A couple of shots of the ongoing refurb of ML 'Medusa'. As you will know the vessel was awarded Lottery funding for this worthy project.

Both photo's courtesy of Les Brown

Another couple of shots of 'Medusa' under restoration courtesy of Les Brown

Hello Tony

I am afraid that I cannot take any plaudits for this restoration work.

Les Brown had visited the yard (with John Lambert) earlier this year and took a few snaps - I was given permission to place them on the site - so far I have not heard since how much further they are into this project - meanwhile here is another couple of shots taken the same day (courtesy Les Brown)

Hello

Just seen the fantastic pictures of the work on Medusa, a very heartening site, I have had the pleasure of going aboard her a couple of times at the old BMPT site, a great welcome and dedicated team working then and now of course. I think she and Asco and all of you others working to save these coastal forces vessels are to be congratualted. I may shoot myself on the foot, but just a small point with Medusa, are there plans to upgrade the web-site? I look in from time to time, and no current pictures or words about the restoration, I of course understand that restoring the vessel is top priority, but a live site could be of benifit, perhaps with the addition of a donations section, as we have on the Medway Queen site just installed. Not saying a vast fortune may come, but could be of help. We are still to get final award of our grant and commence works, but still need to raise partnership funidng, and I am sure like Medusa, need to raise ongoing funds. Anyway, I wish you all the best, perhaps by arrangement I could come and see her,my companies Hythe Marina is close by I think!, and I look forward to the visit to Chatham mentioned in publicity for Medusa that I have seen, bear me in mind, as possible local contact if you wish,

John Kempton

Here are another couple of pictures - a little out of sequence as their showing a'dry' standing before the movement to the undercover restoration site

And of course this one has to be -'The Boss removing the boss' Removal of the Stb'd Prop

Courtesy of Pathfinder.

Hi John and Pioneer

Alan Watson who is spearheading the restoration has promised that once he has a spare moment he will update the website to encompass "all things HDML", in the meanwhile the survivors section is coming along in leaps and bounds with new photos and information from Phil Simons, Bob McDougall, my Dad and I.

Dad recently provided his HDML wiring schematic, possibly the only one in existence and this has proved invaluable, and a fuel consumption graph for an HDML with 8L3 Gardners. Also a spare bronze heat exchanger off an MFV which was rotten and had to be sunk at our "reef". We're working at getting them a set of fuel injectors we know of but can't get in touch with the guy.

As the annoying TV ad says, every little helps! 

The donations section is a great idea, I don't know how far the £1M lottery grant will stretch but it has got to be a good start.

Hi Christain, 

Thanks for the above, its great that you can offer such help to Medusa, quite understand re web-site, they certainly look very busy!, great shot of her on the slip. As you say, the lottery grant is a great start, but keeping things going is also the great challenge, though with the lottery grants, you usally need to prove you can sustain the the project, well, most "little" ones do, it seems the very large ones don't, if you get my meaning, think domes!. Any way, all the best for now,

John

Another couple of shots of her on the slip at Hythe Yard before work began to get serious

This picture followed on from the previous page.

Hello again,

Just curious, was she then picked up by crane and placed undercover?, it appears from the photos the slip way crade only goes so far on the rails,

John

Hello John

This shot shows that a purpose built shed was built around her. Must have taken a slice out of the grant

Hi Richard,

Many thanks for that, appears they did lift her clear of the cradle, as you say, putting up the shed must have cost a few pennies, pity there was no slipway with a shed already, very nice new one at Newsons yard, but in Lowestoft unfortunatley. Still, the main thing is she is being restored and as I said, we can all look forward to seeing her again post re-fit.

John

Hello again John

I think that if you look carefully there are rails of some sort right up and into that shed - I am not sure though - maybe someone can enlighten us?

Ted

Hi Ted,

Yes see what you mean, won't post further on this myself, not that important!

John

To try and get back into some sort of sequence - here is an early shot of Medusa in the purpose built Shed with Decks stripped out.

and Engines removed

Hello all,

Fantastic pictures as ever, what a major re-fit! though we at Medway Queen can talk, we are looking at a complete new hull. I can only imagine the lottery process took a long time, ours was on our third attempt, about two years in total by the time of our stage one pass in June and in fact today I got a call to confirm we have passed stage two and we will now move to sign a contract with the HLF.

John 

Christmas has given me a couple of days breathing space so I have added a bit to the Medusa website with a few pictures showing the project progress.  I still have a lot of info to put on the site but will have to replace my PC before I can do much more.

To answer a couple of questions, first we hauled Medusa up as far as she would go and had to extend one of the rails, however she is still on the cradle and was not lifted.  The tin shed was then built around her.  The grant process took just over two years, not including the project planning rant (PPG).  Once work starts you have to be able to fund approx two months cash flow from your own resources as HLF pay in retrospect, this came as a nasty surprise to us!

Alan

Hi Alan,

Great to see the above, many thanks for the information, very interested to read about the grant process, particuarly the bit about the two months money! we at Medway Queen better watch out for that one as well. Understand re site, work on the vessel herself most important of course, all the best to you and the team, look forward to seeing her up and running in due course.

Regards

John

Hi John,

as this will be relevant to all on this forum, I will set out how our HLF grant worked.  Our grant was for £1m which we had to match fund to the tune of £100K, made up of part cash and part costed volunteer effort.  This means that HLF are contributing just under 90% of the total.

At intervals of our choosing (we do it monthly) we submit a claim to HLF, this includes costed volunteer labour and invoices (they do not like pro forma invoices and are wary of stage payments).  HLF then pay 90% of this claim with a turnround time averaging 4 weeks.

This continues until they have paid a total of 90% of their grant (ie in our case £900K of the £1m).  They retain the final £100K until the project is signed off as complete.

To make it all work you therefore need approx 2 months cash flow in the bank before you start and a means of covering the gap between the final payment and project completion. 

I'm sure this was all in the small print somewhere but I did not spot it and have had to do a bit of financial footwork to make it all balance.  I have yet to work out how to cover the final £100K before project completion.

If anyone wants more detail on this I am happy to discuss/advise

Alan

Hi Alan,

Very many thanks for the above, as I said, we to will be doing something very similiare in the not to distant future, and your warning on funding is much appreciated. We are in the midst of trying to rasise more partnership funding before we start. Although it's great to get the award, it dose not mean the end of your troubles! as I can see. Thanks again and best of luck for the future,

John