30th October 2016 – I took my high pressure cleaning machine and started cleaning the decks of the Aquarel. After four hours, I was totally wet and cold. I was able to clean the deck and remove some loose paint.
Month: October 2016
28th October 2016 – One day of not working, just relaxing and driving to Leeuwarden to see some ships.
On the way back, I stopped on the afsluitdijk and sat there for some time. Some parts in the Netherlands are extremely beautiful!
26th October 2016 – I need to empty the front storage space since I have other plans with the front. I took some more stuff out. I already did a huge bit last weekend, but there is more, much more.
23rd October 2016 – The back accommodation was sanded and painted. Some of the paintwork I did two years ago was damaged by recent works. It got a new coat of paint. Together with the front, it now looks like one ship instead of all those colours.
20th October 2016 – I gave the lemmeraak ‘Op Hoop van Zegen’ a new life. If I didn’t rebuilt her, she was likely to be scrapped. I did most of the outside work and had just started insulating the hold.
I hope the new owner has the talent and know-how to finish this project. I wish him luck with the ship.
20th October 2016 – I sold the ship.
I gave the lemmeraak ‘Op Hoop van Zegen’ a new life. If I didn’t rebuilt her, she was likely to be scrapped. I hope the new owner has the talent and know-how to finish this project. I wish him luck with the ship.
18th October 2016 – My last tools are now from the ship. She raised approximately 7 cm’s at the front and 4 cm’s at the back.
I will certainly miss this ship. I had many plans, but I’m pretty sure I will find another project where I can save a ship and give it another bright future!
16th October 2016 – The engine room is empty now, or at least most of it! I had a nice collection of hard wood stored in the engine room since I had no other place to store it. Everything is now on the Watergeus. I hope not for to long. I wonder how many times I have already moved that wood 😉
15th October 2016 – With some more time again in mind and one ship less, I can now concentrate on the Aquarel. When I arrived, I noticed a pusher was moored alongside. With the two other ships having windows in their hull, he couldn’t do anything, but putting her alongside my ship.
I started by painting the front shield and the first two entrance hatches. It took me a few hours and it quickly came dark. But at least something changed again on the ship!
14th October 2016 – It is now pretty sure the ‘Op Hoop van Zegen’ will be sold, so I started emptying the accommodation and engine room.
If the sale would not go through, this would still be a good thing to do. She was getting filled up and it took me longer to convert her. I had to move around my stuff before I was able to get anywhere. After a whole day, I took half of my stuff out. I will need another day.
4th October till 9th October 2016 – I went to Emden (Germany) to pick up a Luxe Motor from an English friend. We brought it to Bruges. With some smaller issues on the engine, it took us a bit longer then expected. Again a nice journey, just like last month!
2nd October 2016 – In the afternoon I went to Astene to the old Sashuis. This is small bar in old house, that used be the house of person responsible for the lock. It contains a very small museum. Nice to see if you are in the area.
1st October 2016 – I drove through the country to collect to miniatures of ships. One is a British fuel tanker and the other one a British steam tug. Both of them will be visible at the museum space aboard the Aquarel.
There was a great party in the evening in Beernem with some boat friends. A perfect way to close the evening!
1st October 2016 – A long time since I did something structural to the ‘Op Hoop van Zegen’. I built the wheelhouse floor. Makes it easier for walking around and finishing the sides. I have some old oak I will use to finish the floor, but this is for later. I still need to paint the rest of the wheelhouse before I put the topcoat on the floor.
