Salvage Squad Thames Sailing Barge

[@ckm-mkc]

My father lived on the barge Harold moored in Central London in the 1960's - I never saw it, but heard lots of stories about it, some of them about forgetting to close the seacocks before the tide came in and coming back to a flooded boat.... Glad to see one still in working order.

[@thomasnewbery7449]

I first learned about these barges in a book by Tristan Jones (a very funny writer!). In telling of his youth, he described working on them as a youngster loading in England, sailing across the channel, and unloading in Germany, I think it was, and returning.. I was enthralled to see this restoration occurr. ( was an over-the-road truck driver for 4+years.) Amazing what tonnage those boats carried. And the lack of much freeboard when loaded was nervy to say the least. Kudos to the team and all others involved. I've owned a few sailboats, the largest a Hunter 21 on The Great Salt Lake. I spent 4 years in East Anglia at RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge fixing F-4s. compliments of the USAF. Had a wonderful time and my two kids were born at RAF Mildenhall! Wish I'd known about the yacht club in Ipswich! Just saw the movie "Dunkirk" a little while ago and was amazed the INA was one of the boats involved.

[@pravrao]

Sadly just read Ena is laid up again. onthethames.net/2017/08/14/dunkirk-hero-ship-ena-pictured-decaying-hoo/

[@ckm-mkc]

Bummer - looks like it was pretty neglected. Doesn't surprise me, wooden boats require a lot of constant work.

[@NemoBlank]

I doubt if any of them were lying. There were probably a number of shot up and abandoned sailboats washed up on the beach at Dunkirk, and many stragglers evading the Germans that came along, found them and got out with them. I doubt if they could tell one from the other and probably didn't know the name.

[@SatNavDan]

Such a shame this barge is currently rotting away at Hoo. :-(

[@jeangenie68]

I’m not sure you are correct regarding the salvage situation. I believe you can only take ‘salvage’ from anything in tidal waters, which this was, but I think you still have to report it. Anyone thinking about liberating some salvage should look into the law before they go and do it as you might find you’re breaking the law. We all know what that means. I might be totally wrong but better to be safe.

[@TheHotredfox]

yes