1950 End of an era

After World War II, sailing ships quickly disappear from the Dutch waterways. New roads and bigger diesel engines get the freight to its destination more quickly.

Geert Otter takes over the Catrina completely in 1950, and has a 57 hp Deutz diesel engine installed under the deckhouse. He has to go down into the engine room every two hours to grease the gland and valves. Geert usually sails alone, except on trips to Paris or the Soviet occupation zone; then you have to have a crew of at least two, so his sister comes along for those.