A unique opportunity to acquire a fastidiously maintained and beautifully converted example of a highly desirable Dutch motor barge. RESOLUTE has been much loved by her current owner who has sympathetically converted the boat to create a lovely cosy home on the water. She still retains the original luxury crew cabin aft from which the class name was derived, the perfect hiding place to retire with a good book.
The Luxe Motor is a Dutch type barge, built for the first time in the early 1920's with 'luxury' living quarters in the aft, from-which the name derives. When constructed most Luxe Motor's were around 60' to 100'. Many of the shorter ones were modified in the 1950's to haul more cargo and compete with the falling price of road transport. After their commercial retirement, the Luxe hull became a popular choice for liveaboard or recreational use.
Lying ashore on the West Coast of Scotland, viewing is by appointment.
I purchased Resolute in Hindeloopen NL in 1998, empty of all frills but in superb condition for her age. As it was late in the year for a sea-passage in an unfamiliar vessel, I therefore brought her to the UK on a transporter to Caversham on the river Thames. Converting Resolute took me years, I wanted her to be as seaworthy as possible despite our distance (then) from any saltwater.
Since I didn’t intend to part with the barge I was free to please myself, which made for some eccentric decisions. There is for example, no electricity on-board except a battery for the VHF and GPS sets, charged by a small solar panel. Cooking is on a wonderful Taylor’s pressurized-paraffin stove of the kind more often seen among round-the-world bluewater boats. Lighting is by oil-lamps, heating is by another wonder - the tall Clearview woodburner that is the beating heart of Resolute.
Convenience was never high among my priorities so I left the small wheelhouse just as it was, keeping headroom in the saloon to no-more than my own six feet and retaining the hand-start engine, which delivers a top speed of 4½ knots.
I discarded the original ballast and bought a ton of scrap lead which I cast laboriously into 80lb ingots, bolting these to the underside of two steel trays which were themselves bolted-down to the hull frames. The remaining floor of the hold was laid around these trays with pitch-pine boards. So now I had an internal keel fixed to the centreline and raised clear of the skin of the hull. The steel hull was foam-sprayed and lined. I was stubbornly attached to Resolute’s shapes and so i planked her (in-effect) on the inside with wide strakes to show off her beautiful curves.
Conversion completed in 2006, i then sailed her here to my home on the west coast of Scotland in 2011.
The hull dates from 1922 and was originally around 62' long, reduced in length to 50' in 1994. Some original build & purchase documentation has been retained.
The interior was fitted-out by the current boat-builder owner in a traditional to a high-standard. In addition to the separate aft cabin, the main accommodation consists of an open-plan layout with living, eating and sleeping quarters in one long open plan space.
Forepeak - Ladder access to the main quarters are from the steel hatch on the foredeck. Dropping into the forepeak, includes the heads (to port) storage (to starboard) and the anchor locker / chain stowage area in the bow.
Between forepeak and main saloon area, further storage and hanging spaces exist both sides forward, prior to accessing the main living space.
Main Accommodation Area - The central area consists of a large double-cot bunk (to port) and the galley to starboard. There are generous storage lockers located beneath the main bunk.
Galley - Consists of full-size worktops, drainage area & Belfast sink. There is a Taylors paraffin cooker with grill & oven and plenty of storage in cabinets either side.
Moving aft there are open dining and navigation areas either side, prior to entering the main saloon area.
Main saloon - Aft bulkhead comprises of a tiled wall with stove & hearth. Main settee (to port) also houses a stainless-steel trough bath below. Open area to starboard can be utilised for further furniture / seating etc.
Wheelhouse - Accessed from main deck with doors either side. Can be fully dismantled and stored on-deck in-order to reduce the airdraft.
Aft Cabin - Accessed from wheelhouse. It is believed the cabin still retains its original 'luxury' interior from which the class name derives. Wooden bunks either side with storage above and below. Wooden infill enables single berth sleeping area. Second small stove mounted on the aft bulkhead.
The engine room is located immediately below the wheelhouse sole. Sole plates are provide around the space with the engine mounted on solid bearers above the sole level. Access to the engine and ancillaries is excellent.
Ships Batteries
Charging of the battery is by means of a coachroof mounted solar panel and charge controller.
The boats cathodic protection system is by means of large anodes attached to the hull plating and rudder.
Steering System
The boat retains the original large diameter, horizontal wheel designed to minimise air draught when transiting canals. The system is operated by a mechanical linkage acting on the rudder stock. A rudder position indicator is affixed to the head of the rudder post and is visible from the wheelhouse.
In this case we are acting as brokers only.
The Owner is not selling in the course of a business. whilst every care has been taken in their preparation , the correctness of these particulars is not guaranteed. The Purchaser is strongly advised to check the particulars and where appropriate at their expense to employ a qualified Marine Surveyor to carry out a survey and/or to have an engine trial conducted which if conducted by us shall not imply any liability for such engine on our part.
This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.