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We started off, in May 2009, with a new ex-hire boat and a long list of things we wanted to do to her. As time passed the list grew.
We end the 2009 season, moored up alongside the bank on the Montech-Montauban canal, having done lots of things and having found out quite a lot about our latest home. We still have quite a long list.
What we have found out
- Grehan (a Vetus 1200 made in Holland in 1995) has even more volume, more space – much of it unused or unexploited, than we knew. For example, she has voluminous bilges and also unused spaces under the side decks.
- The boat was originally equipped more comprehensively than she was at the point of sale to us. She is very solidly constructed.
- The boat is relatively light for her size, with high topsides; she is quite sensitive to side winds. The bow-thruster is not as effective as it might be. Apart from these, she drives well and she copes with choppy water and passing ships well.
- The boat was originally part of Vetus’ own hire fleet, based at Verdun-sur-le-Doubs. A fading direction sign on the River Saone bridge there depicts a Vetus 1200, complete with turquoise windows. When Vetus closed this base down, she was sold to Crown Blue Line (now le Boat).
What we have done
- Installed an additional hot water tank – water is heated from an electric immersion heater as well as from the engine. This tank has an interconnection with the existing tank (that was only heated from the engine). We are still ‘refining’ (playing around with) how the two work together and how much additional insulation is beneficial.
- Created a set of floor hatches (a) for easier access to the engine and batteries – three smaller panels replacing one large heavy one; and (b) to make access to the bilges (under the floor) easier – small hatches at the sides, larger hatches in the centre.
- Cleared and cleaned the bilges and fitted duckboarding (open boarding) to provide level floors, above moisture level, and safe relatively dry storage spaces.
- Created a floor locker specifically for tools and components (adjacent the cold water storage tank). The battery charger that was in this location has been moved to the battery locker.
- Created floor locker in bilge space under galley.
- Overlain the existing vinyl covered floor with Cherry appearance timber strip flooring, on resilient foam underlay.
- Painted all (most) of the previous turquoise colour window and door frames with silver colour Hammerite paint, inside and out.
- Overhauled/repaired the operation of the saloon sliding windows.
- Applied silver reflective film to all (most) windows and doors. This reflects back a significant percentage of solar heat radiation and also provides excellent privacy.
- Fitted beech slat venetian blinds to all saloon windows.
- Fitted curtains to close across the forward (cockpit) door, across the aft deck staircase and across the aft accommodation corridor.
- Removed all the blue wall lining material in the saloon and replaced with thin beige colour carpetting.
- Fitted mosquito netting to all opening windows, fitted external mosquito netting curtain to sliding ‘cockpit’ door.
- Re-made the galley, replacing some base units and adding some new ones, fitting new Cherry appearance doors and fitting new worktops. New mixer tap to sink.
- Slate mosaic tiling above galley worktops.
- Reduced depth of wall cupboard to provide ‘headspace’ over the sink.
- Fitted an additional cooling fan for the fridge. Moved the fridge power switch from the helm control panel to be closer to the fridge.
- Fitted ‘open back’ ’180 degree’ hinges to the saloon cupboard doors.
- Moved wall lights to pelmet, painted pelmet cherry brown colour.
- Painted cupboard doors ‘french grey’ colour. Made access inside cupboards to space under side decks.
- Made ‘table’ platform over inside helm control panel. Fitted ‘fishfinder’ depth gauge.
- Made coats cupboard to side of aft deck steps.
- Moved 240v electrical switchgear. Installed complete new 240v mains electricity circuit with socket outlets to saloon and aft cabins. Also complete new 12v circuitry with socket outlets.
- Re-made steps down to aft cabins, making heights of steps lower and width of steps deeper.
- Removed both ‘compact’ toilets, replaced (one) with standard size toilet. Changed former en-suite heads (lavatory) to single door access only. Removed redundant shower tray drain and pump. Renovated the space and lined walls with ‘moisaic’ appearance vinyl flooring material.
- Created drawer under washbasin.
- Made narrow depth cupboard from existing service space access. Back of cupboard is removable for access to water tank and gas warm air heater.
- Changed the second heads to become shower room. Moved existing washbasin fitting to under window, allowing maximum area of shower tray. Corrected shower tray falls so that water drains correctly, re-fitted drain waste fitting. Changed ‘push button’ shower pump switch to ‘on-off’ type.
- Installed thermostatic shower mixer. Renovated the space and lined walls with ‘moisaic’ appearance vinyl flooring material.
- Made towel cupboard from existing service space access. Back and floor of cupboard contains access panels.
- Master cabin – Removed starboard side wardrobe, replaced with (Ikea) wardrobe and drawers unit. Removed crosswise bunk bed, renewed mattresses over slatted bed bases.
- Both aft cabins – removed ceiling panels, inserted multi-layer foil insulation, replaced panels.
- Fitted ‘dodger’ fabric screening over aft deck railings.
- Both aft cabins and steps leading aft – laid dark blue carpet.
- Purchased gazebo tent for aft deck. Purchased two chest lockers for aft deck.
- Laid multi-layer foil insulation over saloon roof, overlain with timber ‘decking’ boarding. Fitted protective white tarpaulin over all for the winter season.
- Removed blue stripes from hull sides.
Problems and mistakes
- The boat’s attitude seems to be slightly bows-down – surface water pools forward on the aft deck in two areas when it ought to drain away.
- The step height from the side deck onto the cockpit seat and from the seat onto the cockpit floor is too great and results in heavy footfalls that potentially damage/crack the glassfibre construction.
- The anchor supplied with the boat is far too heavy for any ‘normal’ manual deployment – we don’t have a windlass.
- The aft deck ‘dodger’ fabric that we bought was too cheap and is completely unsuitable. Sags when wet. Has faded. Looks awful. Will need to be renewed in 2010 – we will change to white, beige or silver colour, not blue.
- The Trumatic warm air heater started malfunctioning and required removal and servicing (which was not cheap). The warm air ducting needs properly insulating.
- The gas cooker is also malfunctioning and must be replaced. Significant carbon monoxide levels from the grill section. Cannot be opened for further inspection and repair because screws have corroded and break off.
- The shower tray drains were very badly fitted and the shower tray did not shed water into the drain correctly. Both have been rectified.
- The gas bottle locker does not drain properly and leaks a small amount of water inside the hull.
- The round ‘porthole’ windows tend to leak in heavy rain – this may be due to the mosquito netting layer or that water shed down the hullsides tends to collect at the bottom of the circle. Will try ‘cowls’ to divert water around the windows.
- With the coming of the ‘wetter’ autumn season the floor has started creaking a little.
Still to do – 2010 (update Aug ’10)
- Still some more turquoise colour remaining, to overpaint. - done
- Wall carpetting to cover the awful, dark, black lining to both the aft cabins. - done
- Floor carpets to aft cabins. – done
- Fit out the master cabin more comprehensively. Cupboards, bookshelves and better lighting. - done
- Fit out the second aft cabin as an office and occasional guest cabin. - done
- Resolve dining table size and location, also sofa/seating area. - done
- Renew dodgers. Fit safety netting to side deck railings. - done
- Repair/renew bent stanchions and sagging lifelines. - half done
- And enjoy some more! - done!
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