Linssen Boats - good or bad?

[Alicatt]

We bought our Broom in the Netherlands, was very straight forward to deal with the broker beside the Volkerak Sluis.

The only hold up we had was the previous owner went on a sailing holiday in Spain without removing the boat from the Dutch Kadaster. (The Kadaster is the same govt. department that registers houses etc.)
We could not get the boat registered in Belgium until it was removed, that took a few weeks as no cell phone coverage in the Atlantic to contact the previous owner, then getting it registered in Belgium took 6 weeks.

So we first looked at the boat in May, made a tentative offer in June, negotiated and bought the boat at the end of June, it was September before we could legally sail her back to Belgium. But we did get some work done on the boat to get her ready for the transit to Belgium so it was not really wasted time, and we lived on the boat 5 days out of 7 during that time.

 

[Greg2]

The Broom 39KL at NYA had a blue canopy in some pics on their website but beige in others (and in reality). I know which I prefer

The 39Kl (which we have viewed and I have seen locally over recent years) looks better with the blue canopy than the taupe / beige in my eyes but then the latter is a particularly unpleasant light beige. Our Broom 41 had a new canopy in a darker shade of taupe / beige that we liked. Each to their own of course

 

[SimonX]

We bought our Broom in the Netherlands, was very straight forward to deal with the broker beside the Volkerak Sluis.

The only hold up we had was the previous owner went on a sailing holiday in Spain without removing the boat from the Dutch Kadaster. (The Kadaster is the same govt. department that registers houses etc.)
We could not get the boat registered in Belgium until it was removed, that took a few weeks as no cell phone coverage in the Atlantic to contact the previous owner, then getting it registered in Belgium took 6 weeks.

So we first looked at the boat in May, made a tentative offer in June, negotiated and bought the boat at the end of June, it was September before we could legally sail her back to Belgium. But we did get some work done on the boat to get her ready for the transit to Belgium so it was not really wasted time, and we lived on the boat 5 days out of 7 during that time.

If this goes ahead, my in-laws are hoping to have it ready for use in April and they will take the first month block. We will be retaining the Dutch registration so no issues there. Seems to be a disagreement between people we have asked as to whether it is best if my wife ( as a Netherlands citizen) is best as the owner rather than me but I’m sure we will get that sorted.
Was it you that was saying they are pushing for mandatory AIS send/receive in Netherlands? Boat currently only has receive. Also has no radar as it has only ever been used inland. In-laws plan taking to Amsterdam and out onto Markemeer/IJseelmeer to Friesland as their first trip.

 

[Greg2]

... pushing for mandatory AIS send/receive in Netherlands? ...

Perhaps thinking of ATIS ?

 

[benjenbav]

When I was at Berthon there was a Linssen (mid 40ft) on the same pontoon. It had a beige hull and superstructure. I thought it was rather a fine looking creation.

 

[SimonX]

Perhaps thinking of ATIS ?

Oh, that may be it. Confusion over AIS/ATIS. The VHF on it is a Raymarine RAY55E which it says on the website ATIS compatible

 

[Alicatt]

Perhaps thinking of ATIS ?

Oh, that may be it. Confusion over AIS/ATIS. The VHF on it is a Raymarine RAY55E which it says on the website ATIS compatible

Pushing for mandatory AIS, already is mandatory around Antwerp and is the preferred method for using the remote controlled canal locks in Belgium, ATIS is already mandatory on the inland waterways, after 1 July VHF + AIS or the still to be released Waterway app will be the only ways to use the locks in Belgium.
Next Saturday we are at a private showing of the new remote control centre in Hasselt, the Vlaamse Waterweg have invited 24 people to come and have a preview of the new systems, my wife and myself got the invite and are looking forward to seeing the operations.

 

[SimonX]

Pushing for mandatory AIS, already is mandatory around Antwerp and is the preferred method for using the remote controlled canal locks in Belgium, ATIS is already mandatory on the inland waterways, after 1 July VHF + AIS or the still to be released Waterway app will be the only ways to use the locks in Belgium.
Next Saturday we are at a private showing of the new remote control centre in Hasselt, the Vlaamse Waterweg have invited 24 people to come and have a preview of the new systems, my wife and myself got the invite and are looking forward to seeing the operations.

Ah, I thought it was you. I think we would upgrade. It looks like the gear is original 2011 fit. It doesn't have a radar and the broker thinks it will be hard to find a new one that will interface to the existing plotter. He says many places have cheap deals on kit that is not latest generation but last generation so should get plotter + radar + AIS tx/rx for around 5000 Euro. Need to find out exact models of existing kit but it is all Raymarine

 

[st599]

Pushing for mandatory AIS, already is mandatory around Antwerp and is the preferred method for using the remote controlled canal locks in Belgium, ATIS is already mandatory on the inland waterways, after 1 July VHF + AIS or the still to be released Waterway app will be the only ways to use the locks in Belgium.
Next Saturday we are at a private showing of the new remote control centre in Hasselt, the Vlaamse Waterweg have invited 24 people to come and have a preview of the new systems, my wife and myself got the invite and are looking forward to seeing the operations.

