Presentation Historic Tjalk ‘Frouke’
Year of Construction 1893 / 2011 • Specifications
Summary
The Frouke is an absolute masterpiece. This is no average tjalk, but a historic vessel brought to a technical and aesthetic level reached by very few ships. With these specifications, the vessel falls into the premium category of "Liveaboard Houseboat in New Condition". The fact that the bottom, deckhouse, and hatch cover have been completely renewed in steel means that the primary risks associated with historic ships (internal rust and a thin hull bottom) have been fully eliminated.
General Overview & Hull
Vessel Type: Historic Tjalk / Liveaboard Houseboat
Name of Ship: Frouke
Year Built & Shipyard: 1893, built in Hoogezand (Netherlands)
Dimensions: 17.75 m × 3.65 m
Certification: No CVO/TRIWV requirement (< 20 meters) • Registered with FVEN (Blue Pass / Historic Heritage)
Hull Treatment: Entire exterior hull sandblasted and coated with a 2-component paint system (2012) • New antifouling (2024)
Steel Renovations:
New bulwark / gunwale (1983)
New steel deckhouse (2009)
New steel bottom 6mm (2011)
Steel coaming and steel hatch cover (2011)
Insulation: Fully insulated internally with PUR foam by Pluimers (2016)
Safety Deck Equipment: Perimeter safety railing installed (Height: 90 cm)
Engine, Cooling & Propulsion
Main Engine: DAF 475 (Year 1964) • Front crankshaft seal renewed in 2025
Starter Battery: 24 Volt, 2× 100 Ah (2025)
Cooling System: Closed cooling circuit with keel cooler (bun cooler) • New keel cooler box installed in the hull bottom (2019 / renewed in 2025)
Drive System: New propeller shaft (2021) • New homokinetic joint and thrust bearing installed (2024)
Bow Thruster: 24 Volt / 9 HP bow thruster • Equipped with dedicated battery set (2× 100Ah 12V) and dedicated Victron battery charger
Fuel Capacity: 180 liters (main engine) + 60 liters (for generator and heating system)
Technical & Electrical Installation (Off-Grid Capability)
House Battery Bank: 24 Volt / 1000 Ah system voltage • Composed of 12× 2V 1000Ah Gel batteries (Total approx. 24 kWh gross storage)
Inverter / Charger: Victron Quattro 24V / 5000 Watt
Battery Isolator: Victron Argofet battery isolator
Generator: Kohler generator (3.5 kVA)
Lighting: Fully fitted with 24V LED strip lighting with dimmers
Accommodation & Interior Comfort
Interior Paneling: High-end, exclusive combination of Larch, Mahogany, and Iroko. All Larch is painted on both sides.
Kitchen & Seating Area: Large, comfortable seating area suitable for 8 to 10 people • Large modern kitchen with 4-zone induction cooktop • Dishwasher (230V) • Refrigerator (230V) • Headroom: 180 cm
Sanitation / Bathroom: Fitted with macerator toilet, washbasin, and shower • Blackwater holding tank approx. 300 liters with Vetus EMP 140 24V pump
Bilge Pump: Separate 24V Vetus bilge pump
Hot Water & Heating: Diesel Central Heating (CH) with radiators • Isotherm 80-liter water heater / boiler (heated via main engine and 230V electric element)
Fresh Water System: 2× 150-liter fresh water tanks equipped with automatic pressure pump (hydrophore)
Berths / Sleeping Quarters:
Deckhouse: 2 berths (double bed, approx. 180 × 190 cm)
Mast Cabin: 2 berths (approx. 170 × 190 cm)
Forecastle (Vooronder): Space forward of the mast available for extra berths or storage
Rigging & Deck Equipment
Mast & Trimming: New Larch mast (installed in 2025) equipped with a heavy counterweight (1,500 kg in 2025 + 200 kg additional added in 2026, total 1,700 kg counterweight)
Fittings: All mast and boom fittings are split/demountable (2025)
Sails: Mainsail, 2 foresails (fokken), 2 jibs (kluivers), halfwinder (140 m²)
Hatch Cover System: Exclusive Iroko wood hatch cover placed over the structural steel hatch cover
Skylights & Deck Hatches: Teak sliding hatch and deck hatches (6 pieces), completely re-caulked in 2026