October/November 2025

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October was something of a hiatus for the volunteers of the good ship Kerne. The disappointment of our cancelled September and October sailings prompted several of us to book last-minute holidays, but not before essential ‘wintering’ jobs were carried out – particularly, the fitting of the funnel-top cover and draining of the boiler. In reflective mood, whilst there were no trips out in the river or up the MSC and Weaver, a lot has been achieved evidenced by two successful in-dock trials which puts us in a good position for hopefully early steamings in 2026. In the meantime, it is on with the usual tasks for the winter lay-up and preparations for the Boiler Inspector’s dry examination. So, it is off with the top and bottom boiler doors to ventilate and dry the water side of the boiler, and the removal of the 100+ firebars requiring a chain of 6 volunteers to stack these, in order, out of the way behind the funnel with the heavy side bars (designed to fit the corrugations of the furnaces) and the central bridge pieces being left on the Boiler Room plates. Then chain blocks were employed to lift up the two smokebox doors allowing access to the 176 boiler tubes for sweeping out, the soot and residual ash then being swept and shovelled out and disposed of environmentally. A new industrial vacuum cleaner has been purchased to assist in this strenuous and filthy task. On deck steering rods and chains have been cleaned and greased, and ventilators have been covered. Whilst this latter action may appear counterproductive, the reason is that we deploy de-humidifiers over the winter period so it is necessary to make the below-deck spaces as air-tight as possible in that the units operate efficiently to reduce condensation. For this reason, we also polish the brass gauges, plaques etc and wrap in clingfilm to prevent tarnishing. The dehumidifiers also help to reduce condensation in the notoriously damp areas of the hull behind pumps and below deck plates, enabling us to de-rust and clean these areas prior to painting. Finally, the lagging job enters the final stages applying the blanket to the confined areas to the top of the boiler shell, but clearance is so confined that it has been necessary to cut holes in the top of the boiler casing to access these areas. Never short of jobs to do aboard our fine old vessel so we shall just crack on.

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