French waterways

[blueglass]

Does anybody know the best(if any) routes through to the Med via the inland waterways for flybridge cruisers? ( air draught 3.5M)

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[DavidJ]

Yep!
By land on a low loader £3000++ and you're in the Med in a couple of days.
David

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[blueglass]

Thanks Davidj - I was hoping for a more leisurely booze cruise through the canals! If a low loader is the only way I guess we might have to look at the long way round.

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[Col]

3.3mtrs is typical Air draught. What route are you thinking of as it will affect min Air draught.

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[blueglass]

Thanks Col. To be honest I don't know any of the routes - I just wondered if there were any at all. We are considering a new boat right now and that trip down to the Med is something I have always fancied and would like a boat that enabled it. Sounds like the Hardy Commodore 36 ( air draught 3.44M) I am considering wouldn't quite make it.

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[jimg]

I know a Broom 39 went thro, not sure of it's air-draft tho

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[paulrossall]

Page 942 of Macmillan Reeds Almanac 2002 gives quickest route Le Havre-Paris-St Mammes du Loing-canal de Briare etc.too many French words for me. 1318 km (824M) 182 locks allow 4 weeks max dimentions LOA 38.5M beam 5M draft 1.8M air draft 3.5M. It gives alternative routes and list books/guides to read.
If you have 2003 Almanac look up MED routes to in index at back.
I went part way, going in at Calais and I would have thought that is an easier route as you dont have to go up the Seine and fight the current, but I am a saily boat and don't have the engine power you will have. Canal du Calais is one of the smaller ones but we were ok with 1.4M draft. You can also go that similar route by entering at Gravellines (not sure on spelling) slightly further north of Calais which is a commercial canal and the Calais one feeds into it after 4/5hours travelling time (must be 20 miles that Calais canal).
Trip is brilliant, a must do if possible, IMHO.
Good Luck Paul

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[blueglass]

Thanks Paul - I'll get this year's almanac and check that out.

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[paulrossall]

This question has been discussed at length before on the forum. Do a search on "French canals" starting at the search facility which is above between MAIN INDEX and USER OPTIONS
On the search options search all forums and make the time period all posts, or whatever gets most replies.
If you do not own a Macmillans it is not worth buying one just for this route, the whole article is only a few sentances and it cost £30, money better spent on one of the french canal guides.
PBO did an article one or two years back which had a map which showed the main routes and I think depths, but not sure about air drafts. Do search on the magazine. It would be worth buying a back copy of the mag. Don't buy a copy of the article unless it is in colour as canals were colour coded to show depths.

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[miket]

Try a command bridge style boat like the Brooms or Atlantics.

The Broom 38 (or new 39 kl) will be well withing the airdraft requirements and still give you a good turn of speed once in the Med'.

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[blueglass]

Thanks Paul - I have followed your search suggestion and had a good read. - there is a lot of stuff on the subject as you said. I didn't know about the certificate required for the inland waterways which will need looking into but I reckon a 10 minute test can't be too bad.

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[Col]

Do you reckon you would fit?

Canal du midi ecluse (lock)

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[hardy_marine]

I am from Hardy Marine, and we have just seen your post about the Commodore 36 on the French Canals. We have sold two of these to Customers who have taken them down to the Med, I think they used the Central Canal to get there. However, if you need more information please call us at the Factory on 01692 408700, we can contact our Customers and get their exact route for you.

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