Oisn 1/29/2015 7:47 AM, bownez@juno.com wrote: Hi Bones, You're right. Playing on the water is the most important thing, and the water toy has to fit the location to be of any use. Back in the lat '50s in Germany we owned a lovely racing centerboard sloop with small cabin that could sleep two. Lots of fun sailing and racing it on a lake at the Belgian border, just south of Aachen. Then Murphy got into the picture when my Company called me at our Cologne Office and told me to move to Paris. Our German sailboat Class didn't exist in France. All we had for a playground was the Seine or the French canals in the Paris area, with lots of commercial barge traffic, and very little useable wind. So while visiting Boat Shows in Europe,after some head-scratching and navel contemplation, I found a lovely wooden 25 foot double-ender Norwegian fishing boat with stand up pilot house and with a 10 HP single cylinder SABB diesel engine with variable pitch propeller at the Amsterdam Boat Show, and ordered one. Delivery was in Rotterdam,and then we spent a few weeks traversing Holland,Belgium,and France till we reached our destination,the Seine and our now boating home at Maisions Lafitte. ( Diesel fuel in Europe is tax free for boats, so our total fuel cost for the trip from Rotterdam to Paris was about $11.00!!!!) It was quite an education; going through about 150 locks - operated by lock keepers in Holland and in Belgium, but mostly hand operated on the canals in France. Later we went down the Seine from Paris to Le Havre and back several times, where you "go with the flow" since tides at Le Havre have a range of about 25 to 26 feet. If the tide is going out of the Seine,you are flushed out with it... Then,two years later, after a lot of putt-putting about, my wife complained that on a motor boat there was nothing for her to do but go along for the ride. She wanted a sail boat again. We bought a new 29 footer in Holland and the plan was to keep it in Le Havre,which was the only port where you come leave and return at any stage of the tide. So we sold the power boat and became sailors again. Playing on the water expands one's horizons and constantly provides new experiences and new friends. Ciao, Connie
Hi Larry,
That practicality issue does come up from time to time...... Of course the key here is to always be on the water, mast or no mast. Quite a challenge in parch dry CA.
Wishing you the best....
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