Anyone who actively goes boating in the south-east of Germany will not be able to avoid Wassersport Durdel in Dresden-Heidenau. Company founder Bernd Durdel was already repairing "state-owned" outboard motors of the "Forelle" and other brands in GDR times.
At the time, there was a regulation that stipulated that five per cent of each company's output had to be "population-effective". As the "repair of boat engines" sector had just become vacant, Durdel, as a trained mechanical engineer, jumped at the chance. "People had to improvise a lot during this time," says Durdel, pointing to an old GDR outboard motor where a starter motor from a Trabi was fitted due to a lack of suitable spare parts.
If you visit Durdel's premises, you will of course not only find "Ostalgic" items and curiosities from the GDR era. Today, engines from Mercury, Honda and Suzuki, among others, are sold and, of course, serviced. The service is so good that the name Durdel is known far beyond the borders of Saxony. Of course, junior Sven Durdel also ensures the necessary publicity.
The 32-year-old business graduate recently took over the business from his father and is an enthusiastic inflatable boat driver. Although the term "rubber dinghy" for his Valiant V 750 RIB with a 300 hp Mercury Verado engine is probably a slight understatement. As soon as the weather and operations allow, Durdel junior is out on the water in his "rubber boat for big boys".
Favourite destinations include the Elbe on the doorstep, the Lusatian lakes and, when things are going well, the Baltic Sea. "We've noticed a significant uptake since we've been travelling with the RIB on the relevant waters around Dresden. People are increasingly asking what opportunities there are to get out on the water. Of course, the necessary small change plays a major role here, but our range extends from 2.30-metre inflatable boats to 11-metre motor yachts, so there is something to suit every budget and taste."
If you can't decide on one of the new boats on offer from Quicksilver, Glastron, Terhi and Viper at Durdel, you might find what you're looking for among the used boats that are also on display in Heidenau.
After boats and accessories, it is increasingly the engine technology that fascinates customers and encourages them to buy. "We've seen a recent trend towards getting more power on board, especially as modern engine technology is more efficient and economical." Sven Durdel says again.
In addition to water sports, industrial mechanical engineering is another mainstay of the company. This sector is managed by Sven's older brother Uwe. He is the master of a whole fleet of modern CNC-controlled machines that continuously churn out metal parts of all kinds for the series production of aggregates.
To ensure that boats, spare engine parts and materials can be stored correctly, Durdels has recently
"built on". A neighbouring three-sided farm, which was on the verge of falling into disrepair, has been lovingly restored and rebuilt in style. Where once there were pigs, cows, horses and heavy tractors, there are now boats of all kinds under the old oak beams, waiting to be used in the nearby Elbe.
If you want to visit the resourceful Saxons on the Elbe yourself, you will find Wassersport Durdel in Dresden-Heidenau just to the left behind the town hall.
Further information is available from Wassersport Durdel, Pillnitzer Straße 8, 01809 Heidenau, Tel.: 035 29- 52 09 33, www.durdel.de
