06/05/05
We have all tide access to the water with the new pontoon. Two more piles and the hammerhead will be in place by the end of May to complete the work. A dinghy ramp will be added to the pontoon in the near future to assist with launch and recovery of dinghies.
Alan Andrews
Removal of the old causeway - suspended due to atrocious blizzard conditions.
The first pile going in - and then the crane broke...
All photos by J-P
22/03/05
Access to the water
Access to the water will only be one hour approx. either side of high water, as the floating jetty will not be ready. We were to have been able to use Arethusa's causeway whilst our works were carried out, however, their causeway has just been condemned, and they have been forced to refuse permission to use it. Arethusa have allowed us to use their hard.
DANGER
Deep holes in the mud exist in line with the old causeway/jetty. We have back filled six holes from the beach outwards, ie three pile holes either side of where the causeway used to be. Do not try to wade out or use mud shoes (splatchers) in line with the old causeway. Be especially careful on the causeway side of the scrubbing posts. Once you are up to your chest in mud the helicopter can only save the top half of your body!
Alan Andrews
07/03/05
The pontoon will not be ready for the 9th April.
This is due to a new short lease that Medway Ports are proposing, without which we cannot get a works licence to place the new piles for the pontoons. The Club has a long lease on the river bed for all of the area of the new pontoons but for the last 6m.
Access to the water will be very awkward for some time to come, possibly most of this season, but the Committee, Sub-Committee and Thursday Club are working hard to retrieve the situation.
Not a good start to our sailing season, but we must satisfy the bureaucracy and monetary appetite of Medway Ports before we can proceed. For example Medway Ports charged us £240 for a Notice to Mariners to request 'no wash' whilst the barge was removing the causeway. As we pointed out, this is the same barge that lays the moorings without the need for a Notice to Mariners; the barge is well inside the moorings and aground when working. Does the wash argument wash?
With hindsight we should have seen some of these problems coming, some did, some retrospectively may claim they did, others could have been consulted.
Any one with adverse views or wishing to throw brick bats please join one of the committees, come along to Thursday Club or contact me - Alan Andrews
30/01/05
Causeway for concern: The pontoon will be ready for use by April 9th, we are aiming at earlier but are in the hands of others.
Arethusa have, at our own risk, allowed us to use their causeway for launching and recovering dinghies. Their causeway is very slippery and great care must be taken. The bolt heads down the centre of their causeway do give some foothold but it is not as good as one would like, especially when dragging a dinghy and trailer on it.
Contact Alan Andrews (01622 754114) if you need latest information.
18/11/04
I know this is short notice but Stuart Hurst has just called me to let me know that there will be a work party on the causeway this Saturday 20th November.
If you are available to help please let Stuart know on 01634 270362 and confirm the times with him.
You will need water proof clothing and boots and, if you have, a big hammer.
Best
regards
Hubba
13/10/04
Thank you for the support during the last weekend. It has been a great success and we have managed to build the first five pontoons.
The frames for the rest of the pontoons have been delayed and are now expected during the next week. The Saturday work party is still happening but now fully booked and we will meet at about 10:30. The Sunday work party has been cancelled and moved to the following weekend.
Anybody available for Saturday the 23rd of October or Sunday the 24th of October please let me know. As usual, please bring along cordless screw driving drills with No 2 pozidrive bits, G-clamps with 4.5" minimum opening, 17mm and 19mm sockets and wrenches if you have them.
I can be contacted via email with hubba@thebigpurple.com or on my mobile which is 07785 395511.
Hubba
06/10/04
Alan has just asked me to be more specific of what to bring to the work parties so here it goes:
17 and 19 mm sockets and wrench
17 and 19 mm ring spanners
(the 17 is more important than the 19)'G' clamps 4.5" minimum opening
axle stands
screw driving cordless drills with No.2 pozidrive bits
knee pads
Don't worry if you don't have any of these things
Hubba
05/10/04
Thanks to all who have been supporting us on the last weekend digging in the mud etc. It was a great turn up!
Today we took delivery of the material for the new pontoon in Patman's wharf, and we are planning to assemble and launch them over the next two weekends.
If you are available to help on any of the following dates please let me have your details, your help is much appreciated.
The dates are Saturday the 9th, Sunday the 10th, Saturday the 16th and Sunday the 17th of October.
We also have a shortage of cordless drills and 5 inch g-clamps so if you have any of those it would be great if you could bring them along.
I can be contacted via email with hubba@thebigpurple.com or on my mobile which is 07785 395511.
16/09/04
We are planning to have a work party on Saturday the 2nd of October and Sunday the 3rd of October to start removing the existing causeway in preparation for the new pontoons. If you are able to help on either of these days, or even both, it would be great if you could email your name and contact number to hubba@thebigpurple.com.
2004
The Thursday Club continue to manufacture pontoons to the usual high standard.
May 2004
The first of the pontoons was launched this month, the very impressive looking pontoon was turned over and wheeled round on a road trailer by volunteers. She was then inched down to the water's edge, with some choosing to get their feet wet. Eureka it worked, she is currently on one of the spare moorings waiting to be joined by others.
Special General Meeting - held on 4th April 2004
This was well supported by 55 of our current 123 Voting Members, with 36 Mooring holders present. A further 16 Members sent apologies and comments.
It was agreed by the Membership and Mooring Holders that the current causeway should be replaced by a floating pontoon.
contacts:
Alan Andrews
Mike Bennett
David Brown
Chris Callow
Brian Dallaway
Hubertus (Hubba) Haniel
Stuart Hurst
Murray Marchant
Ken Smith
John Walrond
or any member of:
mooring committee
general committee
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