Wallaby after mid September? Will it be yours?

Rather than a three week yacht charter we bought Wallaby (previously  Vaarwater) a steel Sneekermeer 800 from the 1980s for a holiday in our favourite canal boating country. Come mid September we will have had our "fix" and hope someone will take her on (we actually mean buy her) and next year they can enjoy the Dutch canals.

We bought "Vaarwater" on Marktplatts (the Dutch version of Gumtree) and it was a leap of faith. A few photos, a couple of brief emails and the deal was done. For instance we didn't know until the day we arrived if there was a galley, the water tank we were told wasn't serviceable and we just assumed the motor would be up to scratch.

Our faith was rewarded. The little diesel engine starts and runs well. It is fairly quiet and at a litre an hour at an easy 8 kmh. A 30 litre diesel tank and 10 litre Jerry means only needing to find fuel every 2 weeks or so. The galley is just fine and we are using a simple cartridge gas stove (60 Euro cents per day) and a proper sink. The water tank we found to be very good stainless steel 100 litre tank with a foot pump. A bonus was an old style but working depth sounder, probably from the 80s.

The beauty of a little motor boat is the ease of travel through large and small canals. Much less worry about the bridge height than before with Le Bateau and tying up in small spaces or in a sluis (lock) is very easy. But being a ballasted keel yacht it is not too lively, really quite a good motion.

But it is a small boat. Realistically good for 2 people with bunks for 4 but not a long term arrangement. The V berth is plenty long at 2.1 metres on one side and 1.9 on the other. We made an infill and now it is a double. The saloon berths are 1.9 metres long. The saloon is quite comfortable with a moveable and folding table but floor space is tight. However plenty of dry lockers and a comfortable cockpit. A swim ladder is good for warm weather.  A full cockpit cover makes the occasional wet day manageable. The loo is  a Portapotti but we use onshore facilities. Think of comfortable camping on water. 

Looking forward, but we have removed the doors from "lift off" hinges

10hp Farymann

Table out with instrument panel and coolbox

Galley slid back

 

And out in position 

Boating in the Netherlands is very simple. No registration or licences required for this type of boat. It might seem daunting at first but navigation of canals, bridges and locks is actually quite easy. Unlike ocean sailing the weather is not so critical. Online navigation apps work well. People are friendly and helpful.

We have travelled most of the country and Friesland is a favourite spot but this year Edam, Alkmaar, Amsterdam and Utrecht have all been great. Most towns have tie up facilities at exorbitant rates! Generally 1 Euro per metre or so! Alkmaar Euro 10.80, Muirden Euro 8.00 and central Amsterdam hit Euro 20.00. Normally power and showers included. But tonight we are on anchor on The River Leck with clean swimming water on a white sand bottom. No cost, on our own except for cows on shore and beautiful.

Every town has a good supermarket and cheaper than home, particularly fruit and veg. Albert Heijn have wild caught frozen salmon for Euro 2.50, beer at from 70 cents to Euro 2.00  a can/bottle and Australian or South African red from Euro 3.00

On a courtesy mooring Zaan River, in North Holland 

What we have added to Wallaby; 

A second anchor and rope.

2 folding bikes.

2 new fenders.

Australian flag on a flag pole (important addition)

 Cockpit cushions and down below floor rugs.

A 12volt outlet with 2 USB and 2 cigarette lighter sockets.

A tool kit with spanners,  screwdrivers and a multimeter.

Gas stove.

Frypan, saucepan, plates, bowls, cutlery, mugs, glasses, cutting boards, implements and an electric kettle. On top of stove percolator (essential item for mornings).

Half a dozen storage shelves at eye level for those things you want at hand.

A simple 12 volt coolbox, not an Engel type but just fine for yoghurt, cheese, greens and even a cool beer.

The galley and saloon now have LED lights.

The boat has shore power connection and we have added an Australian plug board so we can charge our camera battery, run an electric kettle, and the 12 volt circuit runs off a transformer on board. It doesn't charge the battery but the alternator and a bit of care handle things fine when shore power isn't available. We are going to fit a small 25 watt solar panel and regulator to maintain the battery when not motoring.

We have bought sheets and a duvet and towels from home and they can stay.

What we do with her in September depends on who wants to take her on. Until now the boat has been in the water each winter. Probably out of the water storage is better. Ants has just swum and scraped the bottom but a paint job below the waterline might be good but not strictly necessary. Personal choice. Some boat people might cringe at a slightly dirty bottom but the performance is fine.

The dodger is functional but could with a new cover, but not desperate need at this stage. 

In central Netherlands storage is about Euro 200 in the water and about Euro 500 on the hard, all calculated per square metre (8.0 long by 2.5 wide is 20 square metres). Winter is in boat yards October to the end of April.

To the money. We would take responsibility for getting the boat into winter storage with motor winterised and water tank empty etc. We would pay for in water storage. On the hard storage by negotiation. The boat yard we choose would be 2 or 3 hours by train (or train/bus) from AMS airport. We have done it 3 times and very simple.

We think Euro 2500 (a bit less than AUD 4000) would be fair. Probably the working diesel engine is worth that much. It comes down to someone or some people taking the plunge, some trust in us and just wanting to spend time just mucking around in a boat in a really different environment.

Of course we would be available for any advice to a prospective owner/owners. Feel free to email or Whatsapp +31649146593 

Jane and Ants