Here’s our new boat – Dutch Barge ‘ Marie Suzanne’.
At last we have sealed the deal on Marie Suzanne (to be renamed). She’s 18.5 metres long, 3.91 wide, a little under 3 metres high and 1 metre deep.
She was built in 1920 in the Netherlands. She needs some paint (inside and out), but she passed the surveyors scrutiny with flying colours.
We move on in a few days – thank goodness. And I’ll post some ‘below’ shots soon.
Thanks for your patience in waiting for the pictures, it’s been exhausting reaching this point with many layered, French, technical conversations and negotiations! We’ve had to become accustomed to ‘the French way.’!
More details and pictures soon . . . after a little sleep . . .!
(Pictures taken on the trip to haul out yard with owners on board).
Jackie Parry - author 
July 1, 2014 at 12:48 am
HOOOOOORAAAY!!!!!!!!
Will have some wine tonight and toast to you two amazing people. Well done.
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July 1, 2014 at 1:18 am
Thanks Linda! We’ll be doing the same (if I don’t fall asleep) – can’t say it has been fun – we just had to take a leap of faith and cough up more $s – hay ho – don’t you just love boats!
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July 4, 2014 at 10:23 pm
Thanks Linda! and cheers!
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July 1, 2014 at 1:11 am
We love her!!!!!! What a beauty!!!! Rolande and Angus
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July 1, 2014 at 1:19 am
Thanks Rolande, Angus – she is a real beauty – very pretty – inside and out – although a bit too many ‘patterns & pictures’ for us down below, so we’ll be doing some painting – but plenty of space to play with! x
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July 4, 2014 at 10:22 pm
Thanks guys!
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July 1, 2014 at 2:43 am
Oh excitement! She is just lovely and what a totally fun kind of trip to take! I’ll bet it is nice to have that kind of space.
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July 1, 2014 at 3:03 am
Thanks Melissa – it is great! Making changes though – extra toilet (!) – so one cabin can have an ensuite – expecting lots of visitors – can’t wait to get going!
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July 4, 2014 at 10:26 pm
It is Melissa, so different from a sailboat – we have a washing machine too. It’s very sad, I never wanted a washing machine on board – now I love it! Guess I am getting old(er)!
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July 1, 2014 at 6:30 am
Well done both of you, been watching your adventure as fellow “new buyers”. I’ll be interested to see how your guest accomodation is set up as we have to do some conversion to the fo’c’sle of our Neo Vita to add berths for two more people on our relatively small barge. Our (new) blog is at eurmacs.com. Hope to see you around sometime
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July 4, 2014 at 10:22 pm
Hi Ian, lovely to hear from you – I am off to you website next to have a look! Our guest accommodation is two cabins – 1 double, 1 single – but both small – we are going to make some adjustments to make two doubles – put in another toilet and make one an ensuite. We think we have enough space! We’ll talk more and compare notes! Hope to see you on the water – we are interested in knowing more . . . .
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July 1, 2014 at 10:36 am
Well done , it looks terrific, Visitors!! You will need a booking register similar to a Hilton. Angus & Rolande stand back.Col.xo.
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July 1, 2014 at 5:49 pm
Thanks Col! Yes, bookings coming thick and fast – get your name down quick! We’ve been carrying “Here’s Luck” around for 4 months – the book has seen Holland and now about to see France, while we figure out how to get it back to you!
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July 4, 2014 at 10:25 pm
Thanks Col – she is great – the bookings are happening already- get in quick! x
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July 1, 2014 at 10:42 am
hi Jackie and Noel. What a pretty boat. It sure projects a lot of character. good luck . Brian Dorling .Shoalhaven Heads
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July 4, 2014 at 10:20 pm
Thanks Brian, good to hear from you. We are really pleased with what we ended up with – the 4 months of agony sorting it out has been worth it!
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July 1, 2014 at 11:40 am
She looks absolutely gorgeous! I would love to sail through the French Canals some day, so I look forward to your next book on how to do it! Congratulations!
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July 1, 2014 at 5:50 pm
Thanks Viki! There’s a new group (if you have time) – women on barges – Carole and I are setting up – still very early stages, we are the only two members (lol)! – anyhow, if you want to have a nose and be inspired, it might be worth looking at . .. when it gets going!
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July 4, 2014 at 10:24 pm
Thanks Viki – we are rather chuffed with her! That book may or may not happen – doing the sailing one first – mind you I can’t stop my mind and fingers so you never know! 😉
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July 2, 2014 at 4:52 am
LOVE the countryside. Makes me want to get a canal boat and do that for awhile.
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July 2, 2014 at 6:21 am
It is beautiful!
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July 4, 2014 at 10:24 pm
Thanks Sharlyn, it certainly is beautiful here.
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July 3, 2014 at 11:04 am
Fantastic news Noel and Jackie. After such a long time looking, looking, looking etc you have found “your” boat – or did it find you?
A question if I may, just from pure lack of knowledge. Do you need to apply anti fouling paint in the fresh water canals as we do in the sea water? Your boat did not look to have A/F on the hull in one of the pictures.
Enjoy.
Michael
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July 3, 2014 at 5:06 pm
Thanks Michael – All we know it is some vinyl stuff – it smells a bit like anti-foul but claim it is not! Mind you, the ‘boat-work’ is kind of interesting here in France – and frustrating. Our boat was re-launched from the dry dock with not much more than a band-aid keeping the water out of were the prop goes (new one being made up, totally unnecessary but we aren’t paying for it!) – we haul out again next week – and this is the BEST YARD in France!
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July 4, 2014 at 10:07 pm
Congratulations Noel and Jackie! She looks beautiful….. Safe travels…. Crew of Iron Mistress
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July 4, 2014 at 10:10 pm
Thanks Iron Mistress!x
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July 5, 2014 at 4:56 am
Very nice. Congratulations!
Mark and Cindy
s/v Cream Puff
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July 5, 2014 at 4:05 pm
Thanks Mark, Cindy – I enjoyed your website.
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