1950 Steel Barge ‘Phalène’

• Built by De Wachter, Belgium
• Steel construction (riveted and welded)
• 6mm steel decks
• 3 tons of ballast at stern and 1 ton at bow
• Teak wheelhouse
• 3.45m airdraft with wheelhouse up and ballast/full water tank
• Less than 60cm airdraft with wheelhouse down (will cruise Canal du Midi easily without special precautions)
• Original exotic wood window frames with bronze scuttles
• 15m x 5m bridge
• 1.5 ton 7m hydraulic crane on deck
• Currently has no anchor winch, but could easily be fitted
• Insulated with 8cm rock wool plus 4cm compressed polyurethane on hull sides and under the deck, except in the original accommodation area where there is less or no insulation
• No insulation in the ‘nose peak’ for reasons of safety of navigation in winter
• Last surveyed 2005 (report in French)

• GM 6V 200cv diesel (180 cv at 1800rpm (GM), 6 cylinders with V disposition)
• Fuel consumption: 11 l/h canal / 20 l/h river at 1600rpm
• Keel cooling system
• Hydraulic twin disk gearbox
• 90cm bronze 3 blade propellor
• 4000l steel fuel tank
• 12v, 24v and 230v cicuits
• 2 x engine batteries
• 12 x 2volt 900 A/hour Fulmen house batteries
• 2 x alternators – 1 for engine batteries and 1 x 80A for house batteries
• 8 kwa Kolher generator
• 4500 watt Atlas inverter
• 750 watt Phoenix inverter
• Ciruit breaker
• Chain steering

• Two areas of accommodation – the original area and the new area
• Headroom over 2m in new area and approximately 1m in original area
• Fitted out in sapelli or merenti (type acajou) in new area, and tripli, lambris de pin, de peuplier in original area
• Timber floors
• Lambris and dalles PVC in honey room
• Berths: 1 x 110cm in original accomodation, 1 in peak nose, 1 x 140cm in principal bedroom, 2 x 90cm in smaller bedroom
• Diesel central heating/hot water boiler
• Elctric cabin lighting throughout
• Fridge
• Washer/drier
• 7000l PVC water tank
• Bath with shower
• 2 x toilets

• 2 x VHF radios
• 2 x 13kg gas bottles

This is a very rare opportunity to acquire an almost unique home. ‘Phalène’ is a French honey barge/péniche. Her owners of more than 10 years have lived and worked aboard her, producing and selling honey whilst travelling the French waterways. Her accommodation is simple, and would benefit from updating. Unfortunately, no hives or bees are included in the sale.