6th November 2011 – I was near Amsterdam today for picking up an anchor winch and a heater for the Hornblower. While I was there I took some pictures of a few houseboats.
Author: frederic - page 150
3rd November 2011 – I have a small room that is suitable for the bathroom. I built the first ribs for the inner walls. The shower is 70cm by 70cm, every wall is 8cm thick. I have 54cm left for the toilet. It is just enough, but I wanted some more space. This is often a major problem on these vessels. They are only 3,2m wide!
The most work in the bathroom is the planning and the plumbing. I’m not sure yet when it will be finished, but I doubt if it will be the end of the year!
3rd November 2011 – I went to the Federal Office for the paperwork of the Hornblower. Those people were looking confused when I told them I wanted to register my yacht from 1901. The term ‘Groningse snik’, the type of vessel, was new to them. I showed them a picture and they started laughing.
This made me think we should preserve more of these small ships. The Hornblower is maybe not the perfect example with her new bow, but at least she is part of an old traditional fleet of Dutch built small vessels.
1st November 2011 – Most of the day I worked on the Watergeus, cleaning the deck. On the Hornblower, I worked out where the fuel tank for the heather should come. I mounted it in the afternoon and welded some brackets.
31st October 2011 – It is now starting all over again, cleaning the hull, drilling holes, building a frame, putting insulation, …. I’m now working room by room, but it is often getting boring as well!
30th October 2011 – I was in Kortrijk to help a friend. I took some time to have a look at the boats in Kortrijk. I forgot my camera aboard so I used my phone to take some pictures. The quality is not good!
29th October 2011 – Since I’m only planning to put the t&g wood in April next year, I decided to paint the sheets of multiplex in the living room. It makes it nicer to work and to have my coffee!
23rd October 2011 – The other side of the living room was planned for today. It took me some time to figure out why there was a 20cm difference in the starboard side of the living room. It was only in the late afternoon I discovered the error I made. This means I lost a lot of time.
By the end of the evening, I made some progress.
22nd October 2011 – I have now owned the boat since April. Ever since, I have always put more stuff on the boat. Things I found or got, tools and pieces from my other ship, I filled it up in less then seven months. The bathroom area was cleaned in the morning, the wheelhouse in the afternoon. The ship is looking much bigger again.
I removed the kitchen unit, which wasn’t working anyway.
22nd October 2011 – I have been working all day on the Hornblower. I was surprised to see how many boats passed by, knowing the season is over. One of them was a nice klipperaak from Boezinge. Sadly enough, I was to late to take a picture.
In the evening, their was a small concert of a band on one of the boats. I enjoyed it very much. It is sometimes great to be on a boat without having to work or talk about boats in general. Thanks Anna for the invitation!
20th October 2011 – I mounted the wooden frame against the ribs of the boat. I gave the metal a second coat of paint. It is now ready for insulation.
The yellow paint is from International and was intended for the Ross Leopard. Since the ship was scrapped, I got the paint and I’m using it whenever I can.
18th October 2011 – Finishing the other side of the living room is the plan for this week. It all starts with drilling holes!
15th October 2011 – The roof received a second coat of paint. It might be the last nice day before the winter will start.
In the morning I ran the engine, but it does not make a change. The gearbox needs a service!
14th October 2011 – I went buying some more insulation.
In the afternoon, I did a quick paint job. The Hornblower is looking much better now!
12th October 2011 – I continued insulating the boat. I did the gang boards. The side panel was mounted, as well as some other wood. It looks more finished now. At the end of the evening I drilled the holes for the electricity sockets. Since I’ve ran out of insulation, I’ll have to wait till Saturday.