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Feeding The Monster

many rallies and events. Winter lay-up
has varied from canal to River Shannon
and there is usually some work to be
done in this period.

92.E has a very prettily shaped hull
typical of horse-drawn barges of the
time, the shape making it easy to pass
through water. The empty hull would
be a little over twenty tons in weight,
but cargo capacity was a further fifty
tons. Hull dimensions are sixty feet in
length, thirteen feet three inches beam
and three feet draft (20m x 4m x 1m).
The hull depth is roughly six feet (1.0
m). The hull has two metal full height the cargo and give protection in bad have been acquired to be the basis of a
bulkheads dividing the boat into three weather. The helmsman stood at the tiller running engine.
separate compartments. The first ten in all weathers which was challenging
feet of the boat from the bow is the crew at times as boats often travelled the full As I write 92.E lies alongside 4.E in
quarters which contained three bunk twenty-four hours. Canal boats were Mullingar Harbour on the summit level
beds and a solid fuel stove for cooking, traditionally flat bottomed and ideal of the Royal Canal in the company of
heating and drying clothes. The ten-foot for canal and river systems but were some other heritage boats. Both barges
section at the stern is the engine room restricted to reasonably fair-weather have been here since last October and
which held the massive single cylinder conditions on the larger inland lakes. hopefully by next issue will have started
Bollinder engine with fuel and water The decision to bring 92.E back to on the 2020 boating season.
tanks on the deck above. The central her working condition will involve
section was the cargo hold which was considerable hull plate repairs, re- Article and photos by Joe Treacy – follow
planked throughout over the frames to decking in timber and of course the Joe at https://twitter.com/JoeJoetreacy ...
keep the cargo of barrels or sacks above installation of a nineteen twelve era To keep up to date with all the fun on the
the hull plates and above any water in engine. Two Bolinder engines needing Irish Inland Waterways
the bilges. Tarpaulins were used to cover major work and replacement parts

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