More power

May 17, 2007

In the Netherlands we have quite some national and banking holidays, most of them concentrated around and in the month of May. This year blessed with excellent water sports weather. May 17 (Ascension Day), a Thursday, is a day-off which means that most offices close at following Friday as well, so a long weekend to be available. We dediced to go to the Linge, a small river, which runs from Gorkum (entrance from the Merwede kanaal) to a 100 km east through the fruit gardens "Betuwe". The little river is famous for it idyllic views, specifically in Spring time. Summertime can be rather busy. For yachts, the river only can be taken on return trip, because one cannot go further than Geldermalsen (with a canoe somewhat further). It is a pity that there are not many mooring places - most of them being private property. Leerdam, where the famous Leerdam glass comes from, with galleries and glass exhibition center, has a good mooring place with extended facilities - but is one of the few places to stop. Another place is Geldermalsen at the end, but both moorings can be very crowded in Summer.

This Thursday, Ascension-day morning we started in dripping rain, which very soon changed into quite sunshine weather. Going eastwards, approaching the lock Hagesteijn, a growing number of tug boats accompanying us on the river Lek. All heading for Vianen, for the famous national Tug boat days. We expected the old lock Vianen to be crowded, but when arriving our expectations surmounted all imagination. One definitely needs lack of nerves, good seamanship and a lot of good faith to be amidst of more than 40 tugboats in a lock that cannot have a single more! Thank you, all companions!

Of course no place to stay in Vianen itself, heading for Meerkerk to stay for the night, passing quite some bridges that have to be opened from once central point (VHS 22) on the Merwedekanaal.

The mooring at Meerkerk is alongside the canal, with a nice view on the mill and one of the many bridges. Not too bad at all, but there is a downside. No facilities (so no shore power or water load), but there is more to take into account. The quays are very low, so the fenders tend to float on the water, and popping up when a large ship passes. In addition, the large commercial barges that pass, suck away a lot of water, so one definitely need to fix the ship with long lines, otherwise it'll be hanged on the lines. Having taking into account all this, we very much liked the walks through the nice nature surroundings.

Mooring at Meerkerk near the mill

Unfortunately next morning discovering we had lack of battery power, for starting the heater (still cold nights!), keeping our freezer going and hardly being able to pump the shower. No problem to start the engine, though. After a call with Mastervolt and with Linssen, mutual conclusion had to be we had a problem with the on-board circuit batteries, or just one battery-cell, or a loose connection, or both. Within the hour, Linssen arranged a mechanic to meet us on our next stop Leerdam to solve the problem. The problem was solved by replacing our batteries, just a few hours after our arrival at a stop we had planned to be anyhow. Excellent follow up, this is what is called "Taking pleasure seriously"!

And, by the way, as said Leerdam is not a bad place to stay for some time anyhow, with a nice mooring, restaurated city wall quais, and a cosy restaurant "The old posthouse" on close walking distance we had a lovely meal that night. A nice surprise as well, meeting the former colleague Wim Duijvestein with his ship "Duif", also moored in Leerdam. It's a small world, anyhow.

Royal Blockade

April 29 & 30, 2007

The stretch for today offers quite some more nice mooring places along the route, as the one of yesterday. First, after leaving Mook's Eldorado - needed to wait till 09:00 AM for taking our diesel - there is Grave with a nice little harbour adjacent to village center. Slightly before some sand-digging lakes, also with mooring possibilities, but still work going on. Quite som different mills alongside this stretch. Next recommendable mooring places are to be found at Maasbommel, both in the yachts-harbour as well as on the little lakes with good quays. Kerkdriel also offers mooring opportunity in (large) yachts harbour, but not much to do around. If time permits, one could go to 's Hertogenbosch, with mooring right in the middle of this major city - but be prepared to spend a day with the lady shopping around! Not for this beautiful Sunday, with lots of little yachts on the river and - unfortunately also abundant speedboats and Bayliners. Quite some stretches where they are allowed to go full speed - and even using full throttle where they aren't. Are aim for today however was Heusden, a terrific ancient town and a very nice mooring at WV Heusden, 5 to 10 minutes walk to the Markt right in the middle with abundant cosy little restaurants.

