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Out of water in Holland

Before sailing Excelsior back a survey was undertaken and necessary work to her hull below the waterline completed, painted and new bronze prop fitted by the shipyard at Nieuwegein

The owners cabin with its bunks under the wheel house is pretty much intact and so I have decided to keep it much as originally found as guest quarters. The wheel house is collapsible and has solid teak panels. New roof panels have been fitted together with new teak faced ply lining, Morse controls and Vetus engine instrumentation have been installed on a pedestal. The steering position is with the wheel behind or alongside the helmsman, an "Engels Stuurwerk"

Steel repairs to the owners cabin sides. Before and after images of repairs to the superstructure as well as a new roof for the wheel house and new rails for the sliding window lights which have still to be put back on. The colour scheme is "Purple Red" and "Vanilla" from International paints.

Hull preperation.-Back to bare metal with a 5" angle grinder and a stack of flapper disks. At a rate of 6ft a day at weekends work to the outside of the hull took 3 months. Grit blasting would have been quicker but now I can say I am familiar with every rivet and areas of future concern. The floating pontoon by her stern has been one of my best investments for getting the external hull work completed..

The brass portholes are all opening and have a steel rain hood. Click on the picture to see how we welded them on the inside.

Work to the hull topsides completed.

Next stage is to cut the holes and fit steel flanges for the sklights. The steel hold roof will be insulated on the outside and then covered in the original canvasses.

In the hold - What to do with all this space. A view looking from the forward hold to the stern with the 125 hp DAF 615 engine and engine room in the background.

Battened and insulated ready for lining. Rather than foam which is usual for barges of this kind I have installed Alureflex 2+2.

Taking shape internally Wall studding, Oak linings and T&G ceilings - a view of the forward cabins with skylight.

The central heating boiler has been installed in a small utility room next to the kitchen and engine room - a diesel fired Kabola B tap with horizontal exhaust. This room also houses the calorifier and water pressure system and has an access hatch to the 1500ltr water tank behind.