Bluebell, our new boat

August & September 2004 update      December 2004 update  March2005 update  April 2005 update  July 2005 update  November 2005 update December 2005 update February 2006

April 2006 Her first trip August 2006

For years, the Society has been saving up to buy a boat in which we could give people boat trips in comfort and when (in July 2004) we were offered a boat for a nominal sum, we had no hesitation in accepting. The boat is a 38 feet long 6 foot 10 inches wide cruiser stern narrow boat which was the first  Seagull Trust  boat and she ran trips for the disabled from 1979 as St John Crusader. When in 1996 she was no longer required by the Seagull Trust she was given to Wester Hailes as a community boat but sadly, the necessary modifications were never completed and she was never actually used. She then came into our possession and one of the first decisions we had to take was what to call her? It was agreed that she would be BLUEBELL (she is painted blue just now and our premises are at Bells Mill Wharf). This name may change.

Some more info on her name. We have established that she started life as Minuet which was changed to St Johns Crusader when she came to Scotland then to Calder Crusader when  she was owned by the Calder Crescent group.

When a few of us met for a work party a few days later it was agreed that an inspection of Bluebell was more important than anything else we had planned as there is some work which has to be done sooner rather than later. I attach some photos taken during the inspection and I will attempt to describe below  what we have and what needs doing.

Bows - The gas locker (no gas!) is in the bows but the piping will probably need replacing. The well deck is low and we will need to put in steps and guide rails  to enable passengers to get on and off safely. The well deck has a wooden floor but no drainage so a couple of drain holes will have to be made.

Cabin - is 23 feet 9 inches long. The roof  and part of the walls has been lined and there is a large pile of timber lying on the floor. Some of this had been a toilet compartment but has been ripped out. We will need to finish lining the sides and make a toilet compartment (porta potti and basin) on the starboard side near the stern. On the same side there will be a work surface and sink with shelving underneath. Opposite there will be more work surface with cooking facilities and more storage. Steps will need to be installed to get up to the stern deck.

Windows - there are 10 windows which have been reduced in size by adding rather nasty wooden frames on the outside. We hope to remove this and install "boat type" windows with opening hoppers at the top.

Stern deck - it has a cruiser stern which gives lots of room for skipper and crew. New deck boards will be needed to replace the house doors which presently cover the engine. The engine is an air cooled  Lister and although bits are missing, we know that it was running not all that long ago. The fuel tank lacks a filler top and the tank is probably full of sand, water etc. There is one battery but there does not seem to be a battery box so we will need to make one. There does not appear to be a  calorofier to heat water and in fact, there does not appear to be a cold water tank! Although there is something sitting inside which might just be a water tank!

External - she is painted blue with white hand rails and is in not too bad condition. She will, however, need some sanding and painting.

She has not been out of the water for some time so we don't know the state of the hull or bottom blacking and it is a priority to get her into the dry dock and have a hull survey carried out, the hull pressure washed and bottom blacked. Ronnie Rusack of the Bridge Inn http://www.bridgeinn.com/ has very kindly offered us the use of the dry dock for this.

She does have a valid Boat Safety Scheme certificate!

It will be a big task to get her into a fit state to cruise but if we can supply a lot of the labour ourselves and get help to buy materials we should be able to do it. If we rely on applying for grants, we have to wait till the applications are approved before we can do the work and the way forward will be to use our own boat fund and seek sponsorship wherever we can. Obviously anyone who helps us will have their name displayed on board for all to see when we carry passengers.

If you can help us in any way, please get in touch.