Description

Dreamed about exploring France, Belgium, Netherlands and most of Europe? This is your chance, aboard a totally refurbished 12 meter (40’) Steel Dutch Palma Cruiser - launched in 1980, with a newer John Deer Engine installed before our purchase 2014.
New exterior paint 2026, Interior upgrades throughout!
KEEL COOLING – eliminating straining external water to the engine and no need to winterize.
We have owned Zwerver for 12 years. We Cruised 10 years in France and 2 in Belgium/ Netherlands.
Medical issues are forcing this sale, even after brand new paint this year at K.Kooistra Jachtschilders, Akkrum, Netherlands. The boat will be ready June 20th, just after our arrival.

Interior Layout: The V-berth is forward and is king-size which closes off from the dining area with a privacy curtain (storage underneath). The galley has a settee for 4 on the port side, that can be made into a bed
(cabinets at the ends, storage underneath). A convection oven/microwave sits on a large peninsula counter. Opposite, and to starboard, is a large stainless counter, a large sink, then a drainboard and 3 burner
propane stove with a glass top. Below is the AC/propane refrigerator.

Up 2 steps is the Saloon with the Inside steering station, a very large L-shaped couch, 2 padded chairs, and a coffee table. Cabinets run along the port side. The saloon Floor boards lift up for great engine access and is covered with a large Turkish wool rug.

To the rear and down 2 steps is the dressing area with extensive cabinets. The head and shower are on the left, and further aft is the master suit. The double berth (storage under) is to starboard, a large hanging closet, is in the rear and a bunk bed on the port side has huge storage underneath.

The windows allow great light and
visibility, plus one front and aft open for air circulation and a pass through to the cockpit. The Boat entry is a sliding wood door on the port side and 2 steps down into the saloon. There is also a matching ½ door on the starboard side. The saloon roof is a huge hatch that can be raised.

Exterior: All new paint THIS YEAR May/June 2026. Nice side decks with metal railings and two steps up (port and starboard) to rear cockpit. The cockpit is very large and will seat 6-8. Outside Steering station has a box seat, along with 4 folding chairs, 2 lounge chairs, and a folding teak table. The window pass through to the cockpit makes meals and entertaining easy and enjoyable. This cockpit, with its sunshades, is one of Zwerver’s very best features!!

ZWERVER INFORMATION AND HISTORY
We purchased Zwerver in 2014 from a New Zealand couple, at a private sale in
St Jean de Losne, France. Steve and Sonja cruised for 10 years in Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany, as we have for the past 12 years. Do to needing frequent shots for Jack’s Wet Macular Degeneration, we have decided we must sale Zwerver, even though we are having the entire exterior
painted in May/June 2026. During our 12 years of ownership we have upgraded many systems, always had the engine professionally serviced every year, and taken great care of our beloved Zwerver. In
2017 we took on a 50% partnership with friends, but do to medical condition and unable to use the boat, they sold the partnership to our daughter and her husband in 2022.

The cruising season, depending somewhat where you are in Europe, is approximately 6 months – May thru October. We obtained a 6 month visa (no visa needed for up to 90 days) more than half of our cruising years, as we would extend our travels to other countries while in Europe. Our partnerships have worked out very well and quite a few cruising boats that we met shared their boat
with other partners. Boating in Europe is much less expensive than the USA as there are a lot of free places to dock plus marina fees are very reasonable as well as winter storage. For example: A yearly berth in Zwartsluis, NL. Is 1,000 Euros (our friends do this and come and go from that moorage, and
leave their boat there for the winter) We have wintered on the hard and in the water over the years and both have their advantages. In St Jean de Losne, FR at Blanquarts we paid 938 euros for 6 months on the hard but then extra for hauling out and bottom paint in the spring. In Toule, FR we stayed in the water and paid 1,340 euros for 6 months. Last winter we were in Stevensweert, NL and paid even less (on the hard) Our latest yearly Insurance was 800Euros with Seaology for full coverage. . Our last boat survey, which was for new Insurance, was in 2018. Unfortunately, it would be on the boat with all of our other information.
The boat is very sound and
all maintenance records are aboard. Over the years we did selected area painting on the upper deck, and there were a few scratches on the hull, but nothing serious. Over the past 12 years a couple of the galley windows had leaked a bit. Many windows will be removed for the painting and resealed afterwards.

