.
It’s important to make sure you have prepared your boat for the colder winter months, particularly freezing temperatures.  If you haven’t done it already then make time, as it could save you time and money in the spring by preventing cold damage.
Visit your boat from time to time during the winter to nip any problems in the bud.  If there is a cold spell this is particularly important. 

Inboard Engines:
Check the manufacturers guide for how to winterise your particular engine type.
If you are being lifted out, run the engine whilst in the water, whilst stationery.
Fill your fuel tank to the brim to prevent condensation and add anti-freeze to help resist the cold.
Change the Engine Oil.
Some people spray their engines with Fogging Oil for protection.

Soft Furnishings / Covers / Valuables:
Remove cushions, covers, bedding etc. to help prevent damp and mould.
If the boat isn’t ventilated, books, musical instruments, sentimental items should be removed to avoid damage.

Boat Batteries:
If there is not a float charge, remove the batteries and store at home. 
Batteries should be topped up monthly to ensure they keep maintained.
A float charge does keep batteries topped and give peace of mind.

Water Systems
It is important to prevent liquids in the vessel freezing, so if possible leave tanks empty.
You can add anti-freeze to the system. For safety purposes ensure it is safe for drinking (should contain propylene glycol and be pink).  If in doubt make sure you flush the system through thoroughly in the spring.
If you add anti-freeze ensure you see it flowing from taps etc so you are certain it is throughout the whole system.
Be careful to flush the toilet through a few times to ensure it is clean before you anti-freeze the toilet.  You should be able to run the anti-freeze through the inlet hose for the toilet.  Make sure you run it through sufficiently as above.
Air conditioning can be treated in the same way.
MAKE SURE THE ANTI-FREEZE IS SAFE FOR DRINKING.
ALWAYS CHECK MANUFACTURERS INSTRUCTIONS.
 
Cover Your Boat / Secure the Halyards
It is a good idea to give the vessel a wash off and then add a strong cover.
Ensure it is lashed down well so it can stand up to high winds.
Double check that halyards are secured and not bashing about.  This causes wear and tear which is unnecessary.
 
Stow Away
Ropes should be coiled and hung in a locker out of the weather.
Fenders should be stowed away.
Loose items on deck such as boat hooks, ladders should be stowed safely.
 
Food
Ensure perishables are removed.
Check that the date on tins and packets is sufficient.  You can use foods up at home and restock in the spring.
Doing a stock take can help you but just the right amount of food year by year.
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#boatyard#faversham#kent#chatham#dry#dock#drydock#haulout#boatmaintenance#boatwelding#barge#yachtcleaning#cleanmyyacht#boat#maintenance#crane#liftout#mooringbuoy#bargepainting#SMLpaints#Hempel#anti-fouling#

We are always busy in the boatyard here on Faversham Creek.  This video gives you an idea of what we get up too and it's a chance to meet some of the team.

#boatyard#kent#faversham#creek#shipwright#crane#boat#yacht#drydock#wooden#yacht#painting#diy#boatstorage#marine#marina#welding#pressurewash#hull#cleaning#anodes#steelplating#trawler#hard#standing#boatlife#boatsandmud#keepsmiling#Iron#Wharf#Mirosa#London#docks#chatham#turks#river#lee#medway#

This lovely boat has been here having repairs done for a while now. 
Engine repairs, welding, hull painting, internal boat fixings to name but a few of the jobs.  The family have finally managed to get the work done and are off to their new berth.  We wish them bon voyage and all the very best for the future.  They had some huge challenges to navigate but still managed to keep smiling and seeing the bright side.  It's been a pleasure and we really hope they enjoy the lovely Madeleine.

#boatyard#maintenance#storage#hardstanding#props#pressure#washing#jet#drydock#welding#marine#marina#faversham#london#chatham#turks#stkatherinedock#docks#queenbororugh#kent#shipwright#thamesbarge#boat#craning#

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#