Having just taken over from Roger Heise I would like to introduce myself to those of you that don’t know me – even after many years on the Committee. 

My background is in Marine Engineering having served on everything from tramping ‘Steamers’, to so called ‘Supertankers’, to Container-ships and, eventually, Passenger Ships. A bonus from the Passenger Ship days was that I met my wife, Gillie, on-board one (she was a passenger).

Since coming ashore I have gained Chartered Engineer status via the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) and am actively involved with the Institute both locally and nationally.

I am passionate about promoting Engineering as a career opportunity for youngsters and to that end I am a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Ambassador and have recently had two of ‘my’ teams reach the national finals of the Land Rover 4x4 in Schools Challenge. http://www.4x4inschools.com/home/

I have some ideas about the direction that I would like to see the SBA take, but I will let the dust settle before launching anything – don’t panic, it will be evolution rather than revolution!

There is one rumour that I would, however, like to kill right now – the printed Funnel is not at risk; there will always be a printed version of the Funnel for the duration of my time at the helm (and probably an awful lot longer).

I would like to thank Roger for all the work that he has done over the last 3 years and wish him a happy ‘retirement’ and, hopefully, more steaming on-board Etna. His input re the website and related matters will still be sought so he isn’t totally off-the-hook just yet.

My first Committee meeting as Chair will be in May and I will be welcoming two new members to the Committee: Adrian Greco and John Jewsbury and a returning member: Felicity Palmer.

So, Bye for now and I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible during the coming season.

Kevin Slater CEng MEng MIMarEST

Henry Cleary informs us of an upcoming meeting of interest to members:

Saturday 7th April, Portsmouth

Keeping our traditional boats and ships sailing often needs joint action and with European Maritime Heritage we share experience and campaign on common challenges. 

Come and hear British and European operators of historic vessels discuss common problems and solutions. The UK's Maritime Heritage Trust, an umbrella body including SBA, is hosting a joint Conference with EMH on Saturday 7th April with National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth.

The afternoon will include guided visits to Boathouse 4 and restored vessels including Steam Pinnace 199 and HMS Medusa.

Tom Cunliffe will be our guest speaker at the evening Gala Dinner in Royal Naval Club and Royal Albert Yacht Club, Pembroke Road, Portsmouth.

Come and share your views on how we can promote traditional vessels together and meet fellow enthusiasts from overseas who want to keep our vessels sailing.

Organiser: Maritime Heritage Trust

Organiser phone: +44(0)208 670 9247

Organiser email: friends@maritimeheritage.org.uk

Further info: www.maritimeheritage.org.uk/friends

As announced at the AGM Cyril taylor's engine castings are available from the original foundry that he used.

John Hendry and myself will be visiting the foundry shortly to sort & identify what goes with what.

We will then produce a detailed list of the various items.

Meanwhile the direct contact information is:-

Charles Tyers

Fenland castings

tel: -1778348940

regards John Maltby

It was suggested that I posted a link to the report on SBA Website Statistics that were presented at the AGM, so here it is!

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1icSI8DJkGNTi7cdgEOBHMakkW9NeJR-IzKZOZPbhM-o/edit?usp=sharing

enjoy...

Sue & Michael Morgan report:

"After going to Rutland Water for 2 years without water access and my many protests about not being able to participate in the Steam Fair as it was not possible to land and go ashore there is now a rather large and stable pontoon at The Steam Fair site.  For us boaters the event is back.  The Steam Fair is already in the SBA Events List on the web site and we are a contact."

The Rutland Water Steam Fair 23^rd & 24^th June 2018

Rutland Water

Empingham

Oakham

LE15 8QL

Roger Heise

Don't forget that the annual photographic competition will again happen at the AGM in Birmingham on Saturday - dig out those beautiful/amusing/embarrassing photos and maybe you could be a winner!

New publications are available from the SBA

Steamboat Register 2018

A summary of UK owned steamboats from the SBA Register Records as of January 2018.

A handy A5-sized book to identify UK-based boats; it gives details of owner and boat history and (for most boats) a colour photograph.  Spiral-bound, approx. 190 pages and over 400 boats.

As announced, members of the SBA attending the AGM on 24th March may collect copies at the special AGM-price of £12, cash-on-the-day.

Prices by post – see below how to order:

UK £15.00

Europe £19.50

Rest of World £22.00

Members’ Handbook 2018

A list of all SBA members with contact details and names of boats owned by SBA members worldwide, drawn from the SBA membership as of January 2018.  A slim A5-sized reference book, approx. 90 pages, black & white.  This is available only to members and will not be sent to non-members.  (Replaces previous handbook dated 2012.)

The handbook is available free to members at the AGM on 24th March.

It is available to members-only and by post. 

Packing and postal charges – see below how to order:

UK £4.00

Europe £7.50

Rest of World £8.50

How to order

Email your request to  handbooks2018@steamboatassociation.co.uk   from the email address that you use as your user-name when you log in to the SBA website.   When the item(s) have been posted, you will receive a payment request through the SBA website when you next log-in.  You can then pay with a debit/credit card (through PayPal) or from a PayPal account.

Please do not make any payment in advance (for example a PayPal transfer to any SBA email address).

Roger Heise  - Chairman

It is with great sadness that the SBA notes the deaths in the past week of

 - Sir William McAlpine, a sometime member of the SBA and member of the Consuta Trust   

   also of

 - Ian Whatley, a current member and supporter of the SBA and sometime boiler inspector of SBAS.

Roger Heise, Chairman

David Hubbard in Basingstoke sent in this plea for assistance:

We need some help at the Bursledon Brickworks Museum. I am a trustee at the museums (the last steam powered bickworks in Britain) as part of the displays in the museum, we have a Stott boiler that supplied steam to a (semi) mobile steam engine driving a pug mill.  

The boiler failed its pressure test and we initially stripped the boiler to investigate some thinning of the boiler wall. Unfortunately, the damage is worse than we expected and the boiler may well end up as a static museum exhibit. 

Even if we can find the expertise to repair it will be a long job and the museum is looking for a (temporary?) replacement.  If there is anyone  in the SBA  with a Merryweather or similar boiler that they be prepared to lend or sell please let me know, David.

Thanks to the continued efforts of Simon Maltby and members who have loaned back issues for digitisation, we now have a complete set of Funnels from 1 to 99 available on the site for members to browse at their leisure. Enjoy!