I have a green light to go.......

[Frankie-H]

French canals, definitely !

Also if you haven't already, grab a copy of ' Narrow Dog To Carcassone ' by Terry Darlington - very funny and does impart the spirit of the canals and some info, but most definitely not a guide book.

There's a chap on these forums who specialises in info re the canals, someone will remember his name, I have brainfade as usual.

I also echo Narrow Dog. Very funny and Terry is a great character.

Grehan is his name and French-Waterways.com is his site. Very kind and helpful and an encyclopedic knowledge of the canals.

Have a great time.

 

[BarryH]

It is a seed of an idea at the moment. Things at home and things marital are not good. I could, with the funds in the bank, up and go knowing that the mortgage etc would be taken care of, plus she earns a decent wage anyway.
I'm trying to find out what people would take for the trip. I'd look to be travelling light......ish. The L23, for its size, is surprisingly roomy with just one on board. I wondered if heating would be needed. If so, how? I was thinking a small blown air diesel jobby, maybe.
Power requirements are another area I need to look at. I have a solar panel charging the battery at the mo. It suerves for my weekend demands and has enough time to charge the battery back up by the next time I use the boat. Obviously living on the thing will require a bigger capacity and a way of keeping it all charged.

I have and onboard water tank that holds about 10 gallons. I don't usually use this for drinking. I buy bottled water for that and always do when abroad.
Then theres costs. I have no idea of the costs for licences for the french waterways or even if you need one.
Day to day expenses. I don't want to live like a hermit on bread and water. What would one expect to be shelling out for food and drink etc? I don't have a fridge or freezer so perishables would need to be purchased as required though I'm not extravigant in that respect.

Then theres basic things like the lingo. I only speak my native tounge. I haven't even thought about things like that. Loads to think about and sort out. I just see it as a way of saving my sanity.

 

[Jaguar 25]

Definite advantage to at least try some basic French. Plenty of free courses on line. Try the BBC internet site.

 

[Seajet]

I only have dim memories of O Level French but got by perfectly well living on a hotel barge in Burgundy for a summer; the big secret to dealing with the French is to try to speak a little even if one knows it's rubbish; once they see you are trying 99.9 % of French will do their best for you, and very often turn out to speak good English !

In the summer it gets really, really seriously hot - in Burgundy anyway, cooling fans are a must but I did without air conditioning ( not much choice, only the guests got that ! ) - and I understand it gets pretty cold in the winter.

One of many tips; make friends with deckhands on Hotel barges ( Peniches ) - the crew are very often, in fact usually British, and may well be a source of endless free ice and quite possibly beer or anything else you need...

Just thinking off the top of my head, I'm wondering if it would be feasible and sensible to have the boat somewhere safe for the winter ( there are such places, I knew several British and French yachts ' stored ' afloat ) and get an apartment or room in a cheapo hotel.

From what I saw the cost of living is much less than here, but it is a simpler way of life.

 

[ronmarson]

Barry,
On my trip to Galway the biggest expense was mooring along the south coast. If I was to do it again I would anchor sooooo much more.
If you can cook, then food is fun on board. If you can't cook then food is a drain on your pocket.
You can survive on a lot less than you think, the shops are always open, or you can fill the boat with 'Stuff' that you may never use. Don't over plan. KISS
If you decide on coming to Ireland, I found most Visitor mooring was free, or very cheap except in the big sailing harbours, such as Kinsale, Dingle ... If I can help with anything this end let me know.
I thought about France but, like you I had no French and I understand they don't like folk who can't parla vous, and I was having problems getting the boat onto the SSR as I was not resident in UK.
For France you will need VHF cert, Cefni, not a big deal, and SSR.
Capt. RoN
PS. Don't wait too long, you are only getting older.

 

[BarryH]

Don't wait too long, you are only getting older.

Thanks for that, don't remind me. I hit 49 this saturday an I'm trying not to think about it!
The boat is already on the SSR. I have a vhf cert. CEVNI I can sort. I have RYA powerboat qualifications but not sail. Still lots to think about. I will be giving Ireland a miss I think. I married an Irish woman an don't need reminding!!

 

[doug748]

A story to get you stated:

http://www.bluemoment.com/200pm.html

PS

I would not want an expensive heater or a built in fridge in a small boat.

 

[Colvic Watson]

I'd do Holland for the season this year, free moorings everywhere and cheap ones in the towns, fun life in that size boat and the Dutch are great. Then head down the canals over autumn - great fun. Then winter in the Med. Good luck, we only get one life on earth.

 

[Blueboatman]

I'd do Holland for the season this year, free moorings everywhere and cheap ones in the towns, fun life in that size boat and the Dutch are great. Then head down the canals over autumn - great fun. Then winter in the Med. Good luck, we only get one life on earth.

I think that itinerary would cover a lot of bases for the OP, excellent and adaptable too.

Barry, I lived on a Corribee for ooh 5 years, it seemed to get both bigger and simpler as one went along to the sun and got storage organised..
Btw I removed: An inboard engine, a loo, a sink.
I added a100l flex water tank and a couple of duvets and a flowerpot ( heater)
One leisure battery, 18w solar ( which even now I still have), a wee wind generator, spare dinghy oars, dodgers and eventually a spray dodger. One fluorescent light, big nav lights, autopilot ( you may want two)
But , in essence, less is more.
And you don't need to buy or do it all b4 you depart, you might never be ready ( I am not, nor ever was!

