Paddleducks

Paddler Information => Preserved Paddle Ships => Topic started by: PJ on June 23, 2006, 11:45:57 PM

Title: MAID OF THE LOCH TO BE HIGH & DRY FOR FIRST TIME IN 25 Y
Post by: PJ on June 23, 2006, 11:45:57 PM

While we all hold or breath waiting for word from the Medway, there is good news from North of the border on Loch Lomond.

"Maid of the Loch", Loch Lomond’s Paddle Steamer, will be hauled out of the water on Tuesday 27 June as a test of the rebuilt slipway. Tied up at Balloch Pier since her withdrawal from active service in 1981, this will be the first time she has moved since then – 25 years ago.

“This is a really major step forward for us”, said Colin Paterson CBE, Chairman of the Loch Lomond Steamship Company, the Maid’s owners. “Although we have spent 10 years refurbishing the Maid and opening her as a visitor attraction, this is a key milestone. The Maid will dwarf everything in the area and will be a sight to behold. It will be spectacular!” he added.

This dramatic achievement has been possible thanks to a £620,000 funding package from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire Council, and LLSC. The project started last September and its official opening will not take place until the internal refurbishment of the winchhouse, a visitor interpretation facility and external landscaping have been completed. This slipping is part of the rebuild contract and will be carried out by the contractor, Heritage Engineering Limited.

“There is huge excitement in the area for this, and we are keeping everything crossed that all goes according to plan”, he added. “The significant point is that the Maid continues to make progress. We now have the facility to repair and upgrade the ship to make her sail again and we are confidently working on our plans to achieve that”.

Mr Paterson said that the Maid would be closed for business on Monday in order to prepare her for the slipping process, such as disconnecting mains’ services and securing crockery and stores.

Director, John Beveridge, informs us that everything is on course for next Tuesday.  

Visit the "Maid of the Loch" official web site at:
http://www.maidoftheloch.co.uk/

PJ

Title: MAID OF THE LOCH TO BE HIGH & DRY FOR FIRST TIME IN 25 Y
Post by: thewharfonline on June 24, 2006, 05:53:17 PM

gee if it hasn't moved in 25 years I'd hate to be in charge of dusting!  :P

Apart from humour though that is excellent news!

Title: MAID OF THE LOCH TO BE HIGH & DRY FOR FIRST TIME IN 25 Y
Post by: mjt60a on June 24, 2006, 09:22:46 PM

....doesn't look like there'll be too much 'dusting' to be done...
http://www.maidoftheloch.co.uk/who.html
...inside - http://www.maidoftheloch.co.uk/dine.jpg
....after 25 years in the water, there's probably a bit of algae to be scraped off the hull though.... :D

Title: MAID OF THE LOCH TO BE HIGH & DRY FOR FIRST TIME IN 25 Y
Post by: AlistairD on June 25, 2006, 08:26:20 AM

At an earlier stage in the restoration, far more  than dust had to be removed. One of the saloons had plants growing in it and a  carpet of moss across the deck.
 The interior accommodation has all been restored,  and she has been in use for several years now as a floating restaurant. All that  will prevent her sailing once she has been slipped for hull painting later on  (this slipping is only to test the slipway) is a new boiler
 

Quote

  ----- Original Message -----
   From:    mjt60a (preserved@paddleducks.co.uk)
   To: preserved@paddleducks.co.uk (preserved@paddleducks.co.uk)    
   Sent: Saturday, June 24, 2006 12:22    PM
   Subject: RE: MAID OF THE LOCH TO BE HIGH    & DRY FOR FIRST TIME IN 25 Y
   

   
....doesn't look like there'll be too much 'dusting'    to be done...
http://www.maidoftheloch.co.uk/who.html (http://www.maidoftheloch.co.uk/who.html)
...inside - http://www.maidoftheloch.co.uk/dine.jpg (http://www.maidoftheloch.co.uk/dine.jpg)
....after 25    years in the water, there's probably a bit of algae to be scraped off the hull    though.... (http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif)


     
Posted by Mick.
(.....gonna need a bigger boat.....)


-------------------- m2f    --------------------

Exported by Paddleducks Mail System.

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7732#7732 (http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7732#7732)

--------------------    m2f --------------------

Title: MAID OF THE LOCH TO BE HIGH & DRY FOR FIRST TIME IN 25 Y
Post by: thewharfonline on June 25, 2006, 12:52:59 PM

yeh I looked on the website yesterday...that dining room is fantastic!

Title: MAID OF THE LOCH TO BE HIGH & DRY FOR FIRST TIME IN 25 Y
Post by: Bob Golder on June 26, 2006, 08:35:46 PM

Great news.  Dry at last.  I can recommend the food on board to anyone visiting Loch Lomond.   My monthly sojurns in my Scottish caravan often lead to a Maid visit.  Have fun on the hull.

Title: MAID OF THE LOCH TO BE HIGH & DRY FOR FIRST TIME IN 25 Y
Post by: mjt60a on July 06, 2006, 11:50:24 PM

Read all about it!!! - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/5120190.stm?ls