Is the Netherlands not already rolling out VDES digital VHF channels as well. I seem to remember marinas are mainly on Ch 31 which is the RNLIs channel in the UK and many other channels are now digital data only.

 

[Alicatt]

Is the Netherlands not already rolling out VDES digital VHF channels as well. I seem to remember marinas are mainly on Ch 31 which is the RNLIs channel in the UK and many other channels are now digital data only.

That is complicated, VDES is being implemented in the Netherlands, at what state the implementation is in just now I do not know, I have looked for the info but all I can find are old documents, and the marifone rules are as clear as mud
VDES has been implemented ... however it is a soft implementation you will find pre and post VDES being used and there won't be a hard implementation until 1/1/2028 when all EU countries are to be switched to VDES.
From the Netherlands RDI: (in Dutch)
Wijziging marifoonkanalen | Rijksinspectie Digitale Infrastructuur (RDI)

CH31 is one for the marinas in the Netherlands it has also been added to the marina channels in Belgium.
As for Belgium, the VDES was implemented on 1/1/2023 and is compulsory, all marine VHF radios that do not meet the VDES standard are now declared illegal .

English doc about the implementation as carried out in Belgium:
https://www.bipt.be/file/cc73d96153...b5670bb857bd64c0c04a705b/vdes-brochure-en.pdf

 

[SimonX]

As of today, we have verbally committed to the 2011 Linssen Sturdy 43.9 AC, signing formally on Wednesday when my BiL and the other partner get back from a business trip. Survey being organised for Friday or Monday.Unless there are any major issues, transfer of ownership on 1st April with In-laws taking first monthly slot, us second and other partners third although we have agreed we will overlap a few days until we are all familiar with it.
Wife and SiL going into "nest-building" mode, compiling shopping list for bedding, curtains, cushions, utensils and the rest.
Me? I went and talked to a guy with a kitcar afterwards.

 

[Alicatt]

Great to hear you will soon be on the water, lovely kit car too

Was asked today to help take a boat from Lathum on the Ijssel back here at the end of the month, but already booked out to do work that weekend, that, plus the most direct route is blocked until the end of June with sluis 13 of the Zuidwilliamsvaart out of commission.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

That’s great news @SimonX - always great to hear somebody’s boat viewing stories actually turning into a buying tale! Be great to see some pictures after you’ve completed.

Exciting times!

 

[SimonX]

lovely kit car too

Believe it or not, it’s a 2CV underneath Burton Car | Home

And they have a UK outlet only 50 miles from me. Burton Sports Car UK

 

[SimonX]

That’s great news @SimonX - always great to hear somebody’s boat viewing stories actually turning into a buying tale! Be great to see some pictures after you’ve completed.

Exciting times!

It’s the one in the picture in post #133 above. It’s in the broker ‘hanger’ at the moment but will get some outside pics during test.
Inside is ‘very beige’ and teak but has the dinette which was a deal breaker with some others with the ladies.


It currently has a third cabin with small kids beds but we are investigating converting this to an office like on this boat

( I am in touch with the owner who had it done and it is completely reversible)
Otherwise we are also going to change the plotter and fit radar and possibly buy a tender and (electric?) outboard.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Excellent

 

[CJ13]

Congratulations- looks like a lovely boat,
If you’re staying on the inland waterways, Radar is a complete waste IMHO. AIS can be useful.

 

[SimonX]

Congratulations- looks like a lovely boat,
If you’re staying on the inland waterways, Radar is a complete waste IMHO. AIS can be useful.

As per this thread, we are fitting radar for more open waters and upgrading AIS to tx/rx rather than just rx.

Thread 'Recommend me a radar'

3 Mar 2026

We (as part of a group of three couples) are on the brink of buying a Linssen 43.9
Its a 2011 boat and has only ever been used on inland waterways in the Netherlands and has never had a radar although it has a plotter.
One of the couples (my in-laws) envisage going into some wider waters in northern Netherlands and we will, longer term, be doing coastal and bigger rivers, so we think it sensible to have radar.
For reasons mentioned elsewhere, we also want to change the existing receive only AIS to a TX/RX type
The equipment onboard is original Linssen from from 2011, it is all Raymarine...

• SimonX
• Replies: 29
• Forum: Motor Boat Forum