Living afloat

The story of the Luxe Motor MS Watergeus, the beurtschip Frantsis and how to convert a Dutch barge into a houseboat
Also containing one of world's largest house boat gallery

January 2010

1st January 2010: New Year

Last night the neighbours of the vessels and those living in the street came together to have a drink on the New Year.

New Year's drink on the quay

With little to no sleep I had to fix a heater problem on another ship in Bruges. It took me more then an hour, since I didn't knew the system. After a while it was working, so I could return home.

This year, I want to finish the front area on the ship and the deck. A very big job that will involve a lot of work, including welding, cutting, woodwork, etc... But the first job that needed to be done was cleaning. I resumed cleaning the front cabin, a job I had to stop last year.

My chimney was extended with half a meter extra. A small cable is attached to in case the wind blows it off it can be recovered. A better solution was to put two cables so the wind can't take it off. This was also done today.

2nd January 2010: Steel cable

At the end of December I connected my ship to land with a steel cable. I bought some more for the back as well. Since it was to cold to work, I'll connect it another time...

4th January 2010: Wrist

I hurt my wrist again, sliding on ice and hitting the ground with my bike. A few of my projects will have to wait.

17th January 2010: Slow progress

With my wrist going the wrong direction, and not being motivated work on the Watergeus has been halted. I started cleaning the front last week, cleaned the engine room and that's it. I helped a few people on other barges but that's were it has stopped for now.

I'm more or less concentrating on a book I'm writing. I still have many plans, but first, I want my wrist to be ok again!

Since it was the first nice day this year, it was the moment to take some pictures:

The Watergeus in January 2010

The other side of the dock

Platform and wheelhouse

Funnel and spare lifeboat

Entrance to the hold

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