August 2024
Kerne spent the month on display in Canning Dock berthed alongside the Pumphouse Pub, thereby ensuring a large public audience was able to view the vessel whilst enjoying a beer on the quayside. Despite the obvious attraction of our location, the volunteer crew were not distracted from the ‘Outstanding Jobs’ list and continued with the boiler re-lagging. Whilst only partially completed, the benefits became obvious during our period in steam for the boiler inspection, and our short cruise to Canning. In the absence of lagging, the boiler pressure drops away markedly once firing ceases, but with lagging the day following sees pressure still registering. Also it is now possible to leisurely lean against the boiler casing for long periods without getting you backside cooked! Better weather also allowed deck painting to continue and a start was made in the long overdue repainting of the Engine Room. Not all news is good however as after twelve months of successful and trouble-free operatio