8th May 2020 – In the morning we had to pick up our cars. On the way back I stopped in Beernem to start working on the Stern. Removing paint. I had a lot planned, but only managed to remove half of the paint. Before leaving, I gave it a quick coat of primer until I ran out of paint. People will now at least notice the difference and see it is a project. Nothing worse then loose bits of paints.
7th May 2020 – My initial plan was to move her tomorrow, but I was already thinking of moving her this evening. Just do it by myself. At the start of the Covid period I even had a plan of moving her at night.
I arrived at five o’clock in the evening, filled up the fuel tank, started the engine and unloaded my van. I had some tools with me, but very limited. The spare battery was still on Tordino and I had no generator. I had all the official equipment with me like lifejackets and some spare oil. A VHF, paperwork and my own documents were aboard the Watergeus. This was the first time I started a journey so badly prepared. It reminded me of the time when we moved boats with Andy.
A friend wanted to join, so I called to check if he was available and he arrived one hour later. We left Ghent at 18h30 and arrived in Beernem around 21h30. A nice trip, nearly no boats, a lovely sunset and most of all: a good running engine!
6th May 2020 – I managed to start the engine, more or less by coincident, but it ran straight away. Nice to know. Let’s hoe everything is ready for launching the ship Saturday.
6th May 2020 – I gave a second coat of brown to the mast. The top was painted white and the foot light brown. I started making a new pennant for the mast. It will be in metal so it lasts a long time. A friend gave me a thin sheet of metal. I will cut it tomorrow.
In the evening I gave a third coat of oil to the namesigns on one side.
I am also planning on moving the ship on Friday to Beernem. Not sure yet, but next week the weather is not looking good. I will need fuel, oil, lifering and tools. A lot to do in a short time….
6th May 2020 – While I had to do some painting, I repaired damaged parts aboard the Watergeus.
5th May 2020 – A small addition to the workshop….
5th May 2020 – I gave a coat of primer on the mast, then I went for a cycle to the marina and in the late evening, I gave a first coat of paint.
4th May 2020 – In the afternoon, we rebuilt the rudder aboard the Maxx. It took us some time t get it sealed. The bottom was thin and welding a plate was not easy.
3rd May 2020 – While I had to paint the other side of the metal hatch and the lightboxes for Tordino, I repainted the skylight and a part of the front deck of the Watergeus.
3rd May 2020 – I had the mast of the Arma in storage. These are the kind of items that can always be used at some point. It is a small mast, three meters long and extremely light. The foot is heavy and at least 2 cm thick. I cut the foot in half and welded both pieces with a different angle. Paint was removed from the mast and the foot.
3rd May 2020 – I went to check Tordino and had some time in the hold. Before I will be able to open the ship, it will need a god cleanup. I also dropped some furniture for making the accommodation more pleasant.
2nd May 2020 – I continued cleaning metal, finishing the hatch I started yesterday evening. Then I did the second lightbox for Tordino.
2nd May 2020 – The first attempt of building a namesign as no success. While I was in Oudenburg yesterday, I brought a nice wooden plank with me. Today I cut into 5 namesigns, one big one and four small ones. They received one coat of oil.
1st May 2020 – After waking up depressed, I continued working on the big namesign. I gave it a first coat of oil, I don’t know what the result will be. In the afternoon I was at friends in Oudenburg. They had some nice wood left, I will use it for smaller namesigns on the bow.
1st May 2020 – It is getting heavy, seeing no friends and always working from home, no social contact besides seeing the people walking by on the towpath and street. I can’t work on my projects, it is bad weather and I’m running out on inside jobs and energy…
In the evening, I started working with cleaning a metal hatch to protect a window on the front deck. It is an old hatch from the Aquarel, I will use it in winter time or when I’m moving the ship.
