Inflatables to France

[flex40]

We're taking the car to France this year for a change; is there anything we should know about taking & using the dinghy & outboard in the Morbihan Gulf ?

Any advice gratefully received.

TA !

 

[Guest]

You might want to consider changing your outboard from right- to left-hand-drive.

Sorry, I couldn't resist, even on PBO forum...

 

[qsiv]

Other than any boring legal bits anyone comes up with - make sure you have plenty of fuel to cope with the tides!

Have fun exploring all the nooks and crannies that you cant get to with a bigger boat - I really regret that my current boat's mast is too tall to get anywhere comfortably near Auray.

Mind you all boating looks like being cancelled for this year - my pass off base has been withdrawn, the boat is to be sold, and I am either on permanent child minding duties or I need find enough help to enable to get to see the office occasionally.

 

[snowleopard]

Registration...

in theory the french require that all visiting boats have to be registered. the only exception being 'engins de plage' (small inflatables classed as beach toys).

in practice probably not enforced unless you get one of those local cops who likes to give the brits a hard time.

 

[Anchorite]

English immigration, customs must fussier than French, you will have no probs
in Brittany. Assuming your 'dinghy' is a tender (v. skinny profile) you should
mark it accordingly in big letters 'TENDER TO [boat name]'. Tenders are a law
onto themselves and I've never seen a reg. concerning the necessary proximity
of the mother boat.
Apart from that, gendarme and douanes can stop you: you should have lifejackets/
anchor + 'rode'/bailer/2 oars/bellows/painter/torch/foghorn/basic tools + repair kit.
And hh gps + waterproof chart.
Outboard should have thingy that stops it when you fall overboard.
Lock and chain for outboard, boat, trailer (at least make it difficult...)

 

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

That's a lot of gear to carry on a small inflatable, should he also carry a liferaft /forums/images/icons/smile.gif, I am presuming his intentions are just to sneak around inshore.

<font color=blue> Julian </font color=blue>

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ukstaffords.com>http://www.ukstaffords.com</A>

 

[Twister_Ken]

Once asked a similar question of the