In addition to the discussions concerning leeboards and Bouler's neighbour's toy some pictures of leeboards (or ships with them) and 'sloepen'.

In the old days the sloep (sloop) was used as a tender or sometimes lifeboat on larger ships, nowadays quite the thing to go cruising the Dutch canals in. They range in length from approximately 5 metres to 11 metres and in price from 15.000 Euros to upwards of 150.000 Euros. Some have been to designed for speeds up to 30 knots others are equipped with an electric or diesel-electric engine for slow cruising only.

Hope you enjoy,

regards,

Jeroen