One may wish to acquire a boat to sail the European waterways, for a few weeks of vacation, to make it one's main or secondary home. All these projects are equally commendable, but the choice of boat will not be the same. Before launching the search, we will take the time to introspect in order to define our program and our desires (and those of the rest of the crew). We will then be able to do everything possible to match our desires, our needs and the means we are ready to use to satisfy them.
A travel boat ?
To sail far away, it will be necessary to turn to a solid unit, rather made of steel and sufficiently autonomous in energy to simplify the choice of stopovers. We will opt for reliable, proven technical solutions and equipment that is widespread enough to be repairable in the most remote places, even by a village mechanic. We will choose a unit sufficiently motorized to go up the current of the big rivers without weakening. A Dutch launch for example would be a good choice.
River boating
If you want to spend a few weeks of vacation per year, you will probably want to have a boat that is large enough and friendly enough to welcome friends or family. Comfort elements will then be privileged with a large open kitchen, a number of cabins with as many toilets and for the outside a terrace equipped with a second steering position and a bimini for the sun. With young children or less agile people, a forward cockpit will allow everyone to participate in the maneuvers without risk. For this purpose, a polyester boat from the rental fleets can be very well suited.
A floating habitat
If the boat is to become your home, travel will be rarer. We will privilege the habitability, the capacity of fitting out, but also the possibility of insulating, heating, or installing the equipment necessary to modern life: Internet or washing machine for example. In this case, the age or condition of the mechanics will be a secondary criterion of choice. Except in the case of nomadic stays of several months during the summer season, we know that houseboats move little. An old commercial boat between 25 and 30 meters is the dream for living, knowing that the more comfortable it is, the more difficult it will be to break the thread to go sailing.
The right boat for the right purpose
Once the program family has been defined, the next step is to look at the real need. Each case is different and the worst thing to do would be to slip into a mold that you think is rigid. It is not because you want to be able to do everything with your future acquisition that you should start looking for the universal boat. We all have our technical, physical, family or professional limits and we would be well advised to be aware of them, in order to choose the boat that will best suit us, which will guarantee a happy purchase and years of happiness on the water without frustration.
Local constraints
The needs also depend on external elements such as the waterway on which you plan to sail, the capacity of local ports, the availability of yards and professionals for maintenance. To this, we add your own availability to enjoy the boat, the distance of the planned parking place from your home, or your technical or physical capacity to ensure the maintenance yourself.
Small boats, small problems!
Once you have identified your desires and needs, you need to talk about the means you are ready to use to satisfy them. The financial means for the purchase of course, but also to assume the maintenance and the charges of the boat: insurance, harbour place, but also maintenance, fuel and navigation tax sticker. At this stage, it is time to ask yourself the question of size and possibly revise your ambitions in favor of reasonably sized boats. Those that offer handling and maintenance on a human scale, but also more frequent and pleasant sailing.
When you have defined what you really want, what you expect from your future boat, you can finally start looking at the units available on the second-hand market. The choice is vast but much easier now that you know what you want.
