Type: Klipperaak, originally 164 tons.

Build: 1911 Zwartsluis Netherlands, ordered by mr. Danzig, lenth 26,40 m, no engine at that time just sails. Her first name was SPES.

She was enlarged in 1938, upto 30m, and an engine, type Kromhout 2cyl 500 rpm, 40 HP was build in. The length of 30 meters was chosen because this was the maximum to pass the lock of Apeldoorn.

Zwerver 1938,  Here  she crosses the IJselmeer, agianst the wind, powerd by the 40HP Kromhout.

Many years later, his son took over the ship. He is the baby, in the arms of the women at the deck on this picture, and when I last met him, (about 2001) he was retired and navigating the dutch waters in a smaller but still significant motorvessel.

Probably in 1955, the Kromhout engine was replaced by a 90 HP Caterpiller.

In 1960, Henk Danser sold the Spes to W. Hovenstadt, who named her ZWERVER.

In 1966, she was enlarged with 8 meters to her final lenth of 38 meters/ 250 tons, new accomodation was builld for the skipper (aft) and personal (ahead).

        See the enlargement while Zwerver is on shore.

1969, the new, double rudders were build in (bought for 700 dutch florins from a shipjard in Hendrik Ido Ambacht).

1990, The Zwerver was sold to a young man in Amsterdam who had never sailed before. He replaced the Caterpiller for a DAF 1160, 6 cyl, 165 HP at 1800 RPM.

In 1993 or 1994 the Zwerver was sold to Ton Boere, who transferred her to a houseboat (thought still functional as ship)

After he finished the project we puchased her in 1997.

At this time, 2006, we live on board of the Zwerver for 8 years very happily. We renewed the 24 VDC installation, drinkingwater installation, build in a stem-propellor, replaced the 5 kva HATZ generator by a 15 kva Lister, rebuild the kitchen an bathroom, accomodation for the kids, new roof, big crane to lift loads upto 1500 kg, some safetymeasures for the kids, enlarged the steeringhouse, installed airconditioning in all the rooms, replaced all the windows.

This is about the condition in which we bought her, with the one exeption that we installed the crane before the wheelhouse.

The ship is still fully functional and in perfect condition. We make many trips with her in all seasons.

Her latest transformation you can find in the  "new roof" section.