Going through the French Canals with a 36 footer. Advice please

[SpectoMarine]

Hi there
Currently preparing for a delivery from the UK to Palma, Mallorca. The plan is to do through the french canals. I am looking for some advice and if anyone has done it.

We are looking for the quickest route as its a job not a holiday.

I understand we can only move during the day?
What is the quickest easiest route?
Do you have to pay for locks etc or is it all free?


Any help is much appreciated.

 

[Tranona]

You will find most of your questions answered on www.french-waterways.co particularly the "Hands On" tab which has the information on routes, critical dimensions, regulations etc.

However TBH you may well find it far cheaper, quicker and easier to send the boat by road to somewhere like Sant Carles and then complete the short sea passage to Majorca.

 

[petem]

UK to Sant Carles would be £4500 + Vat by road.

 

[stelican]

UK to Sant Carles would be £4500 + Vat by road.

who is that with?

 

[petem]

who is that with?

Coast2Coast but others a similar price.

 

[jfm]

Yup, I too can't believe the canals makes sense for a commercial job. There are loads of delay scenarios including grounding where the canal has silted and isn't as deep as the book says. I agree that road transport makes much more sense for that size of boat.

 

[Lloydroberts]

Yup, I too can't believe the canals makes sense for a commercial job. There are loads of delay scenarios including grounding where the canal has silted and isn't as deep as the book says. I agree that road transport makes much more sense for that size of boat.

From an owners point of view but......a skippers(£££s)?

 

[petem]

Isn't the trip rather sensitive to the time of year? Do it when there's rain and you can suffer damage from submerged or floating objects like logs?

 

[stelican]

Isn't the trip rather sensitive to the time of year? Do it when there's rain and you can suffer damage from submerged or floating objects like logs?

I believe it is a requirement that everybody has black water tanks nowadays.

 

[Tranona]

I believe it is a requirement that everybody has black water tanks nowadays.

Not in the canals.

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

Keep your head down and your bottom up! …. :encouragement:

 

[stelican]

Not in the canals.

Hence the warning of logs!

 

[Grehan]

https://www.french-waterways.com/practicalities/canal-route-mediterranean/
Amongst many other (400+) pages of information . . .