27th April 2008 – Still to hot, but I had to do something, so I cleaned the anchor winch at the back of the ship. I remember me saying last year never again an anchor winch, but I had to be done.
Month: April 2008
26th April 2008 – To hot to work is an easy excuse. I worked on the insulation, putting insulation in the walls on the side of the ship. After 3 packs I had to quit, I could no longer breath or see anything through my eyes.
So I just decided to sit outside and do some paperwork.
22nd April 2008 – I decided, since it was a nice evening to continue to weld and clean the crane. At the end of the evening I put a coat of primer on the crane to prevent it from rusting.
21st April 2008 – We started the engine of my neighbour. Even it is a modern engine, it is a beauty, turn the key and it starts. It runs and can continue to run forever (or as long as we have fuel). That’s he difference of buying an out-of-commercial ship or something like me. Mine was cheaper but on the long run it will be as expensive. But my engine still runs as well and that is the main point. I must say, I prefer a clean engine room above one with oil and lot s of broken tools…
This made me think I urgently need to clean the engine room one day…
20th April 2008 – Lovely weather today. Since I had been working quiet hard for the last couple of weeks, it was time to have a break and visit my friends in Sluiskil and Terneuzen. Before leaving, I decided to take another picture of my crane, now with sunshine.
While in Terneuzen, I went looking at the Arma that was dry-docked for inspection. She really is a nice looking vessel. 
19th April 2008 – Wood working today! We continued the side of land so the frame structure is now finished and ready for insulation in the coming week.
Furthermore we build a wall that closes of the technical room in the front from the hold. In the technical hold are the water tanks, fuel tank, water pumps, spare wood, etc…
By the end of the evening,t he whole wall was built.
18th April 2008 – Painted around the windows on the inside. When a wooden frame is around the windows, it is no longer possible to paint the metal behind it. Metal will always be visible around the portholes, so I decided to paint it know while it was still easy to handle.
In the late evening two friends came. One of them is a good welder, so he could help me sorting out the crane and place it on the back. After two hours of hard work, the crane is in position and working. It is solid, but no enough for a lifeboat yet. I’ll try finishing the welding tomorrow.
17th April 2008 – In the evening there was a meeting in Ghent concerning the future of our moorings and the mooring concessions. Besides walking around in Ghent and the meeting, no time was left to work on the Watergeus.
16th April 2008 – I have mainly been thinking on how to create inspection hatches for the hold and to find a solution for the portholes.
In the evening I protected the wood against rotting and wood worms, a job that took me much longer then I expected. I had to do it know since Saturday we will put the insulation and the wood against it.
14th April 2008 – While bolting a porthole the cast iron around broke in several parts. I repaired it with filler, but I need to find another option for the future. Also another porthole was leaking. I couldn’t find where so I put some mastic around the whole porthole. Let’s hope it is solved.
The remaining side of the hold was put in line oil.
13th April 2008 – I can now honestly say the floor is finished. A third layer has been put, so I believe it will be solid enough for he next couple of years. After a first layer of wood and multiplex, a second layer with wood and insulation, the last layer is again multiplex. On top of the multiplex, I’ll add a decent floor in the future.
Furthermore the original shipping floor in Azobe wood that is saved was put back in the hold.
12th April 2008 –
11th April 2008 – Broken! Completely exhausted. So I just decided not to work today, only to clean and sort out the administration of the house boat organization and myself.
10th April 2008 – I worked all evening on the floor, insulation and cutting a big plate of metal into pieces for scrap.
9th April 2008 – I worked all evening on the floor, insulation and the crane.