Step Two: The Vessel

As I consider this to still be somewhat of an experiment I do not wish to spend a large amount of money on all the necessities (+/- 500 EUR). As price and speed are important factors for choosing the right vessel I spent some weeks looking for suitable boats. A small speedboat seemed most suitable and also provided me with sufficient possible candidates. I say small because it only has to carry me and I do not want to use a to large of an engine, taking fuel prices into consideration. Further the boat does need to shelter me from the elements somewhat, so a very low and open boat was no real option. I considered a RIB for a while but they are more expensive and not as durable. Maybe durable is the incorrect word but what I am trying to say is that I would not feel entirely comfortable leaving an inflatable boat in Amsterdam all day or night (in case I do travel home by public transportation for whatever reason). After some browsing and research I opted for two brands of boats, Piranha and Shakespeare. Both have produced boats which meet my requirements. I went see a few and eventually purchased a yellow Shakespeare Mini Sportsman including trailer for 600 EUR.

Shakespeare Mini Sportsman

The reason why I chose this particular boat is that it is in a relatively original condition. Unfortunately not the original steering wheel and seats but everything else is there and in pretty good nick. See the external links for a good website with information on Shakespeare speedboats.