Ideal Boat

[Bestman]

I am lucky enough to be taking a sabbatical this year and am proposing to spend a good portion afloat. I plan to cruise down the middle of France, mess about in the Med, before going through the Canal du Midi (3m air draft) and then slowly work my way home along the French coast. I'm sure this is a fairly common route and would appreciate any ideas on the most suitable type of boat. I will be accompanied by why wife and dog. Would a Sealine S23-5 be at all suitable? Being towable it would certainly be great for shorter trips back in the UK on our return. Other than a few summers cruising the Thames in a Norman 23 (10 years ago) I have little boating experience; I would of course do all the necessary courses prior to our departure. Any advice much appreciated.

 

[hlb]

First of all welcome. AaaaRRRGGggg!! You cant do that in a S23, and you cant take yer dog either, less you send said dog by ferry!! Sorry I miss read your post. Err well maybe you can, but not dog. Hope this helps!!

 

[Wiggo]

Not sure you'd want to do the 'French coast round Brest' leg in summat that size. Trailing it back ain't a bad idea, though... 23-25' will be too small to live on for much more than a week at a stretch, though, IMHO.

 

[BrendanS]

[ QUOTE ]
You cant do that in a S23

[/ QUOTE ]

Is that a challenge! <g>

 

[Renegade_Master]

I think you could take the dog as long as he has got all the right papers, i.e. passport etc. I brought my dogs out to Spain via road.
I reckon a 23ft boat would get a bit cramped after a while, best go for low air draft aft cabin boat about 35ft.

Via the Midi and up French coast sounds fine strictly dependant on weather of course.

Best get ICC via a Day Skipper course plus a CEVNI for the canals. The latter is just a paper test which you can do at the end of your ICC.

One of our instructors is on a sabbatical thingy from IBM as it happens.
Good luck Clive

 

[hlb]

As I understand it. You can now take a dog with passport via ferry, but not on your own boat.

 

[Bestman]

My wife is a vet, the dog will still have cross the channel both ways by ferry, but no problem once in Europe. I know the S23/5 may be a little cramped but the boat needs to get through the Canal du Midi and still make reasonable progress at sea. I felt the S23 would be quick enough to make good progress in decent weather windows where as a steel boat (Pedro)which would be better on the inland waterways would be rolling about at 7 knots and less useful when back home. Any thoughts much appreciated.

 

[hobiecat]

i am plugging my own boat but have a look at a www.motorcat.com. Nothing quite as versatile.

 

[chrisc]

we went down through canal d-lest (north and south) and saone then rhone in a 35 ft raggie boat and lived for two years on it ,34 ft is about the smallest i would use if you are serious about living on it .(wouldn't recomend the 1.85M keel though)
we are now seriously looking at doing it again -propobaly using the route you are suggesting but taking MUCH longer about it .The only practical boat we can find for this is a small dutch tjalk ,55ft or sr can any one suggest a better boat ?