16th August 2012 – I forgot to put my plastic pipes for the electricity. I always use plastic draining pipes to put through my cables. It took me some time to get them between the hull and the insulation. I drilled the holes for the sockets in the living room and started to put the cables.
15th August 2012 – We mainly continued working in the bedroom. All the walls are finished and we have just started the ceiling. I’m not sure whether it will hold or not. We have to bend the wood a little to much for the curve of the ceiling….
12th August 2012 – Just like five years ago, the Varta goes to the same yard as the Watergeus. We left early in Merelbeke and went to Rupelmonde. The engine was in a good shape and we had a lovely journey.
12th August 2012 – A houseboat in Belgium needs to go to the shipyard every five to six years. This means I can join on a lot of trips for pleasure or working. Today I joined for both! We brought a spits barge from Ghent to the yard in Rupelmonde. It is the same Yard I took the Watergeus to in May 2012.
11th August 2012 – My mother continued painting the living room while I did some electricity.
7th August 2012 – The finish for the Hornblower will be similar to the one of the Watergeus. T&G wood will be used. A few months ago I did the living room, now I’m starting with the bedroom.
4-5-6th August 2012 – I went to Amsterdam…
31st July 2012 – I just can’t get the sleeping room finished. It seems like an endless job. All those little corners and shapes that need wood. I spent some time calling for prices for windows. I want to replace the wheelhouse windows as quick as possible so I can finish the kitchen as well.
31st July 2012 – For the first time in two weeks I had some time to work on the Hornblower. In the afternoon they came to check for a water supply from land. Then I had to drive to Ghent to arrange shipyard visit. When I got back, I continued working on the sleeping room.
30th July 2012 – Just been busy drawing the schemes for the plumbing. It does take some time.
27th, 28th an 29th July 2012 – I’ve been working a lot and I’m feeling tired! Working on boats is my hobby and soon my profession as well. Nevertheless I wanted to have relaxed weekend. On Friday I went to a Folk festival, the Saturday and Sunday I spent with my neighbours on the street event Kolenkaai Feesten!
22nd July 2012 – I visited a friend on his boat in Izegem. I advised him on some of the conversions he was planning. At the end of the day, I wanted to start converting it myself. A new boat is always interesting for the first couple of weeks…
21st July 2012 – I had to help moving out a neighbour. She is about to live in a flat. We filled a few cars and that made me think. Suppose I have to leave my ship. How many trucks would I need to empty the hold.
14th July 2012 – The last couple of weeks were horrible for working outside. It is always raining. My father joined me today for carrying some heavier stuff. I put my generator back on the boat. It had been on the Watergeus for going to the yard.
I had some spare stairs in the front accommodation of the Watergeus. They came from an old spits barge. I will need them for the living room of the Hornblower. They are now in position. I still need to shorten the stairs.
The little lifeboat I recovered from that trawler last weekend is now on the roof of the Hornblower.
13th July 2012 – I found an add on the Internet for an empty hull of a Dutch speedboat in polyester. We had a look and I decided to take it. My first plans were to cut open the whole hull and use it as a work boat.
A bit later, I changed my mind. It will become my own speedboat. I just need to find a descent outboard engine.
