canal St Malo- St Nazaire

[lilianroyle]

Has anyone done this route. Some basic info would be helpful if you have. Particularly depth and whether it is an attractive trip. I can't seem to get it on the VNF site. Is it VNF run? We are thing of doing it in late July. Does it get very shallow in Summer.
Thanks

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[Sybarite]

Does this help?

http://www.peniche.com/33dim_ouest.htm

NB TA = tirant d'air = Air draft
TE = tirant d'eau = draft

John

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[charles_reed]

The Brittany canals are very shallow, reported depths are as low as 1m.

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[Gunfleet]

3 summers ago I was grounding and bouncing along the bottom in a boat with 2'6" (80cm) draft at Evran. But Evran is the only really shallow spot.
John


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[steve_cronin]

Yes, we did it a few years back and I still have the file and photos.

The boat drew 0.8m but we still managed to hit the odd tree root particularly on the "Summit"

It is 64 locks (all manned and closing at 7pm) and the canal avoids villages so it's always a good walk to get provisions/meals out/wine. Then there are the bugs! Millions of them. then there's the grit carried aboard from the quaysides.

if you like endless miles of tree lined waterway it's endurable but best treated purely as a delivery trip.

Masts can be lowered at St Servan or Dinan and re-stepped at Roche Bernard.

Send me a PM and I'll mail the file to you.

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[Twister_Ken]

Can't remember any details, but recall reading of a boat that got stranded there a few years back. Unable to go forwards and unable to go back because water levels had dropped.

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[VicMallows]

No, the Brittany canals are not VNF: no vignette required.

Am planning the St Malo-Arzal trip this year; everything is saying 1.2m unless anyone knows different? Steve, (or others) have you used the crane at Dinan? (been there) any experiences?

Vic

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[LadyInBed]

I didn’t use it, but have seen it in action, all very laid back.
The narrative of my first round trip can be found <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kahawi.co.uk/Baker> here, </A> the Vilaine Rance bit is near the end.


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[Gunfleet]

Vic,
the chef du port in Dinan is very friendly and will help you and will tell you how much water there is between there and Rennes. Once you have got past Evran there's not much to worry abt. Frankly I find 1.2M incredible, but maybe you have better informed correspondents. There is about 1.4 with a bit of bumping from St Malo up to Dinan. By the way the Ch du port also does the demasting (dematage) at Dinan. He won't let you do it. It costs *£12*!!! or so. Do you want to do it now? You can do it yourself at the other end or pay someone to do it. It's about £20 to rent the crane in Redon and they have a brand new bright blue crane. You have to leave a good sized deposit but the lady in the capitainerie has the electronic gizmo to work the crane there.

I will be on the Rance during the Easter hols and will make enquiries abt depths in the canals if you like.

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[Ocean Hound]

Go round the outside. Much more interesting and slightly more challenging. Lots of superb stopovers all the way round and numerous places you can over-winter. I took me a year to get down to the Morbihan doing it in bits and pieces, flying back & forth and I would do it again visiting those ports I missed. As for the Morbihan and it's islands - reckon on a full season, maybe two, over-winter at Roche Bernard, then onward to La Rochelle, Ile de Re etc. I, thanks to Rynair, am still still working my way round what must be some of the most superb cruising grounds in Europe. This season - may be Spain, on the other hand....

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