French canals - are fender boards necessary?

[Growltiger Girl]

Hello all, we are due to be heading into the French canal system for several months this summer and want to know if people consider fender boards essential. We are heading up the Seine to Paris from Le Havre, spending a month there And then heading south as far as our flybridge will allow us; we are a Princess 35 motorboat. We have lots of fenders (round and rectangular) and wonder whether fender boards are necessary. Any advice gratefully received.

 

[saskia]

Never seen a mobo with boards, though sailboats often rig them - all to do with shape I guess. I've been cruising the canals in Saskia - about 35 ft - for a dozen years or so and find a ball fore and aft and a couple of sausages rigged horizontally mid ships does just fine.

 

[Grehan]

Fender boards are a necessity IMHO on the 'Champagne' run from Paris to the Saone, which happens to be the route most reliably supplied with water and kept reasonably 'to depth' by the occasional commercial peniche passing through. Why? Because these locks fill right to the brim, which means your fenders need to protect below the waterline. They fill to the brim as an expedient measure - the locks were not built that way but the canal chain is effectively overfilled to provide a notional 1.8m depth.
Fender boards keep fenders in place in these circumstances - and also where the boat, rising or moving in a lock, can move the fenders out of the way.
See http://www.french-waterways.com/practicalities/fenders.html and http://www.french-waterways.com/practicalities/locks-ecluses.html
and video
[video]http://www.french-waterways.com/57822/[/video]

 

[Cardo]

I would also recommend fender boards, but for an additional reason. Much like when tying up to a tidal wall, though more exaggerated, as you go up and down locks, the fenders may scrape up or down the lock wall. Some locks have rough walls that may lead to premature perishing of your fenders. A plank of wood over the outside of your fenders will help protect them.