Estuary Gallery Art on a Barge in Leigh
Tuesday 22nd December 2015. 12 weeks into our project and a continuation of our project to convert our beautiful 71 x 12 foot Steel hull into an art gallery as told in photographs.
I have decided to have the barge bottom underplated in 6mm thick sheets of steel which was delivered today. Tim the welder can apparently achieve this task with the barge where it lays. This is a belt and braces approach to security against any leaks. The steel will be offered up, held n place and welded on. We had started to grind off the bottom and even started painting with the epoxy before I decided it was a better idea to underplate. It will still require painting 2 coats of the 2 part epoxy but it will be easy to paint being a totally smooth surface.
Just starting to grind the first of 20 plus bays and ribs in the floor. Once the dirt and bits of rust are removed there is a coat of thick bitumen on the surface. I shall add another coat of bitumen to this before putting the ballast in, probably slabs of concrete or engineering bricks ( approx 2932)
Using a needle(nail) gun to bring the underside to bare steel in order to clear the areas where the sheets of 6mm steel will be welded for the underplating.
5-1-16. Final day of grinding the areas where the steel sheets will be welded on. Hopefully underplating will start tomorrow and Brian the welder will start the roof and sides on Thursday. Today I have completed painting the 3rd coat of 2 part epoxy around the sides of the barge up to the waterline. Next step is to put bitumen around the sides and the when underplating is complete 2 coats of epoxy and 1 or 2 coats of bitumen on the bottom.
Underplating the barge. Moving the large 6mm thick steel sheets with care. They are large and heavy.
Having jacked the sheet up Tim now proceeds to tack weld into place the first sheets which are secured along the centre line.
8-1-16. After 3 coats of 2 pack epoxy on the sides I have started to paint the first coat of bitumen ( a thick heavy sticky substance). The second coat will be matt finish and extend to the top of the topsides.
An overview during the bitumen painting. And the start of Brian welding the first of the sides and top on the bow. 10ft done so far. Only 50 ft. to go.