It has been a difficult decision but we have decided to draw our European travels to a close. We will change our nomadic lifestyle and settle back in Perth. I don’t know if we will ever settle but we feel that it was time we became active grandparents and hopefully become gracefully sedentary.
This
means we are parting with Matilda. She is going on the market. She has served
us well for six years as we have wandered through the canals and rivers
of France and Western Europe. Without missing a beat she has taken us
everywhere we have wanted to go – even, sometimes if she did not! It is someone
else’s turn to enjoy this grand old lady.
We
have sampled the wonderful red wines of the Burgundy and Bordeaux regions and
the subtle whites of Alsace. We have feasted cheeses from everywhere, both hard
and soft and some that were so smelly it is reported that you can’t take them
on public transport. We have eaten all the wonderful things that the French are
known for and enjoyed it all.
We
have visited some magnificent palaces and chateaux and been equally enthralled
by the buildings in alleys and lanes in provincial villages.
Matilda
has served us well as our home. She has allowed us to really enjoy the slow
lifestyle of the canals. Being fully self contained with ample fuel, water and
electrical capacity, we can spend days, even weeks away from the restraints of
formal moorings. Her extended accommodation has allowed us to share this
experience with many of our friends and family.
We
are moving on and want to find someone else to now enjoy this lifestyle.
Photo
gallery:
(Dimensions given below are always bow to stern first then width. They are all approximate)
(Dimensions given below are always bow to stern first then width. They are all approximate)
COACH HOUSE
The coach house is a spacious sitting room. It contains a bench seat with storage underneath, currently containing ample flotation jackets and the rear deck clear panels when not in use. The drop-side table that can seat 6 people can be fixed to the floor. A small fridge contains all the summertime drinks while a small sound / radio system provides music.
Basic dimensions: 4.0 x 2.8 m.
Basic dimensions: 4.0 x 2.8 m.
The driving station here commands a good view of all points on the boat. Matilda has all the required radio and digital equipment that current European regulations require: two VHF radios covering all frequencies as well as an A class AIS transponder. Simple instrumentation covers all functions of the main engine, generator and the status of the batteries and charging systems. NAVIGO navigation system is on board and can be transferred to new owners.
GALLEY
The galley also contains a Zanussi clothes washer which has proved to be an adequate size for normal use.
Basic dimensions: 2.2 x 3.5 m.
THE MAIN SALOON
The main saloon is the comfortable heart of the boat. It contains a dining table and four chairs, an area set aside as an office, lounge area with two bucket chairs and a very comfortable leather 2 seater with recliner rests. The enclosed wood fire keeps the boat cosy during winter backing up the boiler-fired central heating. Television via an FTA British satellite link together with a Blue-ray DVD player and sound system provide excellent entertainment for winter nights.
Dimensions: 4.0 x 3.5 m.
ACCESS TO CABINS
The access to the two main cabins is along this passage. Cupboards and open storage as well as a work bench complete with sewing machine and overlocker occupy the space against the hull.
The Captain's cabin has a walk-around double bed with storage drawers below, hanging space and chests of drawers. It has an en-suite containing a shower, macerator toilet and wash basin - difficult to photograph but measuring 1.4 x 1.3 m.
Dimensions 2.6 x 3.5 m.
Dimensions: 2.8 x 2.6 m
En suite 2.0 x 1.2 m
FOREPEAK
The forepeak cabin, accessible through its own deck entry has two quarter-berth style bunk beds with ample storage. A wash room contains a manual toilet and wash basin.
Dimensions: 3.5 x 3.5 m. triangular incl. wash room
Dimensions: 3.5 x 3.5 m. triangular incl. wash room
DECK
The clear foredeck lends itself to be the garden. It has supplied vegetables and herbs to the galley every year and as all gardeners know, a garden needs constant attention – with Gin and Tonic in hand!
Matilda’
s decks are wide and clear. The high hand rails and low cabin roof make
movement on the decks very safe. The small manual crane is more than adequate to lift a small motor bike or scooter on and off the foredeck.
REAR DECK
The rear deck has a complete set of canvas covers with clears and can be completely closed in winter or heavy rain to make the verandah a comfortable and very usable space.
Dimensions: 4.5 x 4.5 m
Matilda
had started her life as a freight barge working in the Netherlands. Built in
1909 in the town of Alphen with the name of Koophandel,
she is a Katwijka barge in the style that became the classic Luxemotor shape. Built as a day boat with little accommodation, the coach house appeared to be the primary living space. She is riveted iron construction
24.7 metres long, 4.7 metres wide, 1.1 metres draught (at the rudder) and 2.7
metres air draft at the rear of the coach house. The rear deck removable cover
is 3.2 high. She was built with a displacement of 88.4 tonnes.
Originally
she was powered by a Rennes two cylinder diesel motor and we believe that the
current engine, a Henschel 6 cylinder, 11 litre diesel was fitted new in 1967.
We don’t know much of her working life but she was bought by an English family
in 1993 and converted to a live-aboard vessel. They purchased her partially
converted but had her completely stripped and finished by Wed. K. Brouwer b.v.
in Zaandam, NL. She has been continuously cruised since then both in Europe and
the UK.
The vessel has always been on the Dutch Kadaster so its history and working life should be freely available to someone who wanted to know.
The
Katwijk influence has given her excellent good looks. The vertical prow allows
a spacious forepeak while the low bow allows a good view ahead. The gently
curved sides and the slight narrower stern give her a significant improvement
in her handling compared to parallel sided barges. Being heavily constructed
with wide decks together with substantial railings makes her a very safe ship.
We
had Matilda TRIWV certified and she has been surveyed three times in the past 7
years. We had planned to dock her in April 2016 to clean and paint the hull
and repaint topsides and decks but were unable to do so as the dry dock operator decided he could not fit us into his programme.
We are off into Belgium where we know we can be accommodated.
We are off into Belgium where we know we can be accommodated.
SELLING PRICE
We are selling Matilda on a "walk in - walk out" basis leaving everything but a few personal items and treasure, on board. She has a huge inventory of equipment and fittings and we have no interest in taking any of it back to Australia. We would be happy to negotiate a handover period with new owners to give them some of the knowledge we have gained. Lists of the contents can be emailed to any interested parties.
We have reduced our price to GBP 195,000 or the equivalent in Australian Dollars.
Peter and Margaret can be contacted at:
pandmosment@yahoo.com
Our travels can be seen at:
www.pmosment.blogspot.com
BASIC SPECIFICATIONS:
Boat type: Katwijka
(Luxemotor)
Construction: Riveted iron
Length: 24.7 metres
Width: 4.7
metres
Draught: 1.1 metres (below
rudder)
Air draught: Coach house: 2.7 metres
Rear awning: 3.2 metres
Main engine: Henschel 1215G-U 11 litre diesel – 200hp
Fuel: 1080
litres in 3 tanks
Water: 3500 litres
Black water 1000 litres
Generator: Westerbeke / 5.7kw
Inverter Victron Atlas
3kw.
Batteries House 4
x Victron Gel 220 Ah 24Volt setup
Engine 2 x Clyde wet cell 24V setup
Battery Management:
Engine Stirling
Charger Victron
GENERAL LAYOUT:
Also see us on Apollo Duck. Ad No. 496792
GENERAL LAYOUT:
Also see us on Apollo Duck. Ad No. 496792
