26th August 2021 – The owners are making good progress. The ship is being sandblasted at the moment and the through shape of the hull is starting to become visible again. There are a few minor issues, but nothing that can’t be deal with.
Category: SY Baron
12th August 2021 – It started early in the morning when the owner asked me to have a cup of coffee. When she entered the ship, the floor was wet. The bilges were filled with water and at some floor parts, water was coming over it. Something seriously was wrong. We quickly figured out the toilet was the cause. Once it was solved, there was no other option then to empty the bilges. First with a bucket and then later with a hoover.
The engine started and we left for Nieuwpoort. My plan was to join in the lock, jump off and start working on the Stern. Plans changed and I joined for the whole journey. It was just great! A nice sun, calm weather and a good crew. In Nieuwpoort, we had some rain, but it didn’t stop us from making a tour in the harbour, moving between the expensive sailing boats and people wearing uniforms they don’t know what they stand for. Everybody was watching at us, thinking we were the lower class who just bought a sailing boat with no knowledge…
In the late afternoon, Baron was drydocked and restore can now start!
4th August 2021 – While making a small walk, I noticed the Baron was making its first trip with the new owners. They are working hard on making a beauty again from this historical sailing ship.
3rd August 2021 – We moved the Baron to the pontoon a bit further down the canal near the lock. The new owner will stay there for a few more days. We plan to help him putting on the mast Thursday or Friday.
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 – 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 – 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.
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…
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!
2nd July 2021 – While I was relaxing on deck of the Baron, the police arrived to check the paperwork of my neighbour. I quickly went aboard Tordino to check for my paperwork where I could find it, ran to my car to get the numbers out for the sailing boat and went back aboard. The police left without checking me….
27th June 2021 – I finally started cleaning the ship by removing the sails into my van, followed by rebuilding the bench on starboard side. I had an old tin of black antirust primer. I sprayed it where it was rusting badly. At least, it can’t become any worse at the moment.
The engine ran for half an hour. Started straight away!
26th June 2021 – Yesterday I managed to get the batteries charged. Today I made a quick inventory of the engine room. I noticed the sea tap was open. So I wonder what happened to the anti freeze the owner put in… He always reminded us the tap was closed and we were not allowed to start the engine.
Bilges are drying out and the pump didn’t run anymore. Or it is broken or the keel is dry…
