31st March 2012 – My first BBQ this year. As usual bad weather, but I really appreciate my mooring. It has a little field of grass in front of it. I put my party tent and the BBQ. It was all I needed for a great day with some good friends!
Category: Daily Life around the water - page 23
27th March 2012 – When I bought the Escapade and later the Hornblower, I always made myself a promise: I shall not work as hard as I did on the Watergeus.
I’m still keeping that promise, but it is fading away. Since last week, I spent every evening (except Friday) working on the Hornblower. Most of the weekend was also gone into working aboard the little ship.
I’m really starting to wonder if this is hobby or just me becoming a slave of all the work on both vessels?
4th March 2012 – The weather was dry so I decided to go for a walk and take some pictures.
13th February 2012 – Every time there is a period of coldness you might expect some damage. Sadly enough, this time wa not different. My shaft on the Watergeus is leaking badly. I added some more grease and it slowed down the leaking.
12th February 2012 – While I only did a little job, it started snowing. I took my camera, made some shots, looked at the ice breaking tug and had a cup of coffee.
9th February 2012 – The ice is still growing around the boats. I wonder how long the cold period will continue. Now I’m starting to worry for two reasons: my electricity bill and the possible damage to the cooling system of both engines.
I’ read today that at least five woonarken sank because of broken water pipes. It makes you think twice!
5th February 2012 – Feeling slightly better, I decided to work on the Hornblower. Sorting out the wood in the back area was my first priority. While working, both of my neighbours called for frozen pipes. I gave them a hand. I can’t remember it being so cold last year…
The canal is still frozen and as the weather conditions aren’t becoming any better, I believe we will have more issues then a few frozen pipes.
When 600kg of steel is leaning to one side of the ship…
4th February 2012 – Tonight was the coldest night in three years. Yesterday it snowed, but I was to ill to take pictures. Now I was feeling slightly better, so I made a very short walk and took some pics.
2nd February 2012 – Yesterday I had put an extra electric heater in the engine room of the Watergeus near the boiler and water pump. Today I went to the shop for another heater. This time it was for the engine of the Hornblower. The cooling outlet was frozen. I’m to much worried about damage. It might not be to effective to have a heater running in a boat with no insulation. Nevertheless, it is now only 0°C near the engine, better then minus 7°C.
16th January 2012 – There is no such thing as a cheap boat. When you look for a ship you will often believe the price is high. You might even think that when you do the conversion it will be cheaper! I have now worked on boats for 15 years and the only thing I can say: owning a boat is not cheap at all!
All the ships I have bought were ready to be scrapped without any exception! Where they cheap? Some were, some not. When you buy a boat for a good price, don’t expect it to be good. It might have a thin bottom, leaking windows, a worn out engine or other problems you don’t see straight away. By the time you fixed the problem, a lot of money will be gone.
In recent months I have visited around 7 boats, most of them were on the low budget market. None of them were ready for living on, even the advertisement mentioned it differently. There was even one ship I would send to the scrapyard!
15th January 2012 – The first day this winter it had been freezing during night time . It was not that cold, but the sky was clear and the perfect moment for taking some pictures. I broke a toe yesterday, so I didn’t go for a big walk…
14th January 2012 – A friend of mine is still in Sluiskil. He is the only one who stayed there. All the others are gone… While I was there, I took some pictures of a fleet that never changes…
8th January 2012 – Another weekend gone and I hardly see any difference in what I’ve done. On Saturday I filled up my watertanks, one of the most boring jobs when living on a boat. The afternoon went up in welding a frame for the fuel tanks aboard the Hornblower. On Sunday I continued this job.
1st January 2012 – What brings another year? Nobody knows. I didn’t make any plans for this year, except one: going the yard with the Watergeus for her maintenance. This will be the biggest job! And honestly, I don’t look forward to it. I’ll be happy when it’s over!
Many people asked me what new boats I’m going to buy this year: none! I would like to travel a little more and finish the Hornblower. The first big trip with her is for 2013 and a lot of work needs to be done!
31st December 2011 – I was in Ghent in he morning to visit a friend. He owns the Ladoga, an old kempenaar of 65 meters. While I were there, he asked me to start his little Lister engine. Something went wrong and while turning, I hit myself badly with the hand crank handle… After the hospital visit, it realized I was very happy. A little fracture in the nose and a swollen face. I still had all my teeth
The evening was much better, celebrating with the neighbours in Bruges. A young couple were passing by and joined us!