you are probably correct as to time, but the Rijn canal is usually uncomfortable due to reflected wash and has a heavy barge traffic. Large lock complex at the end. Unless it has changed, yachts are put in the back of the lock, when there is a lot of commercial traffic. plenty of head room though, 9.8 mtr from memory
Thanks for all the tips. There are many sites on the Standing Mast routes and a lot of information but I have not found one consolidated guide that properly explains bridges, locks and convoys, and many of the sites that are referred to seem to be in Dutch only.
Basically, my boat is in Amsterdam and on Saturday 30/8 I have to take her to Rotterdam with latest arrival in Rotterdam at 11.00 on Sunday 31/8 - so I have about 24 hrs to do it. I can collapse the little mast on my Grand Banks such that my height doesn't exceed 5m. What is the best route for me to take, and can it be done safely without risk of delay? I don't want to risk getting stuck somewhere behind a bridge with clearance less than 5m that only opens once a day only to miss my arrival deadline (which is firm, I'll have flights to catch).
My fallback is to just go to Rotterdam along the coast but that'll make me more exposed to the weather + it would be less fun!
I hope to get some advice here so that I can start my planning. Thanks in advance!
Ok guys, thanks for all your help so far. I have bought the recommended Wateratlas, Wateralmanak and the Imray guide and I have planned my route from Amsterdam to Rotterdam. I'll go via Haarlem, Sassenheim,Be aware the haarlem way is much much slower than to Amsterdam and through the city. exepct long bridge waits for another craft. ie you turn up and wait 20 mins in the hope somebody else will arrive.
Oude Woutering and Gouda. I have checked height and opening hours of every bridge and lock on my route and thanks to the books I feel comfortable that my planning is good. I have two questions, however, that I hope you can help me with:
1) Height: By collapsing mast, bimini and vhf antennas I can reduce my total height from the waterline to 4m. Many bridges are lower and I'll just wait for them to open, but amongst those that are higher the lowest will be 4.3m - is a 30cm margin safe? I guess there can be small variations in water levels and a bit of waves from passing ships can make me bob a up and down a bit - should I go f
We kept our boat in this area for just under 30 years.
Dutch bridge heights are very accurate and well marked. If it says 4 it is 4. If you can get down to 4 mtr you will get under the side of the coenecoopbrug. We draw 2 mtrs and are 4 mtrs high and always went under.
a bigger margin? I really don't want to lose my flybridge windscreen!
2) Operating hours: Since I'll only be able to leave Amsterdam around 10.00, I'm worried that I may not make it past the last bridges before Gouda (Hefbrug te Boskoop/663, Hefbrug te Waddinxveen/664 and Coenecoopbrug/665) before 18.00. The almanak states Saturday operating hours until 18.00 - however the Imray guides states that in Jun-Jul-Aug the bridges are operated until 20.00 - which is the right version? Should the ending times - whichever are the correct ones - be considered final or can I call up by VHF for a special favour to get them opened a bit past hours?
Very unlikely to get a special opening, however if a barge is going down you can follow it and special exclusions can take place. Particulaly the closed time due to road traffic will be ignored. look at the web pages I indiicated earlier, direct from the water authority.
Once I'm past these three bridges I'm practically in Gouda where I may then spend the night, The yacht waiting area for the gouda rail bridge makes for a safe and free mooring, (dingy trip to gouda is good Best Gouda moorings need locking into town.), particularly for the delivery type voyage. Tie up securely on the good stagings.
DO NOT press on towards Rotterdam AS there are few good mooring possibilities in the tidal ijissel river, until the marina nearish to the junction with the maas
3) If I run out of time around 18.00 (which seems to be the end of operating hours for most bridges on Saturdays) and get stuck somewhere between two bridges, can I just moor along the side of the canal and spend the night? I guess I won't have much choice but if I'll get authorities on my back I'll rather play it safer and moor somewhere authorized earlier.
as much of the canal is un moorable as there are no bollards. near the bridges there are some tie ups. oude wettering, and booskoop have some quay. but tie up securely as if a commercial boat passes there is considerable draw.
4) Once I reach Gouda the rest of the route to Rotterdam is pretty open and should be easy, so my target is to make it to Gouda on Saturday. Is it realistic to make it by 18.00? And can anybody recommend a nice spot to moor for the night in Gouda? Will I have to go to a marina or can I moor along the canal just for the night? If running late anchor in the wide AA, delightful and no commercial traffic. moorings in Alphen by bridge
5) Are there any restrictions for night-time navigation on the canals (apart from bridges and locks)? I assume the same rules apply for navigation/steaming lights?not aware of a restriction, normal nav lights etc
Sorry for the newbie questions, but I have to start somewhere and while the almanaks are helpful, you guys on this forum are invaluable! Thanks in advance.