unrunner is a regular here at Iron Wharf Boatyard, and her owner Don always has really interesting anecdotes of his time at sea.  He was involved in a rescue mission which resulted in a tragic loss of life, and we've tracked down the Pathe News Reel of the event.
Hope you enjoy this piece of nautical heroics.

We managed to snap him beside his boat, as he's always on the go and hard to pin down !
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Sunrunner#yacht#hero#Don#Rigby#jet#washing#boats#hull#cleaning#barge#maintenance#dry#dock#st#katherines#marine#London#River#Lee#Kent#Medway#Chatham#Turks#Welding#marine#craning#mastst#

At Iron Wharf  Boat Yard we often have boats coming here for restoration.  Silver Queen arrived by lorry this week, and we are very privileged to have her here.  She is one of the Dunkirk Little Ships that saved so many troops from the Dunkirk beaches.


History below provided from NHSR.
SILVER QUEEN, now re-named FERMAIN V, was built by Horn Bros in Southampton in 1926 as a harbour launch. With a 2ft draught she was never designed to cross the channel, yet in 1940, she was towed across to Dunkirk because she was ideal for ferrying soldiers from La Panne beach to the larger destroyers and transports which brought them back to England. Boats of her kind were considered expendable once their task had been fulfilled and no-one expected her to come back unscathed. In fact, she was reported to have sunk, but was later refloated. She then found her way, via Sheerness where she was owned briefly by a Commander Carter, to Guernsey in the Channel Islands. This may have been when she was re-equipped with a Ford 6 cylinder diesel, as she almost certainly had a petrol engine during the Second World War. Her next owner was C B Ferguson and when he died, her left her to his son Percy. He operated her on a daily run, carrying 65 passengers, on a ferry service which had been started in 1928 between St Peter Port and Fermain Bay. This is a favourite holiday beach, difficult to get at by any other means. Her 2ft draught, which was her so beneficial at Dunkirk, again made her ideal for this ferry service.re to edit.

We'll keep you posted on her progress and try to chat with the owner to find out his plans.

#dunkirk#little#ships#faversham#boatyard#dry#dock#repairs#barges#craning#maintenance#project#manager#bilge#anodes#fitting#fit#out#swale#kent#silver#queen#beaches#operation#dynamo#fixmyboat#ship#wright#

As you may remember we spent some of the summer of 2020 carrying out maintenance on one of our dry docks.
We have two dry docks here which can be used for the following services:

• Hull Surveys
• Jet Washing and Cleaning Hulls
• Preparation and repainting of boats and barges
• Replacement of Anodes
• Marine Grade Welding / Steel Plating
• Fitting of Rope Cutters

We offer a one stop shop where the works are project managed and carried out to a high standard.  This service is very cost effective and the rates reasonable.   We keep you up to date with progress and work hard to ensure value for money without compromising quality.
You can also carry out the works yourself and we will of course be available to guide and advise along the way.
If you need an extra pair of hands we can also recommend experienced professionals to help.
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To find out more contact Creekside Marine Services on 07789512825 or telephone our office via the contact page above.

It may seem like this current situation with another lockdown will never end but it is always important to look to the future.
Here at Ironwharf we have kept our workforce busy with yard improvements and we are still working during this current lockdown within the parameters of Government Guidelines.
We are looking forward to seeing you all in the future.
Wintertime is slowly passing and spring will soon be upon us.
If you have a project you would like us to feature please do let us know.
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We've had a few sailors report trouble with their moorings lines and or dragging their anchors.  This can be very stressful, not to mention dangerous to your boat and other peoples.  Here are some tips to help:

• Before committing to a mooring, check it is suitable:
• Is it deep enough.
• Can you easily pick up the buoy.
• Is it too closely situated to other buoys.
• Is it sheltered.
• Can you get to it easily on a rib.
• Will it be suitable for all round berthing.
• Is it solely yours or shared.

It is not a good idea to raft up and leave boats unattended, They move about with the wash from passing vessels, tidal changes and wind. This can cause rope slippage, anchor dragging and potential damage to both vessels.  Sharing a mooring over night with friends is acceptable as you are present and able to check things.

Check the depth at the lowest astronomical tide to make sure you will still float.  The draft of your vessel needs to taken into account when mooring up.

If there is a catamaran nearby they move very differently on moorings and may not swing into the wind.  Check they are far enough away that they will not entangle with you.

Tidal flow could effect how you board the boat and pick up buoys.

Be safety and surroundings aware.

#boat#berth#safety#jet#washing#dry#dock#paintmyboat#maintenance#turks#goodbudget#washoff#hull#chatham#medway#swale#faversham#kent#anodes#survey#swing#mooring#

A hot day for Hauling Up the main sail.  Muscle power and a few breaks, the mast slowly rises up and slots into place.

Richard is proud owner of The Chieftain, Ex RNLI Lifeboat.  Built in 1948, served until 1982.  She saved 132 lives.
They will be running trip services from Whitstable.

You can find out more about trips on FACEBOOK: Whitstable Vintage Lifeboats.

She was stored here whilst Richard carried out repairs and maintenance, and re-did her paintwork.  She looks stunning and is a wonderful example of restoration.


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#historic#lifeboats#The#Chieftain#savinglives#RNLI#Whitstable#Vintage#boat#maintenance#coast#guards#faversham#creek#boatyard#DIY#storage#painting#repairs#knotfinnishedyet#tallyho#craning#liftout#sealife#watermen#barge#thames#sailing#KSA#swale#marina#sailing#dinghy#boatsforsale#

​#historic#lifeboats#The#Chieftain#savinglives#RNLI#Whitstable#Vintage#boat#maintenance#coast#guards#faversham#creek#boatyard#DIY#storage#painting#repairs#knotfinnishedyet#tallyho#craning#liftout#sealife#watermen#barge#thames#sailing#KSA#swale#marina#sailing#dinghy#boatsforsale#

Now the Lockdown is easing, Ironsides can get ready for sailing.  Setting up the Mizzen is part of this process.  Here it is being refitted, having been had its winter refurbishment.
#mizzen#fitting#crane#launch#boat#mast#maintenance#dry#dock#faverhsam#swale#creek#sailing#barge#thames#medway#marina#lockdowneased#Covid#yard#inthewater#sailaway#sail#rigging#re#yacht#trawler#haul#thamesbarge#

Many of Iron Wharf visitors are competent sailors, with a huge wealth of knowledge.  And phrases are used with the assumption we all know what they mean!

Two such phrases are Knots and Nautical Miles.

1 Nautical mile per hour is the equipment to 1 knot.  Strickly speaking 1 knot = 1.15 miles.
In the 17th Century there was still a need to measure speed, and sailors used 'a common log' to do this.
A common log was a length of rope with a piece of triangular wood attached the one end and knots tied along the length at uniform intervals.
The line was thrown overboard, and allowed to pay out from a coil, on its own.  After a set amount of time the line was hauled in and the number of knots that had payed out was counted.  This gave the speed of the vessel, ie. 20 knots.

#nauticalterms#common#log#knot#speed#measure#boat#faversham#boatyard#

Here at Ironwharf Boatyard we have a wealth of knowledge with regards to engines.  Kelvin, Gardiner, Stuart, large and small.  If you need some help and advice please do get in touch.  We can crane engines in and out for maintenance and or refit.
​#crane#engine#fixmyboat#enginefailure#boat#diesel#gardiner#stuart#kelvin#