An Idea Matures Into Reality

For years Joan and I had talked of buying a canal boat and exploring Europe when we retired. Over the years we had looked at joining a partnership as well as considered buying a boat. During the winter of 2014-15 we decided it was time to take action.

We narrowed our search to looking for a Rialto 1140 retired charter canal boat. This would give us a stout, low maintenance, inexpensive platform to explore the canals of Europe. The 1140 offered us room to have guests join us (but not too many at one time).

Searching boat listings for a few months we finally found a boat for sale by owner on a British site. Contacting the owner we found that the boat was in a partnership and only one partner wanted out. With  our ideal partnership being a three way split we had already found a Seattle partner so this arrangement worked perfectly.

Last summer we were able to complete the negotiations and have "Juniper" surveyed, which she passed as well as making arrangements to complete our ICC (International Certificate of Competence).

In the fall of 2015 we traveled to Moissac France to join our partners Tom and Mary for a few days of cruising on the Canal de Garonne before meeting with an examiner from the UK. After our two day exam we both qualified for our ICC - by that time we only had time to put the boat away for the winter and look forward to the spring of 2016.