Experience Report 20 YACHTLINE Ruhrpott Idylle

Travel Information

Introduction

It was a beautiful day in summer and I was cycling. The road took me along the Ruhr from Kettwig to Werden, past an inn on the other side of the bank. From a distance, I enjoyed the idyllic view of the old walls and the boats lying on the piers.

I remembered our first boat, the wonderful vacations and the joy of boating. I thought of a beautiful piece of land and started to imagine….

Boot 2016 in Düsseldorf

I visited the boot show in January out of sheer curiosity. I got an impression of the many wonderful powerboats and the technical progress made, especially with the drives and engines.

In the afternoon I met the Öchsner-boote stand. The exhibition boats were presented in an anniversary edition and looked stylish. What was striking about all the boats was the hull geometry, which required a special extrusion. The advantages of the WIDE-BEAM hull over a conventional shape were clear, they gave the boats more lateral stability and improved buoyancy.

I liked the little YACHTLINE and the nice, constructive conversation with Mr. Öchsner jr. I was intrigued to have my own boat.

In the coming weeks and months I followed the used boat market until the beginning of September, when Öchsner-Boats offered two Drago 601 WBs for rental. So in October I went to Kürnach for the Öchsner-Boats in-house exhibition to see the boats.

Öchsner-Boats in-house exhibition in Kürnach

I was disappointed that both boats were sold out shortly after the advertisement. That’s when I realized that the Drago 601 WB was in great demand. The dimensions were adequate and the total weight including the trailer was only 1400 kg.

In the exhibition hall there was a YACHTLINE that Öchsner-boote had modified in some details (railing, cleats, upholstery, etc.). Admiring the quality, practical equipment and stylish design, the next day I decided to buy the exhibition boat in addition to the camper cover.

Boot 2017 in Düsseldorf

It was very important to visit the fair, especially since my wife only knew about 20 YACHTLINEs from the brochure. The enthusiasm was enormous and we could hardly wait. Since we still didn’t have the accessories, we took the opportunity and looked around accordingly. But we didn’t want to carry it and apart from a boat hook, I then ordered all the equipment online.

Handover in Kurnach

The time has finally come. On the evening before April 12, 2017 I went to Kürnach. A whole morning was planned for the handover and it started with a theoretical briefing and ended with a test drive on the Main. I received all the information and practical advice on how to handle the boat. Overall, it was a very friendly and pleasant atmosphere.

The next test drive came with a special surprise for me, so I steered the boat down the river and took off. Without realizing it, the boat was in an airplane – it must be because of the fuselage – I thought. And the outboard engine was pleasantly quiet even at high speeds, which even surpassed my inboard engine at the time.

I left for home around noon with a good memory and great impressions. The team with the Öchsner trailer went really well and gave me a sense of security. My initial doubts about a single-axle trailer had dissipated because I initially wanted to buy a double-axle trailer.

First sea landing in the Ruhr

Actually, we wanted to take the boat to the Ruhr at Easter, but the weather was bad. So we didn’t set off until the beginning of May and forty minutes later we arrived at the slipway in Kettwig. The ramp is long and goes straight into the water, which will be very useful when sliding out later.

Finally, with the boat in the water, after a short ride we reached the pier of the EOC. The long-awaited destination had been reached and there was an indescribable feeling of joy and relief. It had now lasted a beautiful summer and everything was perfect.

There has been no commercial shipping in this part of the Ruhr for a long time. There are only a few excursion ferries from Mühlheim to Baldeneysee. The water quality is excellent and endangered fish species have re-settled, much to the delight of many amateur anglers. The Ruhr and the Baldeneysee serve many people as a local recreation area with many opportunities for active leisure activities

Conclusion

After a good season on the boat in the Ruhr, we gained an invaluable asset in terms of leisure quality with the purchase of the 20 YACHTLINE. Relaxing boat trips on the water provide plenty of relaxation and distract from the stress of everyday life. And it’s easy to stay under the hood even in bad weather. The workmanship and fit of the convertible top is excellent. Rain and wind are kept out and no water gets in. So it remains very comfortable under the hood even on cold days, and the large windows at the rear and on the sides provide a good view from all angles.

Despite the space available, the boat is just as suitable for weekend trips as it is for long vacation trips. Especially since there is an enclosed toilet room where the installation of a portable chemical toilet is recommended and the bunk also offers enough space for two people. The installation of other options, such as a water tank and refrigerator, should be carefully considered depending on the travel space. We opted for the cheaper alternatives – electric pressure flush and portable water jerry cans with coolers – which turned out to be very convenient. Just like the boat, we were also impressed by the 80 HP Honda engine, which develops its thrust in an extremely quiet manner. Thus, the 20 YACHTLINE with excellent driving characteristics and state-of-the-art handling is a successful overall package,

Satisfied with the competent advice and the handover of 20 YACHTLINEs in a pleasant family atmosphere, we feel in good hands here and wish the entire Öchsner-boote team continued success!

– Ulrich and Anita –