Will our 1930's Dutch barge ever cross the channel?

 We first saw Xavier our 1932's Dutch barge in Medemblik in Holland on Wednesday 5 May 2021

The owner was one of the last liveboards, in a posh marina and the authorities refused to renew the residential permit if he sold the barge to someone who planned to stay in the marina. Unsurprisingly they did not want these big old barges with their occupants pumping raw sewage into their marina that was full of holiday yatchs.  Xavier had no black water holding tank.  We were something of a dream come true for the owner.  He had plenty of potential buyers for this lovely wide barge of 6x30 metres, a perfect size to make into a home.  But the buyers all wanted to make their home im Medemblik, who would not!  The owner could only sell it to someone who wanted to take the boat away. Or start a legal battle with the council.

Fast forward a few months.  Xavier was ours. A survey had been completed which found that the boat was sound.  We had plans for the internal layout of the boat and planned to strip out all the electrics and plumbing, and add a large black water tank, so we were not too bothered about the existing internal arrangements, so long as the engine and all the operating gear were fully functional.

Our destination and future home was at the head of the incredibly beautiful Helford Estuary at the lively and lovely Classic Boatyard at Gweek.

Gweek, Cornwall

Xavier needed a lot of work internally, but we do up houses for a living and we have owned a Dutch Barge before.  Residential moorings in Cornwall are hard to find, especially for a large boat. It was so exciting to have a mooring in such a lively village with pub and shop on the doorstep.  Our spot in the boatyard was perfect.  It was screened by trees on the adjacent island, but it had an open aspect with lots of sun.

 

Our mooring, waiting for us at Gweek, Cornwall

Our boat sales broker found a yard called Geertman in Zwartsluis Netherlands, near Zwolle.  It seemed ideal as it was littered with old Dutch barges in various states of repair over a huge site.  A family concern and the young owner spoke English which was quite essential as we were not going to be there to oversee the survey or the work required.  We were in the first phases of the first lockdown and we had only been able to travel to see the boat as our own house was under offer and this was to be our permanent home.

Internal photos of Xavier as she was when we bought the barge.

Moored at Zwartsluis

By the June 2021, Xavier had been taken to Geertmans and a surveyor was commissioned to look over the boat.  He identified quite a bit of work.  We negotiated a small discount with the owner of the boat.  

We asked them to follow the work set out by the surveyor.  We also wanted the current leaky skylight removed and a much larger hole cut for a new skylight.  The boat was to be stripped down to metal and painted.  Internally all of the equipment necessary for a chanel crossing was tested and replaced or fixed where necessary.  A large black water tank was fitted underneath the decksalon next to the existing huge fresh water tank.  This was given a thorough clean.

All this should have been a smooth process of painting the exterior of the boat whilst the boatyard worked through the list of jobs the surveyor had provided.  What followed was months of delays and excuses. Work on our boat always seemed to be at the bottom of the to do list, yet we really were at the mercy of the owner of the yard to manage the list of works as we were unable to travel to supervise.

Work continues at Zwartsluis.

We visit the boat at Zwartsluis

By December 2022 the work was complete.  Hefty bills had been paid for the entire exterior paint job and the mechanical work to make the boat seaworthy.  This included sealing up, i.e. welding the lower portholes. I was not looking to the removal of the metal disks and making good, but the insurance required it, so it was done.  

But by then the weather had turned - we were in the middle of winter and a crossing on a flat bottomed boat was not safe. By March and April, we hoped that a crossing would be possible, but unfortunately our skipper had his own problems and he could not commit.

April was also the time that we had agreed with Gweek boatyard that we would start paying for our mooring.  Never guessing the year before that the work and waiting would have taken so long.  

It was not until May 2022, that Xavier finally left the Netherlands.