French Canals

[Guest]

Is it possible to cruise the French Canals and avoid paying marina and harbour dues?

 

[mainshiptom]

I have done the french canals twice ! Things are very relaxed on the other side, First time we went it was all free anyhow 1993 ! (inc water and electricty at some places)

sECOND TIME 2001 We were suipose to pay but found it very diffuclt to find the right person to pay to.

All the lock keepers could not take our money and the man in the suit never was around to pay too..

But even if you pay it is very cheap and the lock keepers are ever so nice offering you water and stuff to buy, normmally veg from there veg patch, I would go and just remmber the pace is very slow..

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your message. We are looking forward to the slower pace of life!

 

[Guest]

Absolutely - I spent 8 months with my catamaran in the canals - and never paid once! Take a hefty pair of canal stakes [but be prepared to jump off and stand on the balsted things when a peniche comes past - they tend to suck you out!] I was off the beaten track doing a round-a-bout circuit in the Belgian Ardennes, French Ardennes,down to the Rhgone and back to Calais. the only place I paid was in Reims, where I left the boat for a month. the French tourist board put in pontoons in out of the wayplaces, to attract tourists to the villages - and they were all free when I visited.
Don't edpect to get too far in a day - if you do 20 locks, you will know it. Best advice - make plastic skirts for the boat, and place tyres end to end - but make sure you drill through the top of the tyre, rather than wrap a line round it - that way the lines doesn't fray on the lock side. I know the rules say no tyres - but otherwise you'll end up throwing the fenders away later - and your topsides will look a right mess! Oh by the way - I'm also going through again - this time to the Med in April/May. Good luck