Classic Boats/Engine (DSB 504M, Zodiac 1225)

[Eelco]

Hello,

Today I tried to repair my Zodiac from 1976 and hope it will work out.

My Dad needed a new dingy and so I helped him find one. Because decades a go he owned a Zodiac, this was the preferred brand.
I stumbled upon the littlest Yaughtline from Zodiac the one with the polyester hull. Although it was a PVC and about 20plus yeas old, it was in a very good condition. It came with a Mercury 3.5, but I also found a Suzuki 2.5. What to do, correct, buy them both and see what works the best.
But then I was a little hooked on the memories we made with the old Zodiac and I found some goodies on the Internet.
At first I found an old Volvo Penta 9.9, liked it, bought it.
A motor without a boat is silly and so I kept on looking,*saw a very nice picture of a DSB 504 M, bought it too.
I needed some transport wheels for the DSB and so was looking further. Then I saw a bunch of boat pile for sale.
Mailed my dad as a joke, I found his old boat.
Then the joke was on me though, a few moments lather I owned it. Because of those wheels, yeh, yeh.

The problem now was, that the Zodiac was in a very good condition and only had one (big) hole.
Cutting it up, was actually no longer an option.
Ordered the needed stuff and today put it on the boat. If it sticks, the boat may stay a while.

To be continued.

Gr. Eelco

[Eelco]

I repaired the boat with a patch on the inside, that was quite a hassle.
The repair patch on the top was a lot easier. Later I will glue a handle peace on top,
to make it look a bit better.
So the repair is holding, so here are a few pictures.

[Eelco]

The front needs some optical repair, that will come later.
The Zodiac is now stored in some nice bags.
An original repair kit also came with the boat.

[Eelco]

Here is a picture of our first Zodiac, from way back.

[Eelco]

Here are some pictures from rolling up the DSB 504 M for storage,
that boat is a lot larger than the Zodiac.

[Fenlander]

Always good to see a repair hold and the boat blown up again.

Where will you be able to use them in the Netherlands, the sea or inland waterways?

[Eelco]

Here is a picture of the Volvo Penta 99, that is basically a Honda B100.
To keep it all in the range of the way of classic boating.
To use this engine on the boat, I first have to register it.
So for the next Summer, I first will use a 3.5 Mercury.

[Eelco]

Almost everywhere you can go boating, but the boat has to be shorter than 15m and doesn't go faster than 20 km/h (about 12,4 miles/h).
If it does, you need a 'klein vaarbewijs' or even a 'groot vaarbewijs' (boating license).
But then you also have to register your boat.

It is mandatory to have a name on your boat or if (see first sentence) registered with an official number.
Problem is that not everywhere you can get your boat easily in to the water, a lot of them closed lately.
Also in some arias there can be extra restrictions, mostly if there is heavy work traffic.

I will use them manly on the Rhine.

[tinker]

Love the old Zodiac, I can't remember seeing that many in the 80's, seemed to be all Avons.