Taki g bad mental baggage with you ' may' not be such a good idea though, IMHO, tis the stowaway that will haunt you. Sort things best as you can first, then enjoy the life!
All best, aye

 

[Tranona]

Then theres costs. I have no idea of the costs for licences for the french waterways or even if you need one.
Day to day expenses. I don't want to live like a hermit on bread and water. What would one expect to be shelling out for food and drink etc? I don't have a fridge or freezer so perishables would need to be purchased as required though I'm not extravigant in that respect.

When you get into it there is masses of material to help you understand how you go about it. RYA for the documentary stuff and books, magazine articles, blogs, websites etc where people share their experiences. The canals are relatively cheap. The VNF licence for a small boat is modest. Most stopping places are free. You can buy food as you go, although some of the canals are remote from villages and a folding bike is handy. As already suggested food costs are broadly the same as here and vital liquid is cheaper. Fuel capacity may be a problem as you spend a lot of time motoring. If you have an inboard with good charging capacity and big batteries, power is not a big issue in the canals, but solar is a good supplement. A small fridge is desirable, and this is the biggest potential drain on electricity.

Cost shoot up when you get to the coast because at some point you will want to base yourself in a marina, particularly if you want to overwinter on board. However your small size is in your favour. For heating you may find a fan heater a good idea for in marinas when you can get shore power.

As others have said, don't overplan. Make sure your boat is reliable keep your paperwork in order and just go. Hop across the channel, enter the canals, take the mast down (having organised your supports before you leave) and head south.

 

[BrianH]

Fuel capacity may be a problem as you spend a lot of time motoring. If you have an inboard with good charging capacity and big batteries, power is not a big issue in the canals, but solar is a good supplement. A small fridge is desirable, and this is the biggest potential drain on electricity.

This is all true, but I spent 24 summers in the Med. without a fridge - it is possible. Especially, if like me, you can dump butter and milk from your culinary and dietary requirements. A cold beer is always welcome but the bilges can keep things relatively cool and one begins to not notice the difference over time. It is an advantage to embrace local foodstuffs and forget the rigid diet you may have been used to.

For heating you may find a fan heater a good idea for in marinas when you can get shore power.

I found fan heaters were noisy and the output see-sawed from hot to cold too much. A small convector heater - oil-filled or halogen, are more consistently warm and silent - I have tried all types moored in the northern Adriatic where spring and autumn temperatures can be very cold.

You'll be told by many that you will not need it - and in the main that will be right - but an ICC will be good insurance and should be easy to get before you go - you'll need it anyway for the CEVNI endorsement if you chosose the canal route. And go you should - you are still young (really) and the world is before you. GOOD LUCK.

 

[Colvic Watson]

Need to understand the issues related to taking a small boat across the channel single handed. Seems a bit of a challenge to me.

Good luck.

Is this a wind up? A leisure 23 would nip across, single handed no issue, narrowest it's only 22 miles!

 

[mjcoon]

... A cold beer is always welcome but the bilges can keep things relatively cool and one begins to not notice the difference over time. ...

And you could do what I tried years ago (when flotilla boats did not have a fridge). Since you will have a CD/MP3 player, take a recording of ice clinking in a G&T glass and maybe drinking a warm one in a plastic cup won't seem so bad!

And of course you could take an insulated box or bag and buy your bottled water already frozen.

Mike.

 

[Seajet]

Is this a wind up? A leisure 23 would nip across, single handed no issue, narrowest it's only 22 miles!

Not at any useful point ! More like 60 miles from Solent to Cherbourg which is a good first crossing route, I usually go West to Studland to get a better angle on a SW wind then across to the Channel Islands but Cherbourg would suit BarryH I'd think if he does go for the French Canals option.

 

[Tranona]

but Cherbourg would suit BarryH I'd think if he does go for the French Canals option.

Good from point of view of easy landfall and good place for provisioning, but lousy for entering canals as a long haul east to get to Le Havre. Better slightly longer passage direct from Solent to Le Havre.

 

[Seajet]

I'm aware of that and it's up to Barry, but for his purposes I'd say Cherbourg and along would work well, for a start an intro to foreign climes without the immediate hassle of mast down.

 

[Iliade]

Tow the boat overland to Croatia. You'll be there in time for Easter and could catch the last of the ski season on the way!

 

[BarryH]

OK come across my first stumbling block. Seems that France requires me to proove I know what I'm doing in the way of and ICC, never had to show one in the past. Obviously obtainable from the RYA, but you have to produce proof in way of a certificate for one of their courses.
Now for sailing I've been doing it since a young age. I'm still here now and still sailing but, I've never taken any courses. I have certificates for power, it reduced insurance costs for the 8 year period I had a motor cruiser. Legacy of having a wife that didn't "do" sailing!!

So, basically need to get a min of Day Skipper to get the ICC. Any suggestions as to who offer courses at a reasonable cost? I don't really want "frills", just do the course and get a bit of paper. Obviouslt this will have a "coastal" endorsment, yet for CEVNI, they say am "inland" endorsment is required. Does that mean 2 course?

 

[Kelpie]

Can't one of your mobo certificates get you an ICC? Would seem more applicable to canal cruising than a saily qualification.

 

[ronmarson]

I did a CEVNI course and got the ICC included. Not a lot to either, just lights recognition and what to do if you are confronted with a barge that has a coloured board displayed to one side of the wheelhouse.
We did a bit of boat handling as well, coming alongside and tying up. Certainly nothing approaching Day Skipper.
Capt. RoN