January
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The appearance of the Hercules is a step closer again towards
her new building period; after some checks the anchor davit
has been placed on its location.
The winch on the stern of the floating crane has been lifted
away and quite some rust is appearing. New steelplates were standby
already but even without the rust the old steelplates are millimeters
more thick than the new ones. There is space now to lower the generator
and the compressor.
By using the "Argo", Kees is bringing a
log to our part-time volunteer Fred in Vlaardingen. He is going to
create a new foremast of it.
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February
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It’s freezing during the early part of the month and there’s
even ice in the Voorhaven. The jobs are suspended temporarily. After
the freezing period it is obvious that not every boat owner did what he
had to do and boats are lying deeper in the water than meant to be ever.
We are attending the annual meeting of the "Vereniging
Stoomvaart" which is held on board of the "Succes" in Almere this year.
It is nice to see everybody again and to hear how things are going on
other boats. We do realize that we have no reasons to complaint
regarding the number of voyages this year. There are a lot of boats
which do have less voyages scheduled in their agendas.
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March
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Aernout and Vincent are visiting and Aernout is testing the
vacuum meter under full vacuum.
F
& L Powerrental is assisting to lower the generator in the hold
of the floating crane. Kees did succeed to get down the compressor
himself already. The steam winch is delivered and positioned. Needless
materials are removed and stored elsewhere. Lots of old steel is
disappearing. All of a sudden the deck of the floating crane has quite another appearance than before (more tidy…).
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April
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Lots of activities are happening on board this month. Dennis
is visiting on board with his class of boatmen. Watertanks are lowered
into the hold of the floating crane. The generator and compressor are
positioned on a foundation and partly welded and vibration dampers are
placed thereunder. The funnel of the Hercules is painted. There is
chipped and brushed on deck. A pipeline for the steam pump is bended
along the coalbunker. The 24 volts dynamo is positioned in the side.
And a three way valve is placed between the exhaust pipe and the
condenser. Cables are pulled for the GPS. The exhaust steam pipe is
welded and grinded. The superstructure is partly painted in "Swedish
Red".
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May
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The bulwark is painted. The tarpaulin is removed from the
wheelhouse. The oil tank is placed. The ladies are painting green half
the deck. The manhole cover of the boiler is closed. The waterboat
arrives and fills the boiler with 11 tons of water. Another 7 tons is
pumped into the afterpeak for drinking water. Lubricating oil of the
collar block and the slide bars is refreshed. The wooden grating astern
is painted with Owatrol. The main and auxiliary steam engines are
tested. Johan is attending for installation of the AIS. And then
finally towards the first event of 2012 Vaardag
sleepboothaven Maassluis. Unfortunately due to lots of rain with
less paint on decks and superstructure than anticipated in advance.
The engine room sky light is painted brown. The "mushrooms"
for GPS and AIS are attached on the upperdeck of the wheelhouse. An
additional 13 tons of coal is bunkered. New antennas are attached to
the mast. Kees is arranging emergency flares/signals in preparation of
the seapassage to Oostende. And after bunkering coal the decks are
painted green again. (The previous paint was not coal bunkering
resistant obviously). The liferaft, required as well for the
seapassage, is collected, at one of the lifebuoys a 20m line is
attached and a light at another one. So ready for departure to sea
bound for Oostende. Watch the photos.
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June
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Three events in a row, full of adventures with voyages at
sea. It is navigation season and we do not have any reason to complaint
about voyages this year. Back from the far away "Oostende" we are
preparing for the bi-annual event
"Dordt in Stoom". And thereafter for the "Havendagen Terneuzen".
Both events do not excel in fair weather. But despite of that we do
enjoy. In Dordt we are participating the fleet parade on Friday evening
and are sailing passenger trips during Saturday and Sunday. We are
challenging the "Adelaar" and "Maarten" for a race and we win. Perhaps
we have to inform them in advance next time that we are planning a
race…?
Bound for
Terneuzen we are working with a complete new engine room crew. That
is to get used to (especially to the jokes of Sjaak) but it is business
as usual soon. On our way back we are sailing along with the "Rosalie"
and stay overnight together at the Krammer locks. Arriving back home
our fixed engineer Willem is waiting for us, glad we’re back again and
that everything went well with these strange lads on board from far
away.
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July
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This month three events as well. The first one is towards
Oud-Beijerland. Cousin Ron joins. He did assist with renovating the
Hercules during the first 2-3 years and it appeared to be that he never
joined one voyage ever since. He likes it very much to see how the
dream of Kees has been come true.
The second one is a domestic voyage. The "Maasboulevardfeest"
in Schiedam.
The third one is heading for
Zierikzee/Veere. The weather looks similar of that from previous
year. Then the bunks in the forward quarters were even wet due to the
very rough weather. We decide to berth the boat in Bruinisse to have
diner and to monitor the weather situation. This opportunity was used
also to have a look at the upper damper in the funnel what have
problems. Thereafter we do attempt after all and we’ll have no regrets.
We arrive in Zierikzee well before darkness. The following day is the
"aanbrengwedstrijd" (sailing regatta) and there’s even lack of wind, as
a result of which the race is shortened. Bound for Veere. The Saturday
is assigned for the sailing regatta’s on the Veerse Meer always. On
Sunday a long homebound voyage with family on board. The weather is
lovely and therefore it is busy at the locks. Because of that we spend
12 hours to get back home again. A long haul, especially for the engine
room crew.
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August
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The upper damper in the funnel appears to be corroded
through completely. This one was renewed never, what is really
unavoidable now.
Quite a dirty job.
The oil of the collar block and the slide bars is refreshed.
New gasket is put in the sight glasses. The GPS antenna cable is
replaced completely after continuous troubles. The lids of the boxes on
the superstructure are scoured and repainted. The angle bars on deck
are painted black. The wooden grating astern is coated with Owatrol
again. The aft deck of the floating crane is chipped and painted black.
In short, one do not sit still.
Volunteer Peet Kristalijn is attending for the last time this
month to our regret. He has reached an honourable age and decided that
it is enough now. His knowledge and attendance will be missed
enormously. Peet, Thanks!
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September
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Together with the Furie and the Dockyard IX we are sailing
for the relation day of the company Alphatron. A nice trip between
Maassluis and Rotterdam with a stopover in the Schiehaven, where a
change of passengers took place. Jeroen, engineer on the Dockyard V,
joins. He has a great day, is manoeuvering the engine and stokes with
coal. Is something else than an oil fired boiler for a change.
The Argo is fitted with a new lap side. The fire tubes are
cleaned. The upper deck of the galley is applied with a new layer of
paint. The hold of the floating crane is tied up thoroughly. The stern
winch of the floating crane is placed on its foundation and spot welded
on deck. The whistles are polished very properly for a change. We are
participating the "Wereldhavendagen" (World Port Days) and we even have
a small assignment in the show at night.
On a very sunny Sunday we are proceeding to sea for an ash
disperse. It is the second time for us and we were deeply impressed
again.
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October
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The topside of this website shows the name steam tugboat
Hercules and therefore it is forgotten sometimes that the foundation is
consisting out of more boats. Also these require their maintenance.
This month the superstructure of the floating crane is painted colour
"Havana brown", and the foundation of the stern winch is welded. Our
boatmen vlet "Argo" is taken care of by Dennis and repainted
completely. For the bow a tyre is cut and made fit enabling the vlet to
be used everywhere without making damage. The "Argo" is even proceeding
with an Israelian camera crew through the canals of Schiedam on behalf
of our sponsor.
Before departure to the Furieade in Maassluis the engine room
skylight of the Hercules is quickly painted in undercoat white. And the
cylinder covers in silverpaint. The Furieade is traditionally a sweet
invasion of visitors and there’s even a small reunion kept with old
colleagues of Kees from his salvage period.
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November
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The sunroof is removed already in preparation of the
Saint Nicolas inbound parade.
The layers are coated with primer. René is
fabricating insulation covers on the cylinders of the winch of the
floating crane. The days ahead of the inbound parade is quite busy on
board. The boiler is heated up, deck washing, and the marks are removed
from the funnel. Everything is checked. Nothing can go wrong ofcourse
when we fetch the Saint. During the inbound parade Eline is part of the
show using the "Argo" and put later on the bow against the pontoon as
an experienced tugboat master to assist with mooring in the Werkhaven.
You go Girl!
Since the navigation season has been ended and the winter is
nearing water is drained from the boiler of the Hercules and from the
boiler of the floating crane. All drains are opened. Valves are
cleaned. In order to reduce the influence of the weather to the wood of
the wheelhouse it is covered by a tarpaulin during the winter period.
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December
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Dennis is alarmed that one of the side pontoons of the
floating crane is lying quite deep into the water. It appears to be
leaking on the wind/water line. Although he did experience something
like that not that often, he is repairing it efficiently with wood and
quick cement. In January the boiler survey has been scheduled so the
men are coming back home black frequently. Some of them do notice that
they are aging when turning in fire tubes and boiler, and although they
are proud on coal fired fires, they are a bit less enjoying on this
moments perhaps.
Volunteer Paul is coming aboard with a nice gift from his
father. His father is not unknown to us as he was chairman for years of
the "Zakkendragersgilde" in Schiedam but living in France nowadays.
There he ordered for the foundation to cast a nice ship’s bell with
the text "1915 ss Hercules" on it. When in the spring the new mast is there
it is getting a nice place in it.
Jan Hagendoorn, thank you!
We are steaming ahead to:
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