Drumler

Finally, on 18 June, Drumler was lifted in to the Deben.  This was originally scheduled for 6 June but we had to postpone when, during a last-minute inspection, I discovered that the top of the chain pipe – leading the anchor chain from the deck, through the fo’c’sle, to the chain locker – was completely corroded at top of the pipe, where attaches to the deck.  Somehow no one, not even the surveyor, had noticed the chain pipe’s condition – probably because the fo’c’sle is a bit cramped and dark and not easy to root around in.

So, two weeks later, timed for the next spring tide and after some very skilled ironmongery by the excellent Eversons Boatyard, we were good to go.  I motored up in my tender from Methersgate Quay, just in time to see Drumler being towed to the riverside, and then lifted in:

I had to wait on board for a couple of hours to make sure she was not taking on too much water.  Turns out, she’s as tight as a drum.

Bilges – nice ‘n dry! Dry for bilges that is..

I sat around for about three hours, just enjoying finally being back in the water, and not a drop came in.

On her mooring by Eversons, so they can keep an eye on her.

So we eventually tied her up to a mooring by Eversons and Geoff will take her back to her swing mooring off Kyson Point when she has fully taken up in a day or so.