Water tank woes

3 weeks ago in a moment of madness, I decided to check the condition of the forward water tank as it had been drained for frost protection for the Winter, perhaps more to the point no one had looked inside it for 12 years. The access cover was secured by 20 set screws, all of them rusted in and most of a weekend was spent drilling them out. 

After removing the inspection cover I discovered the welded seems were rusty and the floor of the tank was covered with about 25mm of mud so 2 weekends have been spent grinding out the rust and cleaning out the mud and more work is still required.

New video on website and YouTube Channel

With nearly 7000 views of our 3 videos in just 12 months on YouTube, we were being asked if we had any other videos to upload.

Before our Wye Invader Two run from Sharpness to Brockweir via the River Severn and the River Wye, there were a couple of 'shakedown' runs to find any mechanical problems and get some experience using the HD video camera, so we've put some of this 'test' footage together of a 2 day trip from Sharpness to Tewkesbury.

We're hoping to do a more in depth video of a trip from Tewkesbury to Sharpness later in 2016 - Watch out for it!

More info on our website - http://wyeinvader.uk

Weed Hatch

The weed hatch is there so you can remove any weed, rope and even car tyres from around the propeller or prop shaft without going for a swim. When the barge is built or constructed, the hatch is made out of the same steel as the hull, in the case of Wye invader 2 that is 6mm thick.

Every 3 to 4 years the barge should be taken out to have the bottom of the barge pressure washed or shot blasted to clean the old bitumen and rust off, then repaint. The area most often forgot is the weed hatch, so when your barge is an ex-hire craft its a good idea to clean and paint before you find your boat sat on the bottom of the canal!

UPDATE - Gearbox and Engine Bay

We removed the engine and gearbox over the weekend of 14/15 November, I priced the cost of a new drive plate and gear box and have decided to replace them although the gearbox only has 1700 hrs on it and is working well the drive plate is well worn. While the engine is out I sanded the sides with an orbital sander and the old bitumen floor covering has been removed. Roll on Summer….. 

New Drawings Page on website

A new page of proposed drawings and mooring arrangements added to the Website.


http://wyeinvader.uk/technical/drawings/

New Wye Invader photos

3 new photos of Wye Invader on her return back down the Wye in 2012 / 2013 have been sent in by Shane Moses - Thanks Shane

Wye Invader at Monmouth, 6th Feb 2103

Wye Invader at Monmouth, 6th Feb 2103

Wye Invader at Monmouth, 7th Feb 2103

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Wye Invader DVD now available

A DVD (PAL) is now available of Wye Invader The Impossible Journey, The Return and Wye Invader Two from the Wye Invader website for just £11.95 including UK p&p - an ideal stocking filler!