Living afloat

The story of the Luxe Motor MS Watergeus and how to convert a Dutch barge into a houseboat

January 2006

7th January 2006

Andy made his payment to the yard, so officially the boat became his today. It was a cold day, where I also nearly slipped in the water because of the frozen smog on deck. The first thing he did was hanging the British flag and getting something to eat. With no furniture, we sat on the ground in the back accommodation. I started reading the documents that were left around, such as the River Rhine Certificate, Oil delivery books, some logs, etc... I promised him to do an effort in tracking the history of the boat.

The pictures here show in what state the vessel was. She had no roof over her cargo hold. The engine room had flooded and the water was starting to fill the cargo hold as well.

Wheelhouse and hatches

Water in the cargo hold

14th & 15th January 2006

We placed a generator aboard for making use of the tools and a gas bottle for the heating.

We decided to start cleaning the cargo hold. Removing leaves, water and rubbish from the bilges. In one day time, most of it was cleaned and with the wooden planks a floor was created. We hadn't enough for creating the whole floor. A few were missing, but the result looked satisfied.

The next day, the wooden floor was cleaned with a high pressure machine.

A clean floor, only one day later

28th & 29th January 2006

In the last week, Andy had cleaned the engine room and repaired the central heating; an essentiel part for the next couple of months!

Repairing the engine

Some paintwork was done, this to protect the weakest places on the back cabin. The engine was started for the first time and ran for nearly on hour, propeller turning. No smoke came out of the funnel, a good sign!

Propeller turning

We also discussed the option of shortening the boat. It is not an idea, i support, but the boat has indeed more value in Great Britain, when she's shorter. We took a look at the dry-dock facility in Terneuzen and talked with the man of the yard.

30th January 2006

Back in Ostend, I sent an e-mail to the shipyard in Terneuzen about shortening the boat and arring a meeting to talk in detail about this project.