The Painting Continues

Another batch of photos arrived from Friesland overnight, showing some details of the continuing painting. Here we see the stem looking forward from the front of the foredeck. The insides of the bulwarks are now painted and drying, waiting for the masking for the application of the nonskid coats to the decks.

Turning around and looking aft, we see the tabernacle, spud leg caisson and propane boxes have been painted black to match the gunwale tops.

Aft in the cockpit, there is a nice view down through the after engine room hatch at the generator. Seen around the periphery of the hatch is the rich ivory paint drying and awaiting masking for the nonskid application.

Here is the view forward over the roef. Soon this will become a familiar sight to us as we wend our way slowly southward through the canals of the Netherlands, Belgium and France.

Painting Progress

While all the technical things were being installed and hooked-up in the engineering spaces, work was progressing on Zonder Zorg's exterior painting. Earlier, the old paint had been removed from the roef and the surfaces were prepared and primed. We had chosen an ivory colour for the roef, for us a more pleasing and slightly warmer colour than the previous white.

The first finish coat was applied a few days ago.

For her hull beneath the rubbing strake, we chose a navy blue, and for the topsides we decided on a rich burgundy. We opted for these darker colours on the hull because the previous white too easily showed rust weepings. We thought that we could find better things to do than frequent cosmetic touch-ups.

The rubbing strake and the gunwale tops are in black. Our thinking here is that with these being the most commonly chipped, chafed and worn areas as the barge is manoeuvred in and out of canal locks, black would be the easiest colour to match and the simplest to apply without looking patchy.

Now that the initial colour coats are on, we are told that Zonder Zorg is being moved today to another shed for the application of the finish coats. We look forward to receiving photos of the finished project. We look even more forward to seeing it in person in ten days.

Galley Countertops Installed

Some more photos have arrived from Harlingen. These show that the custom-made Marlan® countertop has been installed. Marlan® is a Dutch product that is non-porous, dirt repellent, stain resistant, hygienic and food safe. Unlike the Corian®, which we had in our sailboat, Sequitur, Marlan® is also flame resistant and has a high resistance to scratching.

We had initially wanted granite countertops in Zonder Zorg; however, once Klaas showed us samples and specifications for Marlan®, and explained the seamless fabrication and shaping, the decision to go with Marlan®, even though it is more expensive than granite, was easy. To coordinate with our iroco flooring, mahogany trim and the pale cream cabinetry and bulkheads, we chose the Himalaya Bronze colour.

This photo shows the galley sink nicely tucked beneath the countertop.

The cooktop is ready to nestle into its position above the convection/microwave oven. In his email, Klaas told us that the interior will be completed this week and the iroco flooring will be oiled next week. We are very excited to move aboard.

We Have Power

With all the equipment that had been installed the past couple of weeks around the periphery of Zonder Zorg's engine room, there remained a large yawning void in the centre. The space was waiting for the engine. We had decided on a Perkins-Sabre M92B.

The M92B is a 4.4 litre, 4 cylinder in-line, vertical 4 stroke water cooled and naturally aspirated diesel engine with a fresh water heat exchanger. Among the things I like about the engine is that its maximum power and torque are developed at low revolutions. The torque curve is rather flat, with its maximum developed at only 1400 rpm, where the fuel consumption is about 4.5 litres per hour. With a properly matched propeller, this will allow us to cruise at the 8kph speed limits of most small canals at around 1200 rpm or so, while burning about three litre per hour.

Last night Klaas sent a couple photos showing the engine being lowered into the space that had been left for it.

It was then fitted onto the mounts that had been prepared for it, and in short order, the raw water cooling, exhaust, fuel and electrical systems were connected. Zonder Zorg again has motive power.

Six Month Refit Nearing End

In late November Zonder Zorg had been hauled from the water in Harlingen to be completely gutted to little more than bare hull in preparation for a complete refit. It is now approaching six months since she was hauled, and her makeover is nearing completion.

A few more batches of photos have arrived in the ten days since I last posted. These show that work continues with the technical installations.

The installation of Fischer-Panda 6kW DC generator appears now to be complete. It is located at the after end of the engine room, centred above the propeller shaft, and thus will be easily accessible through the aft engine room hatch.

To starboard of the generator we see the main engine exhaust muffler ready for the engine when it is installed.

