French canals 2013

Well, let's hope we don't change our minds and decide to head back up the canals, as it's certainly too late now! We're a sailing boat, again! (Well, still need to put the boom on, but we're pretty much there ;) ).

Went with Navy Service as they were recommended. €100 per half hour. Ooof, thought that was going to sting. But could not fault them. Two guys swarmed the boat whilst one stayed to control the crane. Mast up, everything attached and off they went to their next job. Probably didn't even hit the 30 minute mark in all. Left me to tighten up stays, etc. to the appropriate spots.
Turned out cheaper than de-masting at Rouen, I was very impressed. Especially considering it's blowing pretty hard here with nasty gusts, didn't phase them at all!

Time to enjoy the town and hopefully head off at the weekend. Stay safe, all!
 
Now in Sillery for the weekend, no-one seems to be in charge,water and electricity are free as are the moorings. Some problems with weed round the prop but nothing that a bursts astern didn't cure.
Grehan we are looking at over wintering somewhere, do you have any recommendations,St.Jean de Losne looks a possibility
 
Congratulations Cardo on completing the Canals!! We also chose to re'mast at Navy Service and found them excellent. Where to next?

Paul Shard - Distant Shores II - Martinique
 
Thanks Grehan, probably sounds like we will over winter there. Just a update on Conde, still water and electricity, depth is a bit shallow though on the inner pontoons.
We are now in Chalons-en-Champagne, and despite the poor write up in Fluviacarte, is a very well maintained 'relais nautique'. Thanks for the update Cardo.
 
Hi, a newbie here with a couple of questions
is it advisable to do le havre to marseille via the canals in the winter?
are the locks navigable/manageble single handed on a motor cruiser?
many thanks and safe cruising,
Craig
 
Hi Craig and Welcome
Answers . .
a) no
b) yes, but some will be quite tricky and will require development of a 'technique'.

Many, many, things both central and peripheral to your trip, can be found on french-waterways.com - currently 1,250-ish page views per day.
 
cheers Grehan, what sort of 'technique' do you mean,or would it be dependant on boat?

also what would be the earliest/latest time of uear to do the trip in your mind
thanks again
 
The technique to understand what kind of lock you are approaching/entering (they differ greatly), how you should enter, tie up, operate the controls (some may require getting off the boat / climbing up the lock ladder), get back to the boat, keep her under control as the lock fills, etc etc. 'Going down' is usually very much easier than 'going up' and big locks are usually much easier than small ones. http://www.french-waterways.com/locks.html

Earliest time of year depends on Spring conditions, rainfall and snow melt (for the Rhone - other canals can be available throughout the year, except for ice or maintenance works closures). Possibly late March, but maybe not until May. Depends. http://www.french-waterways.com/weather-wind-waterflow.html
Latest? Again variable! October can be quite viable, into November.
 
Grehan said:
The technique to understand what kind of lock you are approaching/entering (they differ greatly), how you should enter, tie up, operate the controls (some may require getting off the boat / climbing up the lock ladder), get back to the boat, keep her under control as the lock fills, etc etc. 'Going down' is usually very much easier than 'going up' and big locks are usually much easier than small ones. http://www.french-waterways.com/locks.html

Earliest time of year depends on Spring conditions, rainfall and snow melt (for the Rhone - other canals can be available throughout the year, except for ice or maintenance works closures). Possibly late March, but maybe not until May. Depends. http://www.french-waterways.com/weather-wind-waterflow.html
Latest? Again variable! October can be quite viable, into November.
Click to expand...

thank you again,
do I take it then that some of the locks are not 'manned' so no assistance available?
sorry for so many questions but just getting into 'serious' boating and have only navigated locks in the uk that are manned
 
It depends on which canal you're on. The big ones on the Seine and Rhone are all manned (although they're all sitting in their towers and are unlikely to come and help take lines). On routes like the Marne/Saone, although the locks are automatic (mostly) you obviously still have to tie up, and then activate it yourself, as Grehan said. I'd imagine the "twisty poles" in the middle of the river become less like a fun jousting game and more of a logistical pain in the backside for a single hander...
 
Very few eclusiers will assist. Many ecluses are not manned - telecommandes, twisty poles, radar automation - or if they are, the eclusier's up in a control tower or otherwise not available. I also suspect that 'on the spot' 'handling the controls' eclusiers are subject to the implication that if they assist and something goes wrong, then there may be some liability question. Even so, some are helpful to boats obviously needing some help.
I don't know the British waterways at all; I would guess the two might be very different in this respect.
 
just arrived down in St Jean de Losne - 72 locks in the last 10 days and nearly all (bar 12) were fully automatic ie. using the remote control lent for the duration. Press the appropriate button to activate the lock going up or down (sets the lock water level and opens the gates. Then once in and secure press"bassinee" and the lock operates -gates close, up/down goes the water and the gates then open and off you go to the next one.

VNF says the plan is to make all the locks fully automatic with remote control in the section from Chaumont to the Saone by next spring. hope thats of use.
 
Andy and Lyn said:
just arrived down in St Jean de Losne - 72 locks in the last 10 days and nearly all (bar 12) were fully automatic ie. using the remote control lent for the duration. Press the appropriate button to activate the lock going up or down (sets the lock water level and opens the gates. Then once in and secure press"bassinee" and the lock operates -gates close, up/down goes the water and the gates then open and off you go to the next one.

VNF says the plan is to make all the locks fully automatic with remote control in the section from Chaumont to the Saone by next spring. hope thats of use.
Click to expand...

many thanks,I think it must be a conspiracy against me so that I dont make the trip single handed
 
hartcjhart said:
many thanks,I think it must be a conspiracy against me so that I dont make the trip single handed
Click to expand...

not from me - quite the opposite in fact! I did single handed from Rouen - thro Paris to Epernay and along the Marne as far as Chaumont! A lot of locks, a lot of current and all uphill!
It's just a question of organisation - My boat works well with a line from the centre cleat and one from the stern! So, into the lock (lines arranged beforehand) and I used the steel ladders rather than the bollards on the top. Motor into the lock, stop by the ladder , put on the centre line by looping it through a rung, do the same with the aft line then operate the lock either by remote conrol or by lifting the "blue rod". If someone is at the lock just ask them to do it - if not - and i only had to do it on a few occasions, up the ladder do the pole and then back on board. It's easy and do-able! As the level rises re-loop the lines on a higher rung! C'est bon!!

I spoke to the VNF guys and its not an issue using the ladders - just don't use the blue/red activation rods! (i did once though as i was in the wrong place!!). I would have no hesitation about single handed. Its just organisation and plan ahead. If you are sharing the ecluse with another boat, then explain that you want to be near the ladders or let them go ahead and have the lock to yourself!! Go for it!!
 
cheers Andy&Lyn, that makes perfect sense and as you say makes it doable,I have been sitting here making drawings of a telescopic lassoo afair something like used in the Daktari? film
 
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