One definitely should stay here for a day, but we couldn't, going further our home route next Monday - Queens day (= banking holiday) in the Netherlands. Very early start this Monday, realising that - once we would have arrived at home port Maurik - I still had to do a few hours train to Maasbracht to collect my car at Linssen. Bringing up the hood again before departure - because of the growing East wind. Had we only realised this early start was in vain. Because of this banking holiday, lock Wilhelminasluis not be opened before 10:00 AM, so long waiting time. A first Royal Block (Wilhelmina is the name of current Queens grandmother). But we enjoyed this old lock, its surroundings and quite morning. Arriving at Woudrichem, we were in for another surprise.

Awaiting at Wilhelmina sluis

For years now, the Dutch Queen Beatrix visits 2 towns on the celebration of her birthday (which is by the way always celebrated on April 30, the birthday of the old Queen, not her own date which is January 31 but too cold and wet to have the public festivities). This year Woudrichem being one of the towns. That's why the waterfront being blocked, we were not allowed to pass - obviously for security reasons - until her leave we could not enter the Waal to cross to Gorinchem. At 11.30 AM we were allowed to pass, with a lot of other "Royal Watchers", also crossing the Waal to the Merwede lock in Gorinchem. Keen to get through the railway bridge just above this town - which is opening only once an hour - and by the minute we made it.

Though the Merwede-Rijn kanaal from Gorinchem to Vianen is indeed a canal and not a river - it is bad at all and still a bit winding with nice views on the (lower) sides. Lots of people walking and cycling along the small path & road. Quite some bridges to open, and another two locks to take. The Vianen lock - as usual - took quite some time (2 hours: one hour before and one in the lock!). For years now, lots of complaints about the Vianen-lock - obviously it is quite difficult for the lock-keeper to push the button. At lock Hagestein in the Lek we were a bit unlucky with a huge tanker with blue cones (keep distance!) going first.

Finally we arrived at 19:00 at Maurik, after a long day, but party wasn't over yet. Had to go by train to Maasbracht. After first stretch the 's Hertogenbosch - because of accident no train connection to Roermond, so having to take deviation via Tilburg. At 11:00 pm arriving at Maasbracht, car fortunately still there, and having a 2-hour drive home. A long travel day, but I rather prefer ship above train!

Going home

April 28, 2007

We very much looked forward for the "Grand Tour: bringing Cómplice home again. After a very pleasant dinner on Friday night with the new owners of Sarantina, Brian & Ruth, to whom their 299AC had been delivered early that week, this bright Saturday morning we set of at 08:00 AM. Before departure taking of the hood, experimenting with a new way to do it, folding the textile around the metal instead of taking it of, which proved to be very convinient and took less than 10 minutes.

Our plan: to do the tour in 3 days with approximately following stretches (with estimated hours):

1. Maasbracht to Mook (8)
2. Mook to Heusden (6)
3. Heusden to Maurik (6)

Plenty of time, so this early morning we decided to take the long route along Roermond, which means one extra lock. Unfortunately not too lucky with the first two ones, with twice a quite long waiting time at the locks, so 11:00 AM before back on the main route again. But no hurry, sun shining, hardly any wind, with Cómplice running 10-11 km/hr on the water surface (downstream, so plus approx. 2 km/hr). At Roermond, waving at the owners of Indira, another 299AC. We had met them during Easter Tour.

To our opinion, between Roermond and Mook, unfortunately there are not many nice mooring places to spend the night. The municipal harbour of Venlo has, due to quai works, the charm of a container, for a few years now. The harbour of the yachtsclub Venlo De Maas - downstream of Venlo - used to be very nice, but since last year is under full reconstruction - so if you like sand-dunes it will be ok. Leukermeer is next possibility, and it is a good alternative.

That's about it till Mook, with its several good (commercial) harbours around the Mookerplas. Several times we have chosen Eldorado, this time as well, because our Cómplice needed a drink (and by the way, the other harbour Driessen to be fully booked).

Arriving at 18:00, so ten hours after our leave, 2 hours longer than expected because of being unlucky with the locks. Very crowded this time, and we took about the last place left - a place unfortunately our cable wasn't long enough to have shore power for the night. Harbourmaster suggested next time to make a reservation, specifically if late arrival, it can be fully booked. Als he told us this Eldorado harbour - with adjacent camping - will be expanded to twice as large as currently, and it is not a small one now. This is Linssen-land, we counted more than 10.

In case needed, Eldorado also is the residence of a Volvo Penta dealer, and his a well equiped ship chandlers shop. Us, we didn't need the first, and arrived too late for the shop, but instead had our well deserved drink at sunset on the aft deck.