Just forward of the muffler we see the propeller shaft's stern gland greaser has been installed. Its location appears to make it very convenient to give the crank a half turn after each day's run. From what I can figure, the red plastic caps on the pipe ends are protecting the in and out connections to the generator and main engine waste heat hot water system.

Continuing counterclockwise, forward and along the starboard side of the space we see that the Victron Phoenix inverter/charger that had been fitted earlier in the month has now been replaced by a more substantial Victron MultiPlus 24/5000/120. This 5 kilowatt pure sine wave inverter/charger provides many automatic functions, including up to 120 amps of charging to the 24 volt bank of house batteries, which can be seen connected beneath the unit. To the left of this, mounted on the forward bulkhead of the compartment we see the raw water strainer, which appears to be for the generator.

Toward the port side of the forward bulkhead we see what appears to be the raw water strainer for the main engine. Next to it, and also likely for the main engine, we see that a linked pair of Racor diesel fuel filters has been installed. In the centre of the photo, against the port side of the compartment, we see one of the two interconnected diesel fuel tanks. To monitor the fuel level is a sight tube, and there will also be an electronic fuel gauge fitted.

Completing the circular tour of the engine room, we see the Maritime Booster diesel-fired heating and hot water system. It appears that the only installations left in the engine room are the main engine and its transmission. The technical installations appear to be coming together nicely; we are eager to try-out all the new systems.

Another Refit Update

Another small batch of photos arrived last evening from Harlingen. These show some of the work done prior to Zonder Zorg heading over to the paint shop. The new generator was lowered into the after end of the engine room.

It was then moved aft and onto the bed that had been prepared for it.

Meanwhile, as work on the engineering continued, up top the roef was masked and primed in advance of the painting appointment.

Here, looking aft over the mast tabernacle, we see the graceful curves of the newly-extended roef.

Here are details at the mast tabernacle. Flanking it are the two new propane tank boxes, and in the middle, the new caisson for the spud leg is nicely and unobtrusively fitted in place. When deployed, the retractible spud leg will extend as much as two metres below below Zonder Zorg's bottom, which is three-quarters of a metre below waterline. This will give a quick and convenient mooring to the canal bottom in up to two-and-a-half metres of water depth. Most small canals are less than two metres in depth, many of them much less. Not only will the leg be useful for remaining in position while waiting for a lock or a bridge, it will also be ideal for securing alongside the usually rough and irregular canal banks that are found in most places except the organised mooring spots. The leg is just over five metres back from the bow, so mooring lines ashore from the bow and stern cleats will have more than ample leverage to hold her aligned to the bank, and our three-metre aluminium gangplank, which attaches to the gunwale, will bridge the gap.

The placement of the spud leg between the pillars of the tabernacle precludes our fitting a mast. While our initial intention had been to re-rig Zonder Zorg for sail, we decided that we were getting to an age where sailing her would be too much of a chore. Additionally, our thinking was that for the few times we would have sailed her, the clutter of folded mast, boom and gaff and all the associated shrouds, stays, sails and other rigging would be in the way on the canals. Our voyage through Patagonia and around Cape Horn had satisfied our thirst for sailing. We decided to forego the mast and go for a more relaxed boating adventure.

Monitoring the Refit from Afar

It is rather difficult to monitor a boat's refit from 7700 kilometres away. Fortunately, with today's easy communications, we can keep an eye on her in Harlingen while we remain in Vancouver. Here are some recent photos showing the progress of work. We see that the new aft window has been installed and that some of the wiring has been pulled from the engine room to the place where the new monitoring and control panel will be fitted.

From the cockpit, we see the newly built double-glazed window matches the elegant curves of the roef. Its inward opening feature will allow a nice cross breeze with the opening skylight above the galley and the six opening portlights forward.

Another interior shot shows the sliding pocket-door to the heads, as well as the beautifully designed and crafted interior. We are anxious to move aboard.

On the technical end of things, we see that the stern tube has been fitted and is awaiting the propeller shaft, which is awaiting the installation of the new Perkins M92B engine and PRM transmission.

In the engine room we see that the Victron inverter/charger has been fitted in place, but looks to be not yet hooked-up. This will handle the 24 volt house bank of traction gel cell batteries.

All technical and interior work will be paused next week as Zonder Zorg is loaded on a flatbed and transported down the road to the painting contractor's shed to be dressed in her new colours. We eagerly await new photos.