Experience report BODENSEE / CROATIA 601 -YACHTLINE-

On April 29, 2016 we were allowed to take over our dream boat with a brand new 601 WB in Kürnach. With the experience we have gained in the water sports industry so far, our ideas were shaped in detail and put into practice with this new boat. The comprehensive and competent boat handover included a trip on the Main as well as clarifying all open questions and necessary formalities.

The following weekend we used the easy towability of our new purchase for a short one-day visit to the Main near Bettingen. The slip went smoothly and a few minutes later our boat was floating in the water. The new Honda BF 100 started immediately and we crossed the bow-like shore of the Main with an easy glide. Thanks to the wide-beam hull, the transition from displacement to glide is almost seamless. Accelerating is really fun. At the end of the day the glide also worked great. It has already been shown how easy the boat is to handle.

The confirmation in Konstanz on Lake Constance also guarantees us the use of this “dream space”.

Our first visit to the “Swabian Sea” took place during the Whitsun holidays. The weather was very cool and rainy and so we learned to really appreciate the high-quality hood.

Daily rallies were held and interesting places like Meersburg, Friedrichshafen or the island of Reichenau were visited. The external dimensions of only 6 m long and 2.3 m wide were very useful in the harbors, we always found a free space for our boat.

We went to Croatia for summer vacation and enjoyed 3 weeks of warm weather, deep blue waters and daily water sports. The boat proved many times its suitability for towing a wakeboarder. Our daughter loved this sport at every opportunity. The installed pressurized water system was gladly used to rinse off the salt water. The swim platform is very easily accessible through the rear hatch.

On calm days we covered long distances of over 100 km, for example visiting the Telašćica National Park and the vast Kornati archipelago. With the typical Adriatic wind and associated waves that occurred in the afternoon, the hull managed to prove its suitability for rough waters and today I can say that we are very satisfied with the running characteristics. The high freeboard of the boat gives us a good feeling of security. To protect our trailer, we used a local crane service to get on and off the ship in Croatia.

Our result after the first season:

With the Drago 601 WB from Öchsner, we acquired an easily towable sports boat that allows us to move quickly between remote areas without any problems. It is as easy to use in the water as on land. The Honda BF100 goes well with it and it received Lake Constance approval without any problems. Despite the manageable length of only 6 m, a spacious, comfortable cabin is available, which also includes a separate toilet room. Separately fitted options such as a built-in fridge, sink, pressurized water and dual battery system offer a level of comfort usually only found on much larger boats.

Time and time again our boat has attracted the attention of other water sports enthusiasts (or wannabe). We were often asked about our experiences in the 601 WB-YACHTLINE-ports or in the bays and we often had visitors who enjoyed sitting on the beautiful leather cushions on board. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Öchsner team for their very good and competent advice and service. Many greetings Daniela and Holger Lötzsch