From our correspondant and photographer James Burke!

"Herewith a shot of the Heritage Barge, 77M, formerly used as a floating crane at Fenniscourt Lock on the Barrow. WI got in a huge 130t crane to lift her to dry land but the weight was too much once the crane arm (jib?) was extended so they are getting a bigger one. They need to raise and swing the barge over the fence and every metre extended adds 8 tons to the weight, according to the crane driver. He could lift her vertically but not over the fence, which would mean extending the crane. They lifted the barge slightly to weigh it and it is over 70 tonnes. It has a hold full of poured concrete which was used as ballast for the crane and also for repairs over the years, under CIE mostly. She is now being pensioned off and will be stored in their yard next to the lock.

In the landscape picture, John O'Neill (in hard hat, foreground, looking this way) looks on at the first attempt to raise the barge. He would welcome any information anyone has on the boat. She has a Perkins engine rather than the standard Bollinder, plus the Priestman crane.

Next attempt to raise her is tomorrow Friday."




(email users need to click on the link to the forum to see the two photos)

Well here's a bit of info. on 77 to get the ball rolling.
[heritageboatassociation.ie]

M(W&W)F

Might be easier to dig the bank, float her in behind the fence, fill the hole, lift her vertically? No? Alun

a new version of the old joke,

how many WI staff dose it take.....
mb

Looks daft to me. It wouldn't be too hard to break her back. The first thing I'd do is remove the crane from the bow.

One bargee I know ,many years ago,when the canal was closed due to a breach, used two cranes to lift his barge onto a trailer. That way there would be four slings holding her rather than two.

PJ.

Ger O Neill (also based in Fenniscourt) could probably just pull it into the
depot with his tractor. He's had previous experience pulling M and B boats
over rough ground..... believe me I know...!!!

M(W&W)F

Why is it being moved?

Or, more to the point Conor, why is'nt it being moved by water...?? It is a boat after all...!! Perhaps they're afraid that whoever eventually buys it will start dredging operations...LOL

M(W&W)F

"" Perhaps they're afraid that whoever eventually buys it will start dredging operations...LOL""

can you imagine the health and safety regs on that hehehehe it would be worth doing just to see their faces.

one of them tried to "instruct a (old) fisherman how to lift a fish box" in kilmore reciently. luckly some one was able to restrain the man .


Mb

Health and Safety regs.don't really apply to private individuals engaged in
hobby activities Mick, or we'ed all be put off the water.....!!

M(W&W)F

Presumably restoration and conversion to a useable boat is the goal here.

Reduction in weight would seem to be a proirity, and dismounting of the on board crane and hacking out most of the concrete from her bilges might be the way to go.

I'm wondering if our Fenniscourt correspondent got any photos of Friday's effort? The suspense[] is killing me.

PJ

I went down on Friday to hav a look. They were waiting for a second, larger crane to arrive, but didn't think it would happen on Friday. Havn't heard anything since.
Eunice

I like the cheapo (and skinny) blue nylon clothsline/mooring warp in first photo....

"Ah shure it'll probably hold her, Boss...."

That stuff is actually quiet strong John. I managed to foul something
similar, descending in one of the SEW locks a few years ago. It managed to
hold one side of 31B (about 50 tons) up two feet before I got the Swiss Army
to deal with it...!!!

M(W&W)F

Quote:

Mick Farrell
That stuff is actually quiet strong John. I managed to foul something
similar, descending in one of the SEW locks a few years ago. It managed to
hold one side of 31B (about 50 tons) up two feet before I got the Swiss Army
to deal with it...!!!

M(W&W)F

Yes Mick I use it as a temporary stern line when casting off singlehanded - it floats so i don't have to worry about fouling the prop.
But Breakaway only weighs 3 tonnes.

If they need a 130 tonne crane to lift the barge I doubt if (?10mm) nylon line could hold it if it got moving.

John

If it was capable of moving they probably wouldn't have needed a crane

Judging by the lugs on the bollard it's more likely to be 3/4" than 3/8"s
John. I'm assuming it's purpose was to guide the boat whilst it was
swinging on the crane's cable. Something about the size and strength of a
shoelace would probably be sufficient...!!! Whether a person could hold
it or not is a seperate issue, but not really dependant on "string" size.
It's simple "String Theory"...!!!

M(W&W)F

Quote:

Mick Farrell
Judging by the lugs on the bollard it's more likely to be 3/4" than 3/8"s
John. I'm assuming it's purpose was to guide the boat whilst it was
swinging on the crane's cable. Something about the size and strength of a
shoelace would probably be sufficient...!!! Whether a person could hold
it or not is a seperate issue, but not really dependant on "string" size.
It's simple "String Theory"...!!!

M(W&W)F

Doesn't String Theory usually work in an 11-dimensional manifold?

Take your point re line being used to control swing - it does look incongruous as a mooring line for a boat that size/weight though...

John SV Pseudo Riemannian Manifold

77m was lifted today by a 180 ton capacity crane. The driver said she weighed between 73 and 78 tonnes.







Thanks to John O'Neil for letting us know when the lift was happening.

Ken