September 2006
2nd September
The plates for the new construction have arrived. It was quite hard getting them aboard my neighbor's ship. He had already done the ribs and U-supports. Each plate had a weight of nearly 150kgs.
First bit of wood removed...
That same day, we broke down the first part of the original wooden construction. Breaking it down was a reasonable quick job. After that, we had a nice meal and started working again, now with the more heavier stuff, metal.
The Luxe Motor Watergeus and spits Reginald
During that evening, the main rib and support for the flat roof have been welded. It was getting to dark to continue working, so we drunk another bear and went sleeping.
3th September
After a hard night we started working again. I didn't sleep because of the loaded spits next to me. The boat was only connected to my boat and not to land...
The Luxe Motor Watergeus and spits Reginald
In the morning we created a strip that should hold the plates. The strips had to be rounded to keep the shape of the vessel.
8th September 2006
The heavy plates needed a crane to be put in position, so my neighbor bought a crane. In the afternoon, the crane was delivered and bought into position. During these works, we moved my boat a bit more to the front.
Crane being placed in position
16th September 2006
The Watergeus has always been used as a water supply vessel. The cargo hold was well protected with a white stuff, a combination of calc and cement. Where the new watertight compartment will come, this stuff had to be removed. A job that took me al morning. So much dust that the area around me (including myself) was completely white. A bit of good advice, never do it without a mask. I still have difficulties breathing.
The cleaned rib, the foundation for the watertight compartment
In the afternoon, we cut the first plate of the compartment, a job that took three hours. Nothing is straight on a boat...
17th September 2006
The first plate was put back in position and welded. So was the second plate. Working with two people only takes some time.
The first two plates of the watertight compartment
22th September 2006
When I arrived, the plate at starboard side was also put into position. The plates to the sides of the ship are the hardest. You have to take care of many aspects. The sides are not straight, the ribs are constructed with multiple plates. Some of these ribs have been damaged during her commercial career. The gangway goes slightly lower at the end. Some parts of the plate had to be burned away, what causes the plate to change shape of the heat.
Burning the plate of port side
That evening the third and fourth plate were placed. A small stroke was cut of a new plate, so the final gap was filled.
The small gap that had to filled up
The watertight compartment has been created. It should be fixed properly with ribs in the next days. It will also become stronger, when the deck will be placed.
23th September
The deck was placed on the boat, from the hatches to the compartment. A very precisely job, since the plates had to be placed as close as possible to each other. The bigger the gap between them, the bigger the risk that water will stay where the weld is.
The deck has been placed and should be welded properly in the next couple of days
24th September
After two days of hard work, we found it was time for some fun, some amusement, so we decided to break down some more of the wooden construction.
Removing the wood with the neighbor's crane
The next fase will be the construction of a new entrance, but in the same style of the boat. Therefore, we lowered the metal plates in the hold of the ship. This part will be fabricated in the hull and later put in position by the crane.
