11th August 2011 – Some pictures of the Frantsis on her mooring
Category: MS Frantsis
15th April 2011 – The new owner was working on the engine, a perfect moment to use my camera and record the sound of the engine. The last eight years, I tried to capture as much as possible of engines with my old camera. The quality wasn’t good, but at that time, there was no other option. My new camera has a High Definition record function.
25th October 2010 – A potential buyer who promised buying her has withdrawn his bid. That is one of the reasons I don’t like selling boats anymore. Half of the people are not even interested in buying a boat. They come to see one, and spent some time like free entertainment. Of the really interesting people, you may have one serious person who will make a bid and buy the boat. I’ll see what the future brings. Since I’m not in a hurry, I’ll see how many more people will contact me.
16th October 2010 – A potential buyer for the Frantsis came. Since I had already removed the water from the engine, for the coming winter period, I had to fill her up again.
16th October 2010 – A potential buyer for the Frantsis came. Since I had already removed the water from the engine, for the coming winter period, I had to fill her up again.
12th October 2010 – I decided to put the Frantsis up for sale. Anyone who is interested can contact me. She is good start for a nice project of a little houseboat. It is technical also possible to make her look original again, but that would take you some time!
18th September 2010 – In the afternoon I cleaned some bilges from the Frantsis and put some oil on them so they are better preserved for the winter. I made a little floor and put the wood from my back accommodation in it. That’s the good thing about owning two barges. You can always use one as storage.
4th September 2010 – In the late evening, I spent some time cleaning the bilges of the Frantsis and putting some more oil to prevent it from rusting.
17th July 2010 – The bathroom in the Watergeus was finished last year, but a little step to get into it wasn’t made yet. A small job I did this morning.
The good thing about our project is partly we think before we do! With the Watergeus, I did while I was thinking. The more negative side of this is I made another plan for the conversion.
So at this moment, I would need four little barges like the Frantsis, because every plan we make has some potential. To be continued…
9th July 2010 – Like the past few days I have been working in the hold again, cleaning rust and putting oil in the bilges to get the remaining rust of.
6th July 2010 – Just like any other day, cleaning the bilges and the sides of he ship. While doing so, you learn to know your ship like no other. I discovered small supports on the ribs that were riveted. Since the ship had been altered so many times, I only base myself on the riveted parts. Through these supports, a metal bar was running. I asked a friend (Pieter Klein from Binnenvaarttaal) why there were used for. These bars were mounted to hold the cattle. The highest bar for cows, the smaller one for smaller animals such as sheep, ….
The emptier the hold the bigger she is looking. The Frantsis has a real special shape. The widest part is the bulkhead between the front accommodation and the hold. Towards the back (and engine room) she goes smaller again.
5th July 2010 – Yesterday evening, four people helped me getting that big box out of the hold. It was now on deck of the Frantsis, but I wanted it on the foredeck of the Watergeus. On the foredeck is a big anchor chain of 80 meters, a spare one in case something happens with one of mine. It was covered under a sail, but there were a few problems. It wasn’t looking nice, rain could still get to the chain (it was greased) and it blocked the passage through the front deck.
I moved the box along the gangway to the foredeck, it took me an hour. Once in position, the anchor chain was put in the box, the box closed and I had an extra bench to sit. The rest of the deck was clean. I still need to paint the box, but my body asked me to stop working.
4th July 2010 – A few neighbours came over for a drink. Since the deck of the Frantsis is always clear, I don’t like to have a messy boat next to me after the Ontario has left, there is enough space for people to sit comfortable on the water. I’m now pretty much convinced when converting a boat to make sure there is enough space to sit outside!
2nd July 2010 – I continued cleaning the bilges, the fore peak is now cleaned. Some concrete was removed as well. There are three big items left in the hold that are impossible to be moved by one person. One of them is an empty box, used as a storage unit. It is a 6mm thick box I want to reuse on the Watergeus. I tried lifting it out, used a few ropes and a winch but still unsuccessful. In the end I gave up and continued doing what I’m good at: removing rust!
30th June 2010 – Working day after day on a barge is long gone for me. I have done it to many times. You need to take at least one evening of during the week where you don’t work on your ship! We had a little BBQ aboard the Frantsis.