Thomas H is a Sheffield Class Humber Keel Barge.

She was built in 1940 by Richard Dunston Ltd., Thorne, Yorkshire.

She was one of two sister ships commissioned by the Hodgsons Tannery at Beverley Beck on the Humber, where she worked for many years. Her sister ship was called Richard after the other Hodgson bother.

She was never under sail, at the time she was built the government was subsidising the building of motor driven barges.

She is extra wide beam at 15.5 feet and she is 62.5 feet long.

We bought her in early 2006 through Alan Pease in Goole and roped him into emptying the various tanks and debris she had in her at the time, decking over her open hold, replacing the unusable Lister engine and generally get her onto working order for the trip down from Goole around the coast to the Thames. Then, we got him to pilot her down too.

This is a belated attempt to diary the ups and downs of our journey so far.

Sunday 24 August 2008

Coming soon!

So, having seen the blogs for Peter, Wendy Ann 2, Real and a few others, I now have terrible blog envy.

I've started adding more photos to the older posts so everyone can see more evidence of us actually having done something to Thomas, but I've decided that a before and after collection of photos is long overdue.

I'll start next week, I promise...

Meantime, if you want to see what a boat blog should look like (and what sado-masochism really really is) have a look at the following blogs:

http://boatsareforlosers.blogspot.com
http://thevoyageofwendyann2.blogspot.com
http://slowboat-real.blogspot.com
http://www.livingafloat.com/watergeus/conversion.html
http://www.thanatopsic.org/hendrik/
http://mv-strathspey.blogspot.com/
http://timzim.blogspot.com/

Saturday 23 August 2008

Deck

We've got a deck on our deck!

All we need now are some warm evenings when we can sit out and drink wine.

Jealous of our new neighbours we just said 'fuck it', went to Homebase, bought some ready-made squares and presto, half an hour later... a deck.

Simon's out there right now eating his porridge, drinking coffee and thinking about how to edge it.

Anyway, since we're not doing any major work right now, I've made cushion covers and curtains. I also found a model boat in a charity shop which I've glued back together and found a nice 60s coffee table so (if you ignore the lack of walls, plumbing, kitchen and any form of modcon) it's looking a bit more homey in Thomas.

...and on the second third and forth days, she rested...

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com