A look into Autumn at the Bosuns club.

The next skiff, finishing off the oars and screwing around on jetty six.

The bosuns are readying themselves for the build of the next skiff, while attending to some tasks about the club.

We needed to make another two oars and while one of the oars came together seamlessly, the last decided to be a little fractious and needed some stern talking to. Out came the heat guns and it was gently coaxed into place again and then generously smothered with clamps and yet more glue.

Once again the skiff has gone walkabout and while it was comfortable under the big trees at the back of the bosuns shed, despite its cover, it was still a target for all the detritus from the trees. The head bosun, Dave Locke was kind enough to shift the large lump of inanimate metal in front of our shed and the skiff is now parked next to the building. It would be even better if we could use the sheds on the other side of the bosuns shed.

The skiff is to have a companion shortly and the moulds have been set up while the last of the oars are being finished off. The process will be a lot faster as we have the timber already laminated/scarfed/glued and shaped to our needs. The oars being processed are nearly ready and simply require painting in the club colours.

To Jetties six and seven.

The jetties are showing their age and the system used to hold the timber decking in place has started to loosen up and a few of the tens of thousands of screws used are beginning to work their way out as the jetties flex and flow with the constant movements of the river. A bit of lateral thinking was brought about with an extension bit on a drill that saves the person having to bend over to tighten up the screws. So if you see some one wandering down the jetty with a slightly distracted look on their face and a very long drill bit/screwdriver, leave them to their task or even offer them a cup of tea to fortify them on their journey up and down the jetties.

This will be an ongoing task and if there is a problem with the jetties, in the first instance please report it to the club bosuns, not to the bosuns club.

Rick Steuart.