Zwerver deserved to have new paint – top to bottom – which wont be started until May. There is no specific damage requiring the paint, just wear and tear.

While cruising in Netherlands and Friesland last year we shopped for a painting location,
interviewing several companies. In our opinion, K.Kooistra was by far the best, most recommended, even though not the
cheapest. Everyone told us over the years that if you wanted a good paint job, have it done in the Netherlands and that is what now is in progress.

Zwerver will be viewable after June 20, when she comes from the paint shop. We arrive just before then from Colorado, USA. We will then be cruising in the Netherlands and possibly Belgium until we must leave on July 21. The boat will be viewable, but in various locations while we’re cruising.

Specifications

Equipment

ZWERVER EQUIPMENT LIST (To the best of our knowledge, records are on the boat.)
VESSEL TYPE: Motor Cruiser - Steel
MODEL: Degroot Palma
YEAR: Launched 1980 Holland
LENGTH: 12 meters (40’)
WIDTH: 3.3 meters
DRAFT: 1 meter
WATER: 500 liters
DIESEL: 300 liters ( two tanks, uses aprox 2.5 liters to 3.5 liters PH
ENGINE: John Deer 86HP New Aprox in 1910 (Had 1900 hours in 2014)
Professionally maintained and serviced annually
KEEL COOLING: Closed-circuit engine cooling. Eliminating external water being brought in. No
cleaning strainers! No need to winterize engine.
FRIDGE: Gas/220v - new 2019, new External fan 2024
STOVE: Gas 3 burner with glass top - new 2019
CONVECTION/MICROWAVE
HOT WATER: Shore Power and Engine Heated New 2024
BATTERIES: Starter- 2 Deep Cycle House- 2 large golf cart type
ELECTRIC WINDLASS
BOW THRUSTER
STUFFING BOX: Replaced 2023 at Blanquarts, St Jean de Losne
2 GAS BOTTLES: Pressure regulator new 2025
1 BBQ GAS BOTTLE
AIR CONDITIONER: New 2018 Used in southern France
DEHUMIDIFIER: New 2018 Used 1 winter season in Southern France
WIFI EXTENDER: Wifi and Blu-tooth AMP for ceiling speakers, External booster
SHOWER: Auto Drain System, Shower curtains are used to separate toilet area
FUSE BLOCKS: New modern blade fuses 2025
TV: swing down in saloon
UPHOLSTERY: Living-room L shaped couch and dining settee – new 2019
RUGS: Large Turkish rug in Living room and narrow one in galley.
WINDOW COVERINGS: Inside – curtains cover most all windows
Outside – snap on coverings for front and side windows
SUNSHADE: Light weight covering for entire boat ( Zwerver Burqa) 2019
Side shades for cockpit
TEAK TABLE Fold up in cockpit, seats 8
COCKPIT CHAIRS: 4 folding for dining 2 folding lounge chairs
LADDER/GANG PLANK: Aluminum
MOORING STAKES AND HAMMER
FENDERS: Lots of large fenders. Usually left down in France for locks
LINES: Great assortment of nice mooring lines
ACCOMODATES: 5-6 persons, 4 easily, 2 is lovely!
GALLEY: Fully stocked with dishes, glasses, cooking, utensils
BEDDING/LINENS: 2-3 sets of linens for each bed and assortment of towels
TOOLS: Multiple sets of hand tools and many electrical tools (sanders, drills, etc.)

Engine(s)

Safety Equipment

Fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, life jackets

Location Map