Next: Royal Blockade

Battery cramp

April 15, 2007


How much confusion can a battery create (let alone multiple batteries)? Just before winterizing I had called Linssen to ask for advice what treat the batteries would need. Unfortunately Paul, our common and trusted advisor at Linssen not available for some time. The lady on the phone was friendly as ever, and quite sure: none, because our 299 should have maintenance free (gel) batteries. I wasn't so sure, so asked to verify. At a return call she confirmed, so I acted accordingly. So, no maintenance...

We had left Cómplice after Easter Tour in Maasbracht to have Linssen make some modifications and some minor repairs. As the weekend after Easter promised to be a very beautiful one, we decided to spend another weekend in Limburg on the Maas-lakes, discovering a very attractive mooring place in free nature just south of Roermond. No shore power, but our inverter should do the trick.


Splendid sun set on the aft deck, followed by a cold night. Next morning heater on, to have warm feet. No ignition. Just one little led blinking on the AC indicator row. It was evident, that we lacked current to have the glow bougie working.


Several phone calls the week after learned several things. First, Paul explained it wasn't so sure that we had gel batteries. Linssen had replaced the Pb-batteries in later series of the 299. Our batteries (one of the first of the 299) are in tight boxes, which have to be unscrewed first before having a look at their waterlevel. Probably thats why later-on it was decided to mount maintenance free batteries in the newer 299's. Had we known, I had been more persistent to ask for the specific equipment in our 299.

Secondly, calling Mastervolt, the make of our inverter, because the user instruction wasn't too clear to me (the pdf-file on the Internet is much more clarifying). It learned me to understand better the meaning of the leds, which is different when in charge mode, compared to inverter mode. When charging the left (DC) row of leds has to go down, the right AC row has to go up. When in the inverter mode, sort of it is the opposite way. Sounds obvious with the explanation, but I had no clue before. Further I learned that when leaving the ship for a few days, it is highly recommendable to put the main switch on "charging only". So far we had never done so during our first last year season. Batteries had to be thirsty!

More confusion to come. As being build-in the boxes, it was told to me that the batteries should been taken out - made loose of the cables - to check & fill. Good tip, place a plastic coffee cup around the cable-end to prevent the cables touch each other (as the batteries are connected, there is still current on them).

After having taken out one battery (which is quite some & heavy work, because one has to lift outside the engine room, needing a flat surface), I discovered the top of the wooden box easily can be taken away. By doing so, it is possible to fill them up quite easily, because having room from above. And indeed, thirsty they were, after a full season without looking after and taking full advantage of the inverter.


Lesson learned. Thumbs up for Mastervolt and Paul, who explained to me very patiently and taking quite sometime on the phone, bringing a battery-dummy to the land of at least some wisdom, and now better knowing what the leds on the AC/DC remote panel in the main cabin mean.

Next: Going home

Bunny & Eggs

April 8 & 9, 2007

The Bassin is a cosy place to stay for a while, surrounded by both old and new buildings, and lots of little restaurants with terraces. In addition, the bourgondic center of Maastricht with pubs & restaurants in every other building (including several restaurants with a few Michelin stars) as well a famous museum, provides a lot of things to do, see and taste.

No wonder the night after the Linssen Easter Tour dinner, this Sunday Easter morning a "few" skippers did not fance an early rise, despite the abundant sunshine. Surprise to be woken up by a funny bunny in a chicken yellow suit, with a familiar face and a basket full of coloured eggs? Did we reckognize the ever joking harbour master? Yes we did, and mostly we liked the big two teeth!

After this bunny-experience, just a few of us decided to participate in the complementary tour via Zuidwillems Vaart to the little Belgium village Rekum, yes, to visit a very old Belgium pub named "the old God". Talking about "taking pleasure seriously....". A relaxing day, finishing our tour by taking - upon return - some extending route, passing Maastricht to a little bit south of it, to discover more nice lakes to moor when we would be there again.

Monday-morning (2nd Easter day) a start with a mutual breakfast in one of the Bassin restaurants. Leaving the Bassin at around 11:00 with the convoy, because a return at Maasbracht needed no later than 16:30, as because of this banking holiday lock-close at five pm.

A very satisfactory weekend as a start of Season 2007, with thanks for good care of tourleader Paul Smits, seconded by Yvonne Linssen.

Next: Battery cramp