We had a dream of spending 6 months a year boating in Europe travelling the inland waterways. Encore made that dream come true when we bought her in 2013. Now it is time to pass her on to new dreamers. Perhaps that will be you?
Encore's hull was built in 1996 by Tayberg Steel in Brighouse, Yorkshire, England. She was commissioned by a gentleman known to us as Dr. Tony, who took her as a bare boat and supervised the fitting out. The design is that of a replica Dutch barge of the LuxeMotor style . He named the boat Fenix. We have some photos and receipts from Dr.
Encore's hull was built in 1996 by Tayberg Steel in Brighouse, Yorkshire, England. She was commissioned by a gentleman known to us as Dr. Tony, who took her as a bare boat and supervised the fitting out. The design is that of a replica Dutch barge of the LuxeMotor style . He named the boat Fenix. We have some photos and receipts from Dr. Tony's time. In about 2000 he changed the engine to the current Perkins diesel and added the keel cooling.
In 2001 or so he brought Fenix across the English Channel and travelled about the French canals for a time.
In 2005 or so he sold the boat to an American couple from Texas by way of Thailand.They renamed the boat Leprechaun II, after their sailboat, Leprechaun I. Terry and Iris travelled around France, Belgium and the Netherlands until age and health problems led them to put the boat up for sale. In their ownership period they did some remodelling of the interior, in particular removing the wood burning stove which allowed for more sitting room in the salon.
We were looking for a boat in 2013, after several years of rental boats and reading up on the Barge Association website we thought we were ready to take to the water in earnest. We had discovered that many barges, though quite long and roomy, did not have the head room that 6 foot 6 inch Stan needed, This boat appealed to us and when we established the headroom was 2 m everywhere but the wheelhouse, we decided to go for it.
Stan came over and met with Terry and Iris, drove the boat a bit, and was there for the survey. We did the purchase in America in US dollars, which was very simple, and in 2014 we took possession and began life on the waterways.
Pretty much the first thing we did was re-name her, not being especially attracted to leprechauns.
We think your should know as much as possible about a boat you are considering buying. No boat is perfect just as no house is perfect (we know because we used to sell houses). These are areas that could use some remodelling or refurbishing in the future and this is reflected in our price
We think your should know as much as possible about a boat you are considering buying. No boat is perfect just as no house is perfect (we know because we used to sell houses). These are areas that could use some remodelling or refurbishing in the future and this is reflected in our price
In French, encore means again, still, in the sense of continuity, persistance.
In English it means ,among other things, a second achievement ,especially one that surpasses the first.
We had been coming to France in particular and Europe in general on vacations during our working days, since 1999. So both as a continuity and a second act
In French, encore means again, still, in the sense of continuity, persistance.
In English it means ,among other things, a second achievement ,especially one that surpasses the first.
We had been coming to France in particular and Europe in general on vacations during our working days, since 1999. So both as a continuity and a second act after retirement that could perhaps surpass the first....Encore seemed a perfect choice.
A perfect choice for us. You may have a different name in mind and neither Encore nor the Hammonds will mind that.
We are asking $110,000 for the sale, which will include essentially everything on the boat except our clothes and some art work on the wall.
Ideally, we would love to arrange a sale in US dollars, handled in America with a notary or lawyer as the go between . We are open to various forms of contract. We expect the buyer to want to do thei
We are asking $110,000 for the sale, which will include essentially everything on the boat except our clothes and some art work on the wall.
Ideally, we would love to arrange a sale in US dollars, handled in America with a notary or lawyer as the go between . We are open to various forms of contract. We expect the buyer to want to do their own survey but we do have a survey from June-July 2025 which we will be happy to share.
Encore is fairly heavy at 40 tons so there are a limited number of places she can be gotten out of the water. We will do our best to cooperate with a potential buyer as needed.
We expect the sale to be "as is" with regard to any items noted on our survey which we have opted not to fix and any conditions noted in Caveats.
If the buyers are American it will be easy to arrange a transfer of registration with the US Coast Guard, which is where Encore is registered now.
If the buyers are EU or British we will have to put our heads together and figure things out!
Our current plans are to spend most of July on the Seine and the Marne Rivers. August and September will be in northern France, probably between the Marne and the Oise and the Aisne.
You can reach us by email:
or
By text or phone:
Stan:
+1 510 393 6666
or
+33 06 62 92 99 78
Winter mooring is currently
Our current plans are to spend most of July on the Seine and the Marne Rivers. August and September will be in northern France, probably between the Marne and the Oise and the Aisne.
You can reach us by email:
or
By text or phone:
Stan:
+1 510 393 6666
or
+33 06 62 92 99 78
Winter mooring is currently planned for either Sillery on the Aisne a la Marne canal or a newer port at L'Isle Adam on the Oise. Both are within 2 hours driving time from Paris.
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