20th August 2023 – I was delighted and honored to have the Terra Nova alongside. The crew paid a visit to the museum and we had a great evening!
Author: frederic - page 6
19th August 2023 – While cleaning Tordino, I noticed ta yacht being funny. A commercial barge was coming, it was the Rupeldam, built in 1957.
19th August 2023 – My mother cleaned starboard side of the ship, while I started cleaning port side with a high pressure machine. Most paint is in a bad condition. I tried unsuccessfully removing most of the flaky paint, but there is still a lot that will need sanding.
In the afternoon I mounted new flags in the mast and raised the front mast of the ship. I also secured the shore power connector that came loose yesterday.
19th August 2023 – I made a small trip with the Stern and moved her alongside my neighbour. A big ship will more alongside tomorrow and the Stern needed to go.
18th August 2023 – We started building a second entrance (or emergency exit). We didn’t finish it, as I hoped. We will continue in the beginning of September.
15th August 2023 – Since we will make a new entrance at the front of the ship, the tabernakels need to be empty. As I remembered they were supposed to be empty. Sadly enough not… I forgot to take picture when they were still filled, but now they are empty, or at least nearly…
Besides emptying them, I also secured one the electricity cables that came loose at the side of the ship.
15th August 2023 – I ran the engine, charged the batteries and cleaned out the ship. It is looking more tidy again and there is now space to go through the ship with the mattress.
15th August 2023 – While I’m making plans for the Stern, There is also a lot of work that needs to be done aboard Tordino:
- Repainting the entrance white
- removing the old tar and paint on port side
- repainting port side
- patching up the decks where the paint came loose
- removing the flaky paint at the bow
- repainting the bow
- repainting the white part between the rudders
- removing the paint from the car crane
- repainting the deck in green
- patching up the back accommodation where some rust is coming through
- replacing the living batteries of Tordino
- adding battery keys to disconnect them
- ….
So I’m glad I no longer have the Watergeus. Making a list for that ship would also be extremely long. Realizing there are only 24 hours in a day…
14th August 2023 – I’m making a list of things I want to do on the Stern. It near the end of the summer and besides moving her occasional and cleaning her once, I haven’t done much.
- Putting the new mattress aboard
- Adding a new extension cable so I can use the LED lights at night when it becomes dark
- Removing the green mold from the outside of the windows
- Cleaning the inside: removing unnecessary tools and spare parts
- Mounting the toilet
- Sorting out the electricity
- adding a water connection from the water tank to the toilet
- rebuilding the engine room floor with proper hatches and plywood.
- changing the paint scheme on the outside of the wheelhouse
- finishing the silicone joint between the rubber and the deck
- Welding the railing where it came lose
- Adding a new coat of oil to the door and skylight
- Finishing the door
- Adding a new Belgian flag
- Painting the mast at the back
- Replacing the engine battery
- Checking why the AIS is not working
- Finishing the inside of the cupboards
- …
My idea was to do most of these things tomorrow, but the longer I start thinking about it, the less these things will happen. The Stern still needs a bit of love and care… So if it doesn’t rain, she should look a bit more like this:
13th August 2023 – The last bits were moved out of the ship today. Boxes with anchor chains, old stairs, clamps, winches, etc… Now the whole area up and down is empty and ready to be converted into a study room for the Library.
In the afternoon, most time was spent on scanning old documents and some photos of the Antwerp Port.
12th August 2023 – In the morning, I started emptying the remaining bits and pieces at the front of the ship. Once the van was filled, I noticed I will need to drive a second time. So much stuff collected in al these years….
In the afternoon, I continued scanning books, magazines and nautical maps for the Library, in between some visits from people who wanted to see the ship. A day well spent!
10th August 2023 – The replica luxe motor Patricia was passing by.
10th August 2023 – A ship I hadn’t seen before, the Zennedam built in 1966.
8th August 2023 – When I emptied the front of the ship, last week, I never realized how much stuff I still need to scan. So like any other evening, I just continued scanning….
7th August 2023 – We made a small walk in the harbour. I only took pictures of one ship, the O.33 Marbi.
