Brittany canals

[johndf]

The official max draught for the canal from Dinan to the South coast of Brittany is 1.2 metres. Mine is 1.3 metres, so that suggests that I wouldn't get through, but I've heard that these min draughts are often a bit conservative figures (except in a very dry summer).

Has anyone done this route with a draught over 1.2?

 

[rogerroger]

fresh water also has less boyancy than salt - so your draft in canals will actually be a little more...

/forums/images/icons/cool.gif Roger Holden /forums/images/icons/cool.gif
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.first-magnitude.co.uk>First Magnitude</A>

 

[johndf]

A good point. How much does this increase ones draught? (obviously this depends a bit on the waterline profile of the boat)

 

[Gunfleet]

John, I did it last year and this. (aller retour) It's fantastic fun, unlike anything else you'll do in a boat. I'd reccommend it, if there's any chance you can. However, 1.2 is marginal, esp at Evran (naufrage, is the French term, means it's full of weed on the surface and the bottom) and there is an area south of Rennes which might be difficult for a boat drawing 1.2 (not impossible, difficult). The good news? How about £12 to lower your mast in Dinan from the charming and endlessly patient harbourmaster there? Or £10 per hour (you supply the labour) to rent the new crane in Redon when you want to raise it again? Or how about nothing, zero, zilch spent on mooring between Dinan and Redon, even though you may sometimes have access to electricity and always have access to water? What fun! Unfortunately our new boat is 1.5 so it's through the chenal du four for me the next time I want to descend to southern Brittany. PM me if you'd like further info.
John

 

[Twister_Ken]

Add 10 cm is the usual rule of thumb for salt to fresh. Plus another 10cm for all the wine aboard, another 5cm for the great big tyres you'll carry as fenders, another 5 cm for your bikes, pot plants, chickens, etc. And allow another 10cm for the increase in the skipper and crews' waistlines, exposed to so much good French cooking. Oh dear, she's just got irrevocably stuck outside of a nice little bistrot in Les Rosbifs sur Biere. Can you redirect our post?

 

[johndf]

Thanks very much for the advice. It looks as though I'm unlikely to be ableto get through with my draught of 1.3 metres.

 

[VMALLOWS]

Thanks for the update on the Dinan and Redon cranes. I assume both are totaly DIY? (preferable to the fun and games I've had at Le Havre and St. Valerie sur Somme......though would need to recruit/exchange some 'friendly labour' to assist.

At 1.12m 'official' draft (more realistically 1.2m) I am somewhat marginal also. Touched in soft mud once or twice on the way to Dinan, but the lock was displaying 0.9m (late summer). Will definately give it a go........so what if I get stuck there for a month or two!.

Am I correct still that - being Brittany - you dont need a vignette??

 

[VMALLOWS]

Sorry. Also, is that Dinan crane adequate for a mast of about 10m? (Sadler 29).

Thanks.

 

[Gunfleet]

They're just had a new one installed in Redon. It's completely DIY and you hire the control gadget from the capitainerie, against a deposit of about £50. I thinkit's about 16 euros an hour and she will usually charge you for one hour. Or if you want the super duper service matage, go to the chandlery. He'll charge about £20 but do it for you.
In Dinan it's an entirely different matter. The Harbourmaster does the whole shebang and charges what he thinks is right according to your face/length of vessel. Expect to pay about £12. Since he does a couple every day in the summer he's an out and out expert. Trust me, you can't compete. Re depths? 1.2 metres? Ask the Harbourmaster at Dinan and he'll tell you what can and can't be done in any particular month. It's that simple. 1.2 is pretty marginal even up to Dinan but you may be lucky with the levels, esp early in the season. You'll be fine on most of the Vilaine, it's the areas closest to Rennes where you''ll struggle. I have seen an eclusier drain water out to let a boat under a bridge next to his lock. If they can be helpful they will be. The canals are not controlled by VNF and do not expect to see vignettes. If they have any form of policing it is under deep deep cover. There's a Nauticarte that covers the Breton canals which has most of the info including phone numbers. Just do it. It's lovely.

 

[Gunfleet]

Definitely. All the locks are manned too. With an overwhelming sense of self confidence, you could singlehand the canals in Brittany. I haven't done it but you could.

 

[VMALLOWS]

Thanks JohnM for all the useful info. Love the canals. Even SWMBO likes them.....even if I have to send her to St Malo on the ferry! (She's done it across channel numerous times, but had a couple of 'nasties' when the 'back on time for Monday' prevailed!).

 

[johndf]

I got up to Dinan last October with my 1.3m draught - the echo sounder reorted 1.3m several times and 1.2 once, but there was no evidence of touching bottom. Either the sounder was under-reading or it was very soft mud.