Making a Houseboat Seaworthy

[fekkin]

Hi all,
I'm the eldest son in my family, and we've recently bought an 80ft Dutch Barge. A while back it had a working propulsion system, and was regularly used. Since then it has stopped working, and the engine controls and lighting etc has been stripped out and is permanently moored. I was wondering what kind of money you'd expect to spend on restoring it back into working order. And when I say working order, I mean in 'moving' order, it is perfect in every other area.
Thanks,

Tom

[Truckerbill]

Hard to answer. This a traditional Dutch Barge built for the European Canal waterways? As far as propulsion, most have either a 4 or 6 cylinder Diesel, transmission, and single screw, rudder that was/is either a chain drive or hydraulic with manual override. I have never seen one here in the States but have seen a lot of them in Europe.

[fekkin]

I do know that there is currently a 145hp Ford Engine in it at the moment, and we've been told that the prop shaft has snapped, and that the engine hasn't been used in a very long time. I've attached a photo of it to try and help

[Stmbtwle]

That's a beautiful boat! I've always had a soft spot for tbe classic Dutch barges, and fell in love with a 100 year-old sailing barge a few years ago. Fortunately (?), I couldn't figure out what I would do with it, if I were to buy it!

Anyway, you're going to have to have a local mechanic estimate what it will cost you to get the engine running, or if you'll need to replace it. That's probably your biggest expense. After that, the drive train. Mechanical controls and wiring not much, comparatively speaking.

You DO know why they call it a B O A T?

[BananaTom]

I would start with $10,000.
New engine, transmission, shaft, and propeller.

[Truckerbill]

Where is this Boat located? Steel or Wood hull? What's the history of it? Inquiring minds would love to learn something about them.

[fekkin]

Sorry, I've been away and have just got back. The boat's hull is almost entirely steel (If not completely) and is currently moored in an MDL Harbour on the river hamble near Southampton. I found a page where the owners a while back were selling it and they seemed to have a lot of information on it:
'Avontuur was built in Rotterdam Holland in 1909
and was converted from sail to power in 1954
She arrived in the UK in 1975

The current owners have owned "Avontuur" from 1990
undertaking a complete refit from 1995-2000.

The refit included slipping her on the Medina River in Cowes
Re-plating 20% of her hull and building a steel superstructure
All the structural work was designed by a Naval Architect (plans available)

Her wheelhouse was totally rebuilt with all new hatches
The Captains cabin at the stern of the barge has remained
as was originally designed - only the woodwork has been replaced'

So it does have a bit of history, and surely a lot more than is listed here. Here are a few more photos:





It only lets me embed 4 at a time so I'll post them separately.
There's Avontuur nonetheless

[fekkin]

[fekkin]

[fekkin]