Belinda during the 1980-1990s – redesigning the entire structure
At the end of the 1980s, Belinda got herself a new owner who changed her name from m/s Bodö to Belinda, which we still call her to this day. The name was not the only major change for the boat, as she would now function as a leisure boat instead of a cargo one. With her 50 feet, m/s Belinda is quite an unusual sight as a motor-driven leisure boat.
Structural changes
Remember the picture of Belinda’s stern and the large cargo space which even shipped other boats? That cargo space was during this time covered and later functioned as a large aft deck with a whole cabin below it. The cabin was equipped with an engine room, staterooms, dinette (or mess – the boat’s anatomy and terminology can be somewhat confusing, so here’s a list of the different ship compartments), along with a head and even a sauna.
Another change was the wheelhouse being replaced and enlarged. A Detroit Diesel 6-71 engine (about 200 hp) was also put in, replacing a Ford engine of around 100hp. The motor, which was originally used in a tugboat, is from around 1960. It still runs smoothly in 2023!
Coating a wooden boat in fiberglass
At about the same time, the hull of the boat was completely coated with fiberglass. This was possible as the wood was still strong and healthy. The fiberglass ensures it’s kept that way in the future, too. Of course, fiberglass is not as strong as wood and will not withstand impact damage. But since the layer under it consists of some ~10cm massive wood, the hull is overall very robust.
A reliable leisure boat still in 2023
As we can see, Belinda went through an incredible transformation in the 80s and 90s and got herself a whole new occupation.
For us, this “grandma” is a symbol for leisure, fun and summer. We’re super proud to keep this 1930s treasure still going!