January
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The Hercules main engine is wrapped in a tarpaulin so that
scouring jobs can be done in the engine room. I.e. to the oil spatter
plates, floor plates and to the engine room bulkhead. The bilge is
cleaned and grease is removed from underneath the stern tube gland. A
universal heater with extended chimney into the fresh airduct is placed
on the stoke deck temporarily. This way the freshly coated parts can
dry smoothly and there is a nice working environment during the winter
days. The lid of the coolingwater pump is chipped, brushed and coated
with Apexior No.3.
On the floating crane the brake of port side winch forward is
assembled to the deck so that it is ready for use now. The water and
coal box is welded on the accomodation deck and a wooden cover is
placed around it. The small generator can be used and supply power on
the floating crane. New volunteer Rik is installing power cables.
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February
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The idea is to be bring the Heibok 4 to festivals this year
and quite some jobs have to be done before that. It is nice ofcourse to
show the public how everything works and if necessary this is possible
without steam also. Inside the Heibok 4 aft peak a large aircompressor
has been installed enabling the winches to operate by compressed air.
This compressor requires a large generator what requires fuel and
therefore a gasoil tank is lowered into the aft peak by the men. This
is not quite easy since the tank is too large to pass the hatch. But
the men do not give up easily and are enlarging the hatch by cutting
out a part of the aftdeck. It requires some efforts to place the tank
behind the generator, but also this is succeeding, whereafter the deck
is rewelded again. There upon a penetration is cut out outwards for the
exhaust pipe of the generator. A job done again!
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March
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The new foremast, what was made by Fred with a lot of efforts
from an old support of the old piling installation, is twisted
unfortunately. When there is no solution at hand meanwhile the old mast
is treated and coated with varnish. The step of the engine room
entrance has become as thin as a razor blade due to the many feet
stepped on it and is replaced by a new one. The wooden gratings above
the rudder quadrant are scoured and coated. The coal box of the Heibok
4 is wrapped with wood.
Our good old boatmen boat "Argo" what is used for whatsoever
is not running as it should be for a while and it appears that the
flywheel has been loosened. If this means the end of the engine we’ll
have a big piece of bad luck....René wants to highlight the
developments on and around the Heibok 4 and calls the newspaper. The AD
comes aboard and René is together with "steam cousin" Dennis
interviewed by the reporters.
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April
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Are jobs aboard a ship ready ever? The list with jobs seems
to be endless while enthusiastic volunteers are working many days per
week. One is scouring and painting to the capstan, anchor winch,
mastfoot, ship’s name, wheelhouse, supports of the navigation lights,
the crew’s accomodation hatch aft and parts of the deck and engine room
sky light. A new piece is welded into the bulwark top. Since the
tarpaulin has been removed from the wheelhouse the antenna’s and
navigation light boxes can be replaced now. A penetration has been cut
out from the superstructure for the fire line and a flange for the pump
is fabricated on the lathe machine.
New cable wires with loops are spliced on the Heibok 4, which
are not successful in one time always, and connected on the drums of
the winches afterwards. In case the Heibok 4 is joining festivals more
crew will join as well and these must be able to sleep somewhere. So a
start is made constructing bunks in the accomodation. Theo, Jurgen and
Kees are installing base wood and applying insulation and 4 bunks are
growing steadily which are in size quite larger than the bunks in the
crew’s accomodation aft of the Hercules. This might be an issue who is
sleeping where....
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May
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And then after 18 years the moment is there at last. The
Heibok 4 is joining a festival for the first time:"Maassluis
400 jaar Maritiem". The Heibok 4 is towed by "Kleppie" to the other
side of the harbour where the Hercules is waiting already. It is a
smooth voyage and the boat and Heibok 4 is manoeuvred gently into the
port of Maassluis by Kees where he,
with a little bit of assistance, even in the turning basin at the end
is
able to turn around with the transport. On the Heibok 4 the anchor is
used to stop the movement and steering is done by shortening the towing
cables or by slacking it.
We are bunkering coal of which 80 buckets are transferred to
the coal box of the Heibok 4 for the next festival: "Dordt in Stoom". During the fleet parade the Heibok 4 is towed by the "Jan de Sterke",
what is proportion wise showing a nice view. The Hercules is doing
tours for two days while on the Heibok 4 various demonstrations are
given to the public in the Wolwevershaven. Sunday evening the Heibok 4
is brought outside to the river by "Het
Maassluisje" where the Hercules is taking over. This saves time
enabling us to catch the scheduled opening time of the Dordtse bridge.
This is a disadvantage of bringing the Heibok 4, not be able to pass
bridges without opening for us. Around midnight we are returning in the
Voorhaven and when everything has been safely moored and after we have
taken a drink together, it is 1.30 am already before we go home tired
but satisfied. We can look back to two beautifull and successful
festivals. With honour to the organization, and we do hope many will
follow.
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June
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A good work boat with a running engine. Essential! For
example to shift the Hercules during bunkering coal when she is is not
under steam. The engine of "Kleppie", the boat owned by Kees and
Willem, has been worn out and it takes more and more efforts to start
it manual. Sometimes 4 men are required to let it run. It is decided to
take out the engine. There is a selfmade aircompressor in the storage
building and this one is picked up. Like "Steptoe And Son" they went
through de Gorzen quarter with the heavy as lead engine.
With a small crew of four we proceed to Terneuzen via the North
Sea. Retired engineer Hans, who is living in Terneuzen, is
supporting the crew on Saturday and spoils us with delicious "Zeeuwse
bolussen". As per tradition we end that day after the tours alongside
the "Valcke" of the Belgium navy, where we are entertained by live
music and soup with a strong smell. The fleet parade on Sunday is
cancelled due to the World Championship soccer watching in the tent.
Before this event is commencing we blow the whistles with all attending
vessels ending the festival. We cast off thereafter and are gaining a
few hours, inland this time, homewards.
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July
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We are touring passengers for two days during the
"Maasboulevard Festival Schiedam" together with the Sea Cadets who are
enthusiastically attracting passengers on the quay.
We are bunkering coal for the second time this season. It
took some doing and still there are things going at and on it, but we
have a running engine in "Kleppie" just in time enabling us to shift
the Hercules to the other side and turn it around for bunkering. Later
this month a towing support (beting) is installed in the work boat.
Two days later we are departing with full bunkers via the
North Sea to Zierikzee for joining the "Van Loon Hardzeildagen". It is
a sun-drenched weekend with for the sailing boats somewhat not
sufficient wind. There is a crew change, captain Hans and his wife Ria
are taking over the command. Hans did this before with satisfaction but
was, as shown on a video, not prepared for the traditional final
whistle concert. He doesn’t know where to hide in the wheelhouse when
the remaining crew is operating the whistles enthusiastically.
And with a swift hit and run operation the ss Goudvisch is
lifted out of the water by GSS
Marine and positioned on the pontoon. (view the
photo’s)
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August
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A converter from 24 to 12 Volt is made for the VHF’s. During
past voyages a VHF was malfunctioning frequently during transmission.
The cause is investigated diligent....
It is almost impossible to maintain jobs of two foundations
separate. And when there are no urgent matters or festivals for the
Hercules or Heibok 4 scheduled, a lot of the volunteers can be found
around the new project "de Goudvisch". The challenge is enormous to
rebuild something out of an almost empty hull, but in the meantime the
men are working on dismanteling mainly. The last valves are
disassembled, and also the propeller, what appeared to have a marging
of 16.6 mm only... The steering gear is removed partly and the
propeller shaft.
And we’ll not mention the removal of the persistent concrete.
The inspection committee of "The Floating Inheritage" is
visiting for the examination of the Heibok 4. Meanwhile the "Goudvisch"
is discussed about. It was a companionable and informative afternoon.
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September
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In the accomodation of the Heibok 4 is after the completion
of the linings of the bulkheads commenced with the fabrication of
lockers. Trials are made with the propeller of the "Kleppie" after
installation of another engine.
Since years we are joining the "Open Monuments Day". The
theme this year is "On Journey". Three days in advance there is
commenced with a small fire in the boiler of the Hercules. It takes a
while before 8000 litres of water in the boiler is warm, and because of
stretch and shrink it is not desirable this happens too fast. The
boiler of the Heibok 4 contains 1500 litres of water "only" and because
of its shape and size this can be heated up faster and therefore it
requires 2 hours preheating time only. The Heibok 4 has been moored for
exhibition at quayside in the Voorhaven today, and the Hercules is
performing a shuttle service between Schiedam and Vlaardingen.
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October
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As a tradition the first weekend of October is "Furieade weekend".
The Heibok 4 is joining this year and 3D records are made during the
forward journey, which are to be viewed on the site in a later period
hopefully. In the evening we are enjoying the beginning with the Furie,
the lantern parade and the fire works. The boat is immortalized on
canvas by a painter on the quay. We are going homeward on Saturday
evening. In the Voorhaven we are deciding to eat together on deck at
first and to do the proper mooring of the boat and Heibok 4 thereafter.
A decision what we regret later. The wind is picking up considerably
and before everybody had put on their rain clothes the rain was pouring
down. When everything has been properly moored after all we skip the
debrief chats and everybody is going home to take a shower and put on
something dry.
With that chat it turned out allright after all. At the end
of the month we organised a volunteers day. The Heibok 4’s boiler keeps
us warm and Kees is frying a nice fish on the "vuurduveltje" (= a
portable frying stove). Fred has been invited as well. After taken a
critical look in the past at the by Kees "constructed" notice board
ashore, he made a beautifull notice cabinet. We are using the
opportunity to have it inaugurated by himself this day. Thanks Fred!
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November
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Following the new step of the engine room entrance, work is
done for new wheelhouse steps. These are set and grinded at the company
YCW - BECO.
Another engine and reverse coupling is purchased for the
Argo. Hopefully we have two servicable vlets again next season.
Our heart is beating full of expectation how
the entry of St Nicolas will develop after lots of media attention
this year. We are doing the utmost at least to perform as good as
possible. This is
successful, and not in the last place because of the excellent art of
navigation of our Captain, who is manoeuvring the boat easy between the
"Haring, Voor and Achterbank" to the "Visbank" in Vlaardingen. And
thanks to the "Pietertje Z" of the Harbour Service we are even arriving
with the deep draught "Spanje" in the shallow Lange Haven in Schiedam,
and fortunately, also out of it.
The "Restoration Workshop Schiedam" knows a remedy for the
spiralled mast and is tranported there by the "Kleppie".
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December
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Stud bolts for the new engine of the Argo are fabricated by
Jan on the lathe machine in advance. The old engine is disassembled
from its foundation, wherafter it is put down on the pontoon. The
dynamo and startmotor are removed. And during the before last day of
the year the Argo is following its way to the pontoon.
The year is ending. The Christmas cards have been sent. The
wheelhouse is covered by its wood protecting tarpaulin cover. And as
good as possible everything is prepared against the coming frost
season. The boilers are empty and are cleaned and preparations are done
for its bi-annual survey. 2015 promises to be a year with celebration,
our showpiece, the old lady "Hercules" happens to be 100 years.
We are looking forward and are going full steam to
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