Turned to the Dark Side

[swagman]

Well we've done it. Moved from sail to power in a couple of easy months......

Big step but really excited about the huge learning curve we're about to start and the inland waterways of Europe we can explore from next spring onwards.

On, on

JOHN

[fishwife]

Nice boat, congratulations It's good on the dark side and most people will still talk to you.

P.

[Therapy]

I jumped on this post so fast thinking it was going to be a cat.
Well........best of luck anyway.

[markpierce]

I'm with you, John. After a 10-year hiatus from 20 years of boating consisting of auxiliary sailboats, I'm turning to trawlers. I'm getting too old to "fight" the sails, hanging on in a windward passage, or having to stay exposed to all kinds of weather. Nevertheless, there is still a bit of "rag" in me because I want the trawler with steadying sails.

[anjou]

Awww, I thought this was about something sinister.

Welcome to the dark side

[Rigamarole]

I really like it. What a classic design. What is the range? Will you still take it to the Med?

[Astrid]

'Ahh young Swagman--the force will not be with you. . . . but then with motors, it wont matter.

[Hud3]

Beautiful boat, John--classic lines. You chose well!

[RiverRat]

Beautiful boat! Can't wait for interior pics.

[Pelagic]

Congratulations and great looking choice for your planed cruise.

I am sure she will bring you and others near her, many postcard perfect, photo opportunities.

[anglooff]

I thought you were about to declare that you had a sex change! As it is you have bought a different way to enjoy the sea... so happy sailing and good adventures.

Where the boat is located is near the Dutch frisian island the area written about in Childer's the "Riddle of the sand"I read it as a kid and many years later had a friend near Alkmaar who invited me for a weeks sailing. Wonderful area if you have the time before returning south to England

Reagrds

Alan

[stark]

just curious, but how much fuel does a boat like that consume?

[Astrid]

It has really fine lines. I like a lot of the designs from the 50s and 60s and earlier. She's a beauty.

[swagman]

Thanks all.

To answer the questions -

@angloof. Sorry - limited time to explore Dutch waterways this year. Want to get her back over the Channel before the weather turns.

@stark. She has 2 x 110 DAF six cylinder engines. Plodding down rivers and canals at 1,200 revs (6 knots) she should consume around 10 litres (2.5 US gallons) per hour. Push her up to 2,500 revs (10 knots) is would be closer to 30 litres (7.5 US gallons).

@palarran. She carries 600 litres giving us a inland cruise range of around 600+ miles. But lots of places to refuel if one goes (as we plan) inland waterways. So it is a yes to a Med trip.
One could cross Holland, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and pop out into the Black Sea - and motor down to Turkey and Greece - but getting back would be a bit more difficult........
But we certainly want to cruise her inland down through France to exit into the Med in the next year or so, and explore the Carmargue and French Riviera at a leisurely pace - and then consider a journey back across the Canal du Midi to the French Atlantic coast and South Brittany a year later.

Again - thanks for the compliments on her.

Now just waiting to go get her and see how she (and we) go on the journey back across the English Channel.

JOHN

[Mata'irea]

You've probably already seen this, but I was just fascinated by the Dashew's analysis of their transition from sail to power.
SetSail » Blog Archive » Switching From Sail To Power Five Years Later

And having spent most of the day yesterday stripping the sails off of our boat to prepare for Earl, power is looking better and better!

Cheers,
Danika