It floats better.


Just acquired "Bas" (Bas'ke) 30 ' for an incredible EUR 2000.
Fully equiped, ready to sail, inboard 9 HP Diesel + 6 HP outboard.
Built in 1968 !!! It's back to woodstock all over again.
Moored in Collijnsplaat Holland (Zeeland), in paradise, a 16 th century Dutch Fishermen village.
Marina is only EUR 900 / year full services + free wifi.
I will retire here, a healthy 200 Km ride from Namur, (120 Km from Brussels), on my faithful K-T, she loves it, and me too.
Got 10 years younger when I bought Katie, another 10 with Bas.
I'm now 41, (mental 17).

It's a small world, the former owner owns a K 100 RS must be a good bloke.

Beemer Wheeler wrote:Moored in Collijnsplaat Holland (Zeeland), in paradise, a 16 th century Dutch Fishermen village.

It shure is a nice Dutch neighbourhood...a picture I did make some years ago.... harbour is visible in the background.


 
Gotta a friend in the neighbourhood (Middelburgh) which I visit now and then.

sweet   !!

Inge K. wrote:
 
Gotta a friend in the neighbourhood (Middelburgh) which I visit now and then.

 So what are the chances it is the same guy?
Small world.

And a very nice non-brick there Beemer

Nice pic Inge.

Thanks RossKo, BAS is in a hell of a good shape for her 43 years of age.
Just learnerdon the papers it is an American built ship. Sanderling brand
Roland, former owner bought it for 4500 EUR in 2006.
Just like for my K that was the dream bike of my younger years, when I owned "Quèridinha" (Little darling in Portuguese)7.50 m (24'), I always wanted a 9 m (30') boat.
Ideal form comfort (headroom), and for sailing alone larger size sails are hard to handle, it is the Royal choice size.
The first owner chose the name BAS (which doesn't mean anything, even if if it sounds like sea bass fish), because it is short (easier for International alphabet on VHF marine band radio).
Bravo, Alpha, Sierra, shure beats:  Québec, Echo, Romeo, India, Delta, India, November, Hotel, Alpha to ask for locks opening, or broadcasting a May Day.
Checking all sailing gear before taking her out for our first honeymoon test run.

Took Bas out for our maiden "honeymoon" sailout.
I am pleasantly surprised by the way she sails, and how I could maneuver it single handed under sails or with the engine.
Last time I did that was 25 year ago, I didn't forget anything, just like biking, it all comes back naturally, as if I sailed last just weeks ago.
The K is the perfect match for the ship, (or is it the other way around ?) lots of pleasure riding around and on the way to/from home.



Brick + Bas (main sail on).

Now to find a way to mount the K on the transom.

RicK G wrote:Now to find a way to mount the K on the transom.

And put it on rollers geared to steamboat wheels on each side adding 90 HP to the powerhouse scuderia.

Breezin' away...



One of the fastening "eyes" is beginning to tear at the bottom of the mainsail.
Will fix it next week, meanwhile it is shortened for strong wind, even if there was only 2-3 Beaufort of it.

View of a 5 Km bridge to Zierickzee in the background.

great pics Beemer.

Funny how no matter what happens in your life, some things you just cant forget. Obviously sailing for you.

I spent my youth on dirt bikes. Into a corner hard, plant the foot, bounce up and off again.
Went in slow and steep to a corner a few days ago. Too low and too slow. Planted the foot. Slapped myself. There was no way the bike was going to topple. Less chance it was going to slide.
Some things you can't forget. Sometimes it is better if you do.
Everyone chant with me.
"I am on a road bike.'
'I am on a road bike'

The big wheel keeps on turning, things can't remain always bad all the time for anyone.
After 7 years of financial persecussion plus major health problem, life is smiling at me again.
I enjoy every good time even more because my survival chance at surgery was less than 50 %, and I lived the last 3 years on bonus time, in 'extra ball mode'.
We sailed out with a friend, his mate, their 10 y/o daugther, and 13 months boy by a healthy force 5.
No one got sick, even with the choppy short waves in these shallow waters of the Oosterschelde delta.
Riding back home tomorrow for 2-3 days, comming back here with some € get that main sail fixed, and take all the sun and wind before the winter season.
Even in winter I'll spend most of my time living aboard rather than in the trailer camping park.
It is warmer by the seaside, no -17Celsius +1.5F here.
Nicer facilities, and services too.
Later, Shouthern Europe Portugal, Spain would be even warmer.
Before I get too old for crossing Costa Rica looks tempting for retirement... :-)



Beemer Sailor trimming the foc.




Nathalie Terrance

The baby sort of liked the boat, but really loved sitting on the Brick !!!

Just read the thread Beemer Wheeler. You're a man after my own heart. Boats and bikes go well together. One of my favorite things is riding the bike to the boat and that feeling of walking down the dock with the pannier bags for a weekend on board. It makes me feel doubly blessed. Our craft came from your part of the world, we bought it in Loosdrecht!

Safe riding and sailing to you and yours.

88

Hi 88KE, I've been aboard Bas and my sister's 35' Endurance "Licorne" (Unicorn), for about 3 weeks now, even moored, a ship always moves, and as I get on firm ground, i feel tipsy, until I ride Katie who is also free to swing, unlike a car, biking and boating both take some balance skills and keep your brain busy adjusting.
Since I sleep on board, I get up around 8 AM and go to sleep about 1 AM.
Home I couldn't get to sleep until 4 AM and woke up around 12 AM missing half of the daylight time of the day.
Since I don't need any medication at all I refuse to take sleeping pills, and surfed the night trough till I fell of my chair. Bad, very bad to sit all that time a on a chair gazing all the time at the screen, no mobility, stiff neck and back fatigue.
My Brick comfort seat is more comfortable.
What ship do you sail/motor with ?
Please post pics and name.
Ireland, Scotland and England, and the surrounding islands are definitely on my planed trip list, next summer appears to be a good time for that journey.
I'll put a blue and white logo on the sails, and get the tour sponsored by Munich

Home again, or should I say back to my second residence Bas being Home from now on.
Rewarded K-T for being so good with a peak at 200 Km/h  Sweet !   
210 Km from Port of Call :  Colijnsplaat, freeways all the way.
A peps, refreshing ride.

It's nice to be able to share all your experience on a single forum and find people being a fan of both passions
You make us jealous.

What a good life.... Biking and boating.......... That's what I would call a happy retirement. A dream!

Thanks for sharing.

CF

200kph is quick - I thought the Dutch police were quite active on the speed thing...or is that just near the Border crossings.

Motoring on the "Ballymac" These days Beemer Wheeler. A 12,m MolenKruiser...


I've done a bit of coastal sailing around Ireland and England. Nothing like a bit o sea air to help you sleep. Enjoy your time at your second home!

88

Only fools and suckers would go 200 KPH in Holland, or even Flanders for that matter.
Only in good old Wallonia can such a feat go unnoticed.
Besides, way too much side wind near coastal area for safety.
Recently redone blacktop is a must as some freeways are in poor condition at some places.
Low traffic too to play it safe, no swaying from lane to lane.
In central lane on a 3 lanes freeway.
Just a few Km passed a fixed known radar around 9 PM when cops are watching football...
The few cars passed were going 160 KPH.
Basic safe defensive driving principles in action, the risk of being rear ended is drastically reduced !!!
All clear ahead, reaching for the horizon.

Nice Unit 88.
Dutch folks know how to build and sail / cruise ships.
You can load more mermaids on Ballymac  
Looks like a party love boat, on board jaccuzzi ?
Plenty of room to live aboard.

Crazy Frog wrote:It's nice to be able to share all your experience on a single forum and find people being a fan of both passions
You make us jealous.

What a good life.... Biking and boating.......... That's what I would call a happy retirement. A dream!

Thanks for sharing.

CF

Thanks for providing the web space CF.
Spares me from starting two blogs.
It is true that we are all more than just biKers, passions can be multiples, the more the merrier.

I will purchase a nice new leather equipment, don't want to have to drive the van this winter, specially since the € 1500 I saved to fix a dent on it went strait for the boat, and the Stock Market is nowhere as exciting as it was for the last 3 months.
Thank Guiness  Goodness, I switched to AUY  Yamana Gold (no, not Yamaha) @ $ 10.85 on August 14 and it is starting to pick up nicely, all we need now is a good bank run...   

I will look for an indoor space in Colijnsplaat to shelter my Brick from the salty air.

Got the total superman outfit.



This was the only leather model in stock "Padana PGS" I just realized Blue White & Black are mirroring the Beemer logo.   
Right size, not too snug, not too lose.
At EUR 525 - 40 % discount =  € 315 it's a deal.
It will probably overlast me.
http://www.padana.com/
Some comfy leather gel padded, "Furygan" gloves with knuckles protection.
And some orange "S line"  glasses.
Total € 395, the boots next month, must keep some cash for Bas.
I forgot how comfy the ride becomes with this kind of suit, compared to my everyday jacket which catches the wind, it feels like riding 40 Km/h slower, better keep an eye on the speedo.
I should go back Home (Colijnsplaat) on Thursday.
let the good times roll.

Had another 2 great weeks of warm and sunny days.

Some pics...




Extra benefit, going there and back twice + local runs adds another 1.000 Km on my Brick 

A long 17 years of waiting time before Terrance can ride a Brick.

Beemer Wheeler wrote:
Just learned on the papers it is an American built ship. Sanderling brand...

ERRATUM :

Since I posted this, I learned a lot more interesting things about BAS.

I did email http://www.marshallcat.com/ to inquire about my boat history, the owner kindly answered that they never built any 30 ' sail boats, (BAS is actually 32 ' = 9.6 m).

From the previous owner, and another "Sanderling" owner, I learned this boat was built in Antwerpen Belgium (Linkeroever = left bank) along with about 10 other ones buy some sailing club enthusiasts in what seems to be some hangar or warehouse.

My guess is that they used the hull of a flush deck wooden racing boat (that would explain the narrow bow and sleek Norwegian stern) to make the mold for the hulls of this mini serie and designed their own deck blueprint to turn it into a comfy cabin "yacht".

The first owner and the "marine carpenter" which has made all the nice wood cabinets, table, bunks etc... put this boat on a trailer and sailed the Mediterranean see for one summer.

Next they participated in a race from Zeeland to Acores and return about 5.000 nautical miles in 1986.  WOW !

I also learned that the lead used for the keel was nightly "salvaged" from a nearby closed down factory LOL !

That makes it into a real Corsair/Pirate ship !!!
Maybe they claimed it to be lead (for customs) when it is actually pure GOLD   Makes sense on a purely tax evasion perspective.

Poor weather (cold and stormy) this spring, I was in Colijnsplaat for 2 weeks in March, and "Katie" fell on her left side while on the center stand with gusty wind above force 10 Beaufort = > 110 Km/h.
The rain protective cover must have acted as a spinaker...

No damage except for a bent side stand lever, and I had to re insert the left mirror which came off.

This boat was claimed as a Marshall shipyard product to get official registration (Vlag Brief = Lettre de Pavillon = Flag Letter), since there was no real naval architect approved by the Belgian authorities at the time...

Fringe benefit :  Officially registered as 8.95m total length (under 9 m for marina fees) while it really measures 9.6m.    about 30 % saving as boats over 9 m are considered wealthy yacht men' s boats and bleeded accordingly.

Still mad in love with you BAS !

I hadn't read this thread until it popped up as a new post today.

If you get a chance there is some lovely sailing on the south and south west coast of Ireland. Also north from Strangford Lough/Mournes around Antrim, Ballycastle, Portstewart and the Scottish Western Isles. Iona, Staffa, Outer Hebrides.

We have quite a lot of coastal marinas in Ireland now and out of season they are very cheap..........

And my daughter lives in....Antwerpen....

Here's a song for you https://youtu.be/34jZePnMQNQ
Where's all the fishing gear?

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote:I hadn't read this thread until it popped up as a new post today.

+1

I'm another who likes bikes and boats, though not to the extent of Beemer Wheeler!
My sail boat is a 12ft catamaran (with a helpful jib, unlike many cats of that size).
I also have a 5m outboard bow-rider for pleasure day-cruising, water skiing and attempting to catch fish, but mostly with little success on that front. Offshore is OK but long distance would be a no-no.
My other boat is a circa 1960 V8 inboard ski boat with fibreglass hull, timber deck and a Rambler/Graymarine 327 motor. It is still as purchased with no interior, lots of work to do on the deck and the V8 in pieces. It's my retirement project, so some work will begin in a couple of months.

One of the specialties of my outboard boat is a private day tour of Sydney Harbour for foreign visitors, so for the foreign K100 Forum community, "Where the bloody hell are you?" to quote a particularly cringeworthy Aussie tourism commercial. (Nice bikini on the speaker, though!)
Must extend the same invite to the Aussie members sometime too. 

Best wishes, Beemer Wheeler.

Bill

Spent quite a bit of time on the harbour myself. I don't own a boat but we used to hire a 35' Yacht every Xmas/newyear and spend a couple of weeks arount Broken Bay / Hawksbury. Sailed down to the harbour a few times. A nice day trip and beautiful coming in thru the heads into one of the most fantastic harbours in the world. Also done a little ocean sailing. Longest trip was nearly 2 weeks from noumea to Sydney.

Bill, that cat would be a goer with a jib. Do you get it moving? Did quite a bit of sailing as a teenager and just loved cats. Very exciting when they get a bit of speed up.

Cheers mate

Hi Nigel,

I'm not sure the jib makes it all that much faster, as its a Windrush Surfcat, and hull shape isn't all that conducive to highest speeds, but the jib is a massive help in a tack, pulling the bow around well. Some cat sailors rarely tack, rather gybe because they are easy to get 'in irons' in a tack with just a mainsail, especially in light winds.

A lot wetter experience on a small cat compared to Beemer Wheeler's rig. I'm sure he'd be a lot more comfortable in a cooler weather sail. 

I haven't had much of a chance to get the cat in the water for a while, but must get to it when the weather warms up. Starting to get a bit cooler in these southern parts. Snow near Goulburn last week. We missed it, as we had to suffer the warmer weather of Port Macquarie at the time.   (Crocodile tears.)


Bill

Just picked up this thread.  I am not surprised to learn of motorcyclists also enjoying boats.  Very similar attractiveness in that both can make travel an adventure.

I am retired now and have the great fortune to be able to pursue the three things I love to do.  I own two bricks, a 32' sailboat, and four drumsets.  I ride the bricks to where my boat is kept(the mouth of the Niagara River where it meets Lake Ontario) and where I have a part time job as captain of the launch serving the harbor.  I also play drums a couple times a month with a number of diverse musical groups.   I have been able to sail over 17,000 offshore miles in the western Atlantic from Nova Scotia to Trinidad, out to Bermuda and the Islands of the Caribbean.

Most of all I am blessed with a wife who gives me the freedom to do all the crazy things I do.  Life is very good.

Done a bit of sailing myself and built my own 10mtr sloop and wanted to go sail the world but plans had to change.
Best experience was sailing with my sister and her worse half from Durban to Tasmania across the southern ocean in 10 - 12 mtr swells. Was a 54 ft ketch and a magnificent ship

We normally hired a 35' mono hull yacht but one year we hired this 30' Seawind 1000 Cat just to try it out. It was a lot of fun and we had a couple of good parties on board when friends came to stay for a night or two but I prefer a more traditional yacht that will heel in a good stiff breeze.

Point-seven-five wrote:.....
I have been able to sail over 17,000 offshore miles in the western Atlantic from Nova Scotia to Trinidad, out to Bermuda and the Islands of the Caribbean.

Most of all I am blessed with a wife who gives me the freedom to do all the crazy things I do.  Life is very good.

You are indeed a very fortunate man.


Rick, I've read quite a few accounts, historical and contemporary, of adventures sailing the southern ocean. Its a dangerous place to be even in the more northern latitudes. I've experienced 5m swells and can say that I would be terrified in a 10m swell. I remember reading an account by Ian Kiernan in his book 'Comming Clean' (a book well worth reading) about his time in the Great Southern Ocean and how he was aquaplaning his 60' yacht down the face of gigantic waves. Credit to ya mate.

I agree, worst I've seen was 7-8 meter waves 200nm north of Puerto Rico.  Running with two reefs it broke our preventer and tore the traveller off the cabin roof of a Crealock 40 and then tried to beat us with it as the boom swung side to side while we wallowed in the swells.  Thank God it happened at 4 in the afternoon and not at night.  Can't imagine dealing with 10 meter stuff.

You guys who sail in the southern oceans have my deepest respect.

It was a rolling swell, no breaking waves and about 350 - 400 metres between crests so the boat was rolling a bit but not bad. We busted a Halyard (sic) on the main part way across and I drew the short straw so at 70ft up the mast and rolling very badly because of the weight up high I threaded a new wire and very quickly came down.
From the top when up on a wave I could see for ever and in the trough all there all I could see was green water.
Biggest problem was every time we went into a trough we lost wind so it was on and off sailing day and night for 2 weeks.

I think we all have doubts about our sanity as a result of Kpox, however mildly or bad we have it. 

Some of the last few posts show that for some of us, the insanity isn't limited to Kpox - small boats in big seas, whatever the space between crests is.

 

Bill

You were lucky it was relatively calm then Rick.  

For those who like offshore.....this book makes a very sobering read of how it can all go wrong.

http://www.amazon.com/Fastnet-Force-10-Deadliest-History/dp/0393308650

Every second year is the 'Fastnet Race' from the Isle of Wight on the south coast of England around the Fastnet Rock/lighthouse on the south west coast of Ireland. Its a spectacular race and many of us would head out to the Fastnet to see the fleet rounding the rock. Many more would sail down to Cowes to take in the race. The maxis campaign year would take this in along with the Sydney-Hobart race.

A few weeks before the 1979 Fastnet I was coming home from a nice afternoon sailing and totalled the car putting myself in hospital for 3 months. At the time Ireland was tipped to win the Admirals Cup Series and this was the final race in the series. It was really Cork was tipped as the team was based on Cork and run in Cork. Come August we only had radio news in the hospital as the wind rose unexpectedly, something we knew might be of assistance as it would be a downwind leg home. Kept rising too much and then they started moving us out of the hospital to make room for the casualties. Little did we know what was coming.

The book makes incredibly important reading if you go offshore and some very serious lessons in it about equipment, kit and management. Being on south west of Ireland there is lots of opportunity so we get sea legs early.

There is a good Cork saying that sums it up nicely: 'I couldn't possibly paly golf in the summer, because then the neighbours would know I didn't own a yacht.' The truth is very different, just turn up at any marina on a Saturday in used sailing gear and you will be out in double quick time.

Like a lot of things it doesn't put you off. In fact it increases the adrenalin and 2 years later on a trip to Scotland we found ourselves in a storm off Northern Ireland a stones throw from Ballycastle. Our only choice was to stay offshore. There is nothing as exciting as being out in that stuff in a boat that you have full confidence in and a crew you are comfortable with. Just like a K on a nice fast windy road in 4th gear.....

I don't own one of them mostly because my kids had no interest in it.

Point-Seven-five wrote:Just picked up this thread.  I am not surprised to learn of motorcyclists also enjoying boats.  Very similar attractiveness in that both can make travel an adventure.

I am retired now and have the great fortune to be able to pursue the three things I love to do.  I own two bricks, a 32' sailboat, and four drumsets.  I ride the bricks to where my boat is kept(the mouth of the Niagara River where it meets Lake Ontario) and where I have a part time job as captain of the launch serving the harbor.  I also play drums a couple times a month with a number of diverse musical groups.   I have been able to sail over 17,000 offshore miles in the western Atlantic from Nova Scotia to Trinidad, out to Bermuda and the Islands of the Caribbean.

Most of all I am blessed with a wife who gives me the freedom to do all the crazy things I do.  Life is very good.

Same here, retired in 22 months (unemployed till then which gives me the time to get ready for retirement), only one Brick and a 32 footer sailing machine, 2 Flutes, One Bass guitar with fender tube amp, one electric guitar, 2 acoustic folk guitars + 2 classic ones, one synth, one violin, plenty harmonicas, and top notch Ham Radio Gear tranceivers from Drake (The Beemer of Ham) TR 4C & TR 7, got rid of the wife cause unlike yours, she couldn't handle it.

Let the party keep on rolling...

Olaf, true about the '79 Fastnet.  That race taught the rule makers and architects a serious lesson on how design rules could lead to dangerously unseaworthy boats and ended the IOR rule.  The saddest thing about that race was the number of boats that were found still floating after being abandoned by their crews who were never found.

Unfortunately, there are still builders selling bad boats.  A friend who ocean races singlehanded had the keel fall off his new Columbia Carbon 32 half way to Bermuda during the Bermuda 1-2 a couple years ago.  Although he was rescued, the boat was lost, and because of some technicality his insurance would not cover it.  He will never have the funds to own another racing boat.