From tug to pleasure boat
The Hoop was built in Rotterdam in 1907. This 17.85-meter-long riveted steel hull provided towing services in the region until the 1940s. Able to operate at sea, its 1.80-meter draught and width of just 4 meters enabled it to pass through the many canals and locks of rivers and inland seas.
After this first life, the Hoop was requisitioned by the British and used as a pilot until the 1970s. When she was found in 1980, she was transformed into a yacht. She underwent a major transformation in Bordeaux in the 1990s. Her aged hull was finally welded, a more economical operation than riveting. A superstructure was also added behind the wheelhouse. In 2005, a new 450 hp Baudouin engine was installed in the hold.
An interior dedicated to the boat's history
After a stay in Sète, the boat was brought back to La Rochelle. Since 2021, its new owner, Pierre Tandonnet, who fell in love with the boat, has been renovating it, taking care to integrate the period equipment that has been preserved on board, while sailing : "For the moment, we're doing cruises in and around the pertuis. We're planning to go up to the Semaine du Golfe and to Scotland in 2024 for a gathering of all boats over 100 years old!"
Embarking from the gangway, you follow the gangway along the wooden superstructure to a pleasant outdoor saloon, protected from rain or sun by the extended roof.
A double door gives access to the living area, all varnished wood. A kitchen with copper faucets is positioned on either side of the entrance, before giving way to an intimate saloon.
A wheelhouse with antique instruments
Just a few steps lead up to the wheelhouse with its original steering wheel. While a few modern features are there to facilitate navigation, many original elements are still present, such as the Morse communication levers, or the chadburn, which is still used for engine controls. Leather pockets replace the modern cubbyholes.
Retro cabins
Following a narrow companionway, we reach the cabins below deck. Two forward cabins have already been renovated, with their antique tiled bathrooms. Here, too, you'll find old radios, compasses and copper switches.
The last cabin, aft, remains on the boat's well advanced restoration schedule.
