PS Kingswear Castle.

[Walter Snowdon]

I am attending a navy reunion this weekend at The Sparrows Nest (folkeston) and going on to Chatham for sunday monday, and sailing on PS Kingswear Castle on Sunday afternoon.If anyone requires any particular photos of her , reply quickly as I am leaving at 7.0am in the Morning. If I can get close enough to John Amos I will take some closeups of her present state.  Regards to all, Walter.

[Walter Snowdon]

Hi folks, had my sail on KC Yesterday (Sunday) on a bright sunny day, passing very close to PT John H Amos, looking in a very sorry state with her bows almost covered by the tide. I took some photos of her and the refit to the KC. All in all a very enjoyable day. I called at the Kingswear Castle office this morning and as usual, was made very welcome by John Megoran the captain and one man army (navy?) behind KC. With his permission I photographed the paddler models in his office ( 6 0f them) which I hope to eventualy put on PD site. AND joy of joys, I got a set of 48th scale plans from him for Kingswear Castle and her sister ship. Very detailed with internal structure and fittings  including the engine and boiler.Thanks John for your patience and hospitality. He reckons our PD site is really excellent, praise indeed from the man who runs the superb Kingswear Castle site. Look it up on our links page and you will return to it again and again. ( The PICTURES OF THE MONTH feature has hours of browsing). I can highly recomend a trip on KC she is in immaculate condition and every pair of feet down the gangway helps to keep her in service. Regards to all, walter

[mjt60a]

Had a short (one hour) sail on Kingswear Castle today from southend pier, see a (unfortunately low quality) video here - http://youtube.com/watch?v=JL_t059DNdo

[Eddy Matthews]

What a shame Mick, I was just starting to enjoy the video when it stopped

[mjt60a]

unfortunately, I still don't have a video camera, my 'still' camera has a limited video feature but can only record for 40 seconds and without sound.
The picture quality is pretty good on the PC but youtube converts it to a 'flash' file which I think is what causes all the pixellation.
** just added 7 still images to the gallery (last one's a bit blurry though!)
** also added 2 more 40sec videos to youtube;
http://youtube.com/watch?v=GlDMBKxsRqE
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_gJ7GHCdwVE

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's... & thanks Mick for the recent snaps of the KC in your photo folder

The KC has a few different constructional    points....I see the engine room skylight atwart ship....but only the FWD glass vents appear to lift as the AFT set appear to be installed but are blocked by the bridge structure :?:...is this the case or am I viewing thye snap incorrectly  : or so is the extended bridge a newer item :?:

Anyway.....still a perfect way to spend that hour......  do they serve   on board?? or that other   stuff    :music

[mjt60a]

I didn't notice if the rear of the engineroom skylight opens, it might do or may be able to be 'proppped' open but not fully, I'm not sure... don't think the bridge/wheelhouse has been altered at all but the companionway on the fore deck is new as the forward 'well' deck has been raised to above water level (so they could have freeing ports or drains...) and any water splashing over it could drain overboard instead of into the forward saloon (forward saloon doors are gone now) Also the mast and funnel can be lowered to allow the boat to pass under bridges that were previously too low...
...yes they do sell tea and coffee plus beers wines and spirits - I had a couple of 'Oranjebooms' (spelling?)