River Bus" The Heron" and restored Dutch Sailing Barge "Dolphin" moored up at the The Quay, Sandwich, Kent.
River Bus" The Heron" and restored Duch Sailing Barge "Dolphin" moored up at the The Quay, Sandwich, Kent. Dolphin is now looking good. She is now the flag ship of the River Bus with a passenger licence for 12 persons. She is back in the water after 4 years out. Launched at Ramsgate on the 24th November 2010 at , her unladen weight is now only 17tons. (she has lost 3tons in refit) Built in Holland 1903. Hull L 40ft 6ins, B 11ft, D 3ft 6ins, Reg wt 36tons. Air D is only 7ft with mast down and 6ft with in the front as ballast, so it is possible to take her to Fordwich going under Grove Ferry bridge.[ Delivery of Caen stone was made on April 2nd 2011, believed first barge to arrive in Fordwich since 1870.] Her restoration has taken about 4 years, the top and deck have been replaced, so in profile from the side she looks clog shaped. The journey back to Sandwich was trouble free. After running the engine (120hp Ford 6cyl) for two hours waiting for the tide and checking all is well, the passage took about 90mins. At one time the Sat nav showed 9knts but that was with the tide. Tiller steering (Rib tickler) works well and is quite comfortable, with no obvious propeller osolation. The wheel steering is not yet compleat. She will also happily steer going astern with caution. I admit I still need to learn some of her ways. During the summer of 2011 the Dolphin has had to be the most used boat as the Heron had an engine problem. She did very well with no probs. (The Heron now has a new bmc fitted.). The Bell Hotel has been welcoming guests to stay and dine in Sandwich, Kent since Tudor times. A Bell Inn has existed on The Quay, adjacent to the Barbican Gate and Toll, overlooking what would have been the harbour, now the River Stour, since about 1300. The present listed building is mainly 19th century. Today with its thirty-seven ensuite bedrooms, a Georgian Regency room catering for up to 100 guests.
Size: 2704px × 4064px
Location: The Quay, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9EN
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: barge, bell, boats, bus, dolphin, dutch, heron, hotel, house, kent, moored, public, quay, river, sailing, sandwich, stour, summer, tourism, travel, trips
