PS Waverley - Taken out of service requiring new boilers (May 2019)

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Why the Paddle Steamer Waverley must be saved :

https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/martyn-mclaughlin-why-the-waverley-paddle-steamer-must-be-saved-1-4945654

[tramscape]

The official launch of the appeal is tomorrow Saturday 15th June at Waverley's berth outside the Science Centre at midday

Big crowds of well-wishers are expected - and the TV cameras too, so if you want to be on telly .....

[Rob Lightbody]

The official launch of the appeal is tomorrow Saturday 15th June at Waverley's berth outside the Science Centre at midday

Big crowds of well-wishers are expected - and the TV cameras too, so if you want to be on telly .....

I was planning to be there, but something came up unfortunately.

I hope it all went to plan!

[Clydebuilt1971]

I couldn't be there on Saturday however it looked to be very well attended from the photos posted on Waverley Excursions' Social Media pages.

£100k has been raised so far another £100k is required to allow them to place an order for the boilers.

More here:

ps Waverley Appeal Launch

Obviously I really hope they succeed but I think its a tall order for 2020. Keeping her in ticket whilst out of service is one of the other real challenges the owners and operators also face and that will also cost money too.

Gav

[Lynda Bradford]

I am glad that there was a good turn out for the event, but even more important now that people spread the word that funding is required. 

One hundred thousand is far away from the two million plus that they need to cover the cost of the boiler replacement, so they very much need a a sponsor with big money to come along to help with the funding. 

I read on a Waverley Tweet  that if everyone who would have sailed on Waverley donated the cost of the ticket they would have the money required. Lets hope people dig deep and contribute.

[tramscape]

Just over 300 were at the appeal launch, but not me. This is less than the would set off from Glasgow with on a decent Saturday's cruise......but under the circumstances, still a good turn out

However, £ 100 k is a small amount and apparently much of it represents tickets bought but for which refunds have not been sought. It is unlikely that a substantial amount more will be raised from the general public

Waverley's annual turnover in tickets is around £ 1.5 million so yes, that would go a long way, but persuading people to buy "virtual tickets", whilst sounding good, is probably not going to have the effect needed

Therefore, it basically relies on a major selfless benefactor and that doesn't seem likely, but you never know

As far as I understand it, the ship will not lose grandfather rights for some time, so maybe there is time to put in a lottery grant application after all

I would be surprised if they would commit £ 200 k on a deposit for a boiler if there is no expectation of the rest being raised and I would not expect a manufacturer to commence manufacturing either, so everything seems very much up in the air to me

[Rob Lightbody]

I'm really worried, and feel I may have already sailed on her for the last time, which makes me unbelievably sad.

[Rob Lightbody]

I can't remember if I posted at the time, but last August, my colleague took me out on the Clyde in his rather nifty speedboat, and by complete luck and coincidence, we met Waverley as she came over to Dunoon from Greenock.  We were alongside her as she steamed in, and again as she steamed out.  I discovered that a very bouncy speedboat isn't the best platform to shoot a video, but the photos are OK!  I am thinking now how lucky I was to witness it - I said to my colleague at the time, that there was no guarantee that she'd sail for much longer, and he should enjoy it too, and appreciate it.  He didn't know much about Waverley at all, despite having a boat moored in Dunoon.   

I never took her for granted.


PS Waverley approaching Dunoon Pier by Rob Lightbody, on Flickr


PS Waverley approaching Dunoon Pier by Rob Lightbody, on Flickr


Waverley at Dunoon Pier by Rob Lightbody, on Flickr


Waverley and the seals by Rob Lightbody, on Flickr

[Rod]

Beautiful, simply beautiful. Ship and scenery!
I miss Scotland!

[June Ingram]

Great photos of Waverley, Rob !  Some of the best I have seen !   

[tramscape]

Waverley has been photographed a billion and one times, but that one with the seals stands out from the crowd  for obvious reasons

Brilliant

[Rob Lightbody]

Waverley has been photographed a billion and one times, but that one with the seals stands out from the crowd  for obvious reasons

Brilliant

Thank you - it was very stressful taking it!  The speedboat was bobbing around like crazy, and I knew the scene would just last for seconds!  If I hadn't been using my "good" camera - with the high shutter speed set - none of the photos would have come out at all.

[cunardqueen]

  I think the appeal could be handled a bit better and they are loosing opportunities to get funding.   

Cant help but think the Waverley Mug is a golden chance missed. get a few made. sell  for £20 (£3 to post them) and there you have a donation built in, everyone buys mugs ! 
I bought the Waverley Bottle top warmers on the very first gathering ..they have never been used but just sit there ontop of my bottles .

[Clydebuilt1971]

A step forward - announced yesterday.

I am somewhat glad to read that Cochran of Annan are the selected vendor - it is their Thermax model of package boilers which are being replaced and I would imagine that this will limit the amount of changes (if any) required to the vessel to accomodate them - namely the mounts on the bottom hull frames.

Also I would hope Cochran will have taken the findings from the existing units and input some modification to the design to try (as much as possible) to prevent the issues that caused the existing units to require replacement re-occurring within the lifetime of these new units (assuming the issues had anything to do with the construction of course)

This project also takes the opportunity to remove redundant equipment from the Boiler Room - namely the Furnace Oil conditioning systems as she in no longer permitted to burn that type of fuel any more - relocate some of the auxiliary equipment to a better location etc.

Effectively try to future proof the installation as far as possible.

Theres still a long road to go however this is a significant milestone.

Waverley Boiler Order Placed.

Gav

[June Ingram]

Thanks, Gav, for the update !