Month: September 2011

30th September 2011 – Since I had to work, friends took some pictures of the towing. Even if I hadn’t to work, I was to ill to do anything. Not sleeping, too much work at my work and at home had taken to much energy of me.

In the late evening, I did a little effort of driving my boat from Moerbrugge to her mooring with Andy. Something I would regret the next two days. Still it was a nice experience. In the lock of Dampoort, a friend came aboard. We hit the door of the lock because the reverse of the gearbox failed to work.

28th September 2011 – An English couple is willing to tow my boat to Moerbrugge. Since she is moored at the front of the dock, they wanted her to to be next to them. It would be easier to leave on Friday. I’m under a lot of stress at the moment and forgot to fill up the fuel tank. I changed oil, tried the steering and came with a battery. After two minutes the engine stopped running and we had to tow the boat by hand for approximately 400 meters. Climbing up and down every barge to get the rope and pull her a bit further.

In the two minutes the engine ran, we were smoked out. The exhaust was broken and a lot of smoke came free in the wheelhouse. The person who had been working on the boat made sure I wouldn’t leave…

25th September 2011 – A lot of technical issues have to be arranged before leaving Sluiskil. One of them was the cooling of the engine. The exhaust was leaking, so that needed a fix as well. The steering was not working properly and the wheelhouse was still a mess. I couldn’t show I was working on leaving, so everything had to be done in between…

We had a great BBQ with the neighbours in the evening. It made me forgot my trouble for a while…

24th September 2011 – I spent most of the day painting one side and cleaning the deck. In the late afternoon I started preparing for the voyage to Bruges.

10th September 2011 – Most of the day, I spent in the fore peak of the Hornblower. I did some woodwork and some insulation.

In the evening there was bad weather.

4th September 2011 – The bow is nearly finished. Two bollards on each side, the hatch and an air vent are the finishing touch of the front cabin. I did some wood work on the inside.

A friend came to say hello. He recommended me changing the bathroom. Put it in the front of the barge and keep the back area as study room and sleeping room. I might consider it!