31st July 2021 – Last week, I salvaged an old table from the canal. I now installed it in my kitchen. I used the old adjustable table leg from the Stern. So I got a free table, twice the size of the original one for free!
We had another nocturne event in the evening. It was a success and people were happy!
29th July 2021 – I sold the Baron. There goes my dream of sailing. It is probably the ship I owned the briefest. I have another project coming up and therefore, I can’t maintain all of them. Selling the Stern was an option, but it needs finishing and in the end, I’m not a sailor. It seems romantic but, I prefer the little canals…
27th July 2021 – In between the rain I cleaned a part of the deck and the sides where it was moldy green. Yesterday I put some vinegar in the cabin to take away the smell. It works a little bit but repainting might do the job. While cleaning, I discovered some more cracks in the deck and one that is worrying me: int he outlet pipe of the deck. If that one breaks, I have a bigger problem. Or maybe not? I’ll have a closer look with a hammer when I’m in drydock.
When it was raining to much, I cleaned a few panels on the inside. You hardly see any difference. I’m still emptying the ship.
24th July 2021 – The grass around my neighbour and Tordino is very high. I tried cutting it with an electric brush cutter, but with nearly no success…
My neighbour will buy a heavier one.
24th July 2021 – I just moved the hatches to Bruges where I will try to oil them whenever I have time. The problem of converting a ship is storage. Tordino is a big ship, but I have no space left at all on that ship. I tried storing most in my van, but I need my van next week..
23rd July 2021 – I took a day off to make two metal hatches. It took me most of the day and I’m happy with the first one. The second one doesn’t fit and I had no to time to finish all the welding. So maybe, not such a constructive day after all…
22nd July 2021 – A friend paid me a visit with his tug. He used to live in Beernem in the old days when I was converting the Aquarel. Shortly after he moved to Ghent and is now back. It was nice to catch up!
22nd July 2021 – A very nice converted luxe motor was passing by in Plassendale. Nice to see!
22nd July 2021 – I wanted to have done something but was a bit out of energy. Maybe the nice life in Plassendale, maybe just tired.
I removed the wooden clamps and sanded them down. Three of them are fine, one is rotten. Not sure yet what to do with the back hatch as well..
21st July 2021 – I sanded down the remaining two hatches, one floor panel and I started cleaning the engine room hatch. The outside of the last one was easy, the inside was done with a very thick layer of tar. I had to remove it manually with a chisel. I cut some cheap wood to cover the hatches on the ship so no rain can come in.
20th July 2021 – I now nearly finished a second cupboard of the Jeanne on Tordino. It is made with the remaining panels from the living room of the Jeanne. I was always sure I could use the panelling, only I didn’t know on which boat and when…
19th July 2021 – I bought a new sanding machine, couldn’t possible find the other ones… In the evening I started sanding down two hatches and the outside table. One hatch needs some patching and the table will be fine for one, maybe two years. The third hatch was still fine. The metal underneath the hatches needs replating as well… I might work with a system to bolt in on the old deck…
18th July 2021 – I’ve just done nothing today. In the morning I started the engine of the Baron to check if it was working again and yes it did. So the alternator is broken of the battery totally dead.
I had a couple of friends with kids who came to visit the ship and have a few drinks. A relaxing day!
17th July 2021 – Proud to have cleaned up the ship, and finally be able to invite my neighbours for a trip, we left for Stalhille bridge, turning went nicely and the ship makes a very good speed. My friends heard the engine was slowing down in revs, I never paid any attention to it. I was a little to enthusiastic….
The moment I paid attention to it, the engine switched off. We made it three kilometers from the start, a success 😉
Not at all, I was very much ashamed and could only find one cause. An electric powered driven fuel pump in combination with dead batteries.
We took the vlet Djoey to tow her back to Tordino and made a trip with the vlet to have another great evening…
The Baron will be towed to the yard!
17th July 2021 – The stars on the bow of the ship were mounted. On the anchor winch, I mounted the ship’s bell and I finally found some time to hang the life ring on the front deck as well. In the end I hang some new flags. Tordino is shining again with this kind of weather.
