LEARN TO OPERATE A PADDLE STEAMER
1 DAY COURSES
Each course runs from 9am to 5pm and looks at safety procedures, how paddle steamers handle and how the boiler and engine work. You will have the opportunity to steer the ship, stoke the boiler and handle the main engine under the supervision of the ship's crew. Numbers are restricted to about 8 trainees per course.
Why not take this opportunity to discover at first hand how a paddle steamer works? This is an ideal day out for a special treat, corporate hospitality or for anyone who has longed to handle the controls of a real steamship. The day starts at 9am and ends at 5pm with the presentation of a certificate of your day's experience.
The Day Consists of:
09.00 Registration and coffee
09.15 - 10.15 Safety procedures for the course and on the ship. Familiarisation with KINGSWEAR CASTLE's life-saving and fire-fighting equipment
10.15 - 11.00 Discussion of how the engine, boiler and pumps work
11.00 - 11.15 Coffee
11.15 - 12.00 Discussion of traditional paddle steamer handling techniques on and off piers in this country and abroad.
12.00 - 13.00 In the engine room getting to grips with handling the engine, pumps and boiler
13.00 - 14.00 Two Course Buffet Lunch
14.00 - 16.00 During the afternoon more time will be spent in the engine room handling the engine, pumps and boiler as KINGSWEAR CASTLE prepares for a cruise down the river. During the cruise there will be an opportunity to steer the ship, handle the ropes, see how the radar works, handle the telegraph and the main engine as well as tending the boiler.
16.00 - 17.00 Tea and question and answer discussion
General Points: Working in the engine and boiler room of a coal-fired paddle steamer is not clean, so please bring old clothes, protective overalls, sturdy boots and working gloves. All participants must be over 18 years of age and reasonably fit and able bodied. Numbers are limited to about 8 trainees per course
Cost: £150 per head including coffee, a buffet lunch and afternoon tea
Next Course: Saturday October 17th 2009
To Make a Booking: Buy Your Tickets Online Now or contact The Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle Trust (Trading) Ltd, The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TQ 'phone & fax 01634 827648
email: kc@pskc.freeserve.co.uk