Boat Restoration Volunteers Needed

We’re looking for a group of dedicated volunteers to help us with various restoration projects, which will help towards the creation of our new Heritage Pavilion.

Volunteers will work alongside, and receive training from, our professional boat restoration team. They’ll get the opportunity to not just learn new skills but play a vital role in the restoration of two historic ships which will live permanently at Cody Dock.

Restoration of Frederick Kitchen

A man in safty gogles working on the hull of the Fredrick Kitchen

Removing a worn screw from the hull of the Fredrick Kitchen

Volunteers working on the hull of the Fredrick Kitchen

We are looking for a group of dedicated volunteers to help us with the restoration of Frederick Kitchen which was the last timber boat to be made at the Thames Iron Works just down the river from Cody Dock. This boat will eventually be turned upside down and will be the roof for our new Heritage Pavilion.

The volunteer work will include:

Meticulously scraping away the old paint
Sanding the surface
Corking between the mahogany planks
Cleaning back the painted filler that covers the copper rovings which attach the planks to the frame of the boat
Preparing services to be pained

Transformation of the John Ryburn Bow

A man in safety goggles working on the bow of the John Ryburn

Volunteers working on the bow of the John Ryburn

The John Ryburn is a historic lifeboat that we turning into a covered seat to go beside the new heritage Pavilion overlooking the River Lea.

The volunteer work will include:

Stripping away all of the old paint
Restoring the Old timbers
Creating a seat and some interpretation boards to tell the story of this historic ship

Restoration of Brass Fittings

Looking through a hole in the bow of a boat

A woman scraping a brass fitting at Cody Dock

We have salvaged original brass fittings from the John Rybourn and Frederick Kitchen which are covered in over a hundred years of grice and paint and we want to restore these and refit them to the Frederick Kitchen.

The volunteer work will include:

Working with hand tools
Soda blasting
Scraping
Working with paint strippers
Once the brass fittings are brought back to life we will be lacquering them so that they stay looking wonderful when they’re put back on the boat

Session Times

Monday – Thursday
10 am – 3 pm

Sessions will start in December 2024 and run for the next six months

How to get to Cody Dock

Cody Dock is a 6 minute walk from Star Lane DLR Station. The DLR is a fully accessible public transport network with step-free access into all stations. Use the Stephenson Street exit from Star Lane station (the exit to the left) when departing from the platform.

Cody Dock is a 4 minute walk to the 323 bus stops (South Crescent Business Centre (Stop H) and North Crescent Business Centre (Stop J).

Parking reserved for those with special access needs: On-site parking available upon request in advance. Please contact the event manager in advance.

Please be advised that street parking Monday – Saturday 8 am – 6.30 pm is paid by phone with a max stay of 4 hours.