in its full, 5m wide, glory! Top of Page 
After 2 years and 7 months, we now need to move our boatshed to Sharpness - not a trivial task. A lot of stuff has gone but there is still a big mess to clear up. I have sold the polytunnel so we are currently dismantling it. It is a shame to leave our farm. The farmer said he felt we were part of the business and he could not have been more helpful. We enjoyed our stay here, were amused by the kittens and I shall miss the walkacross the fields from my home. Top of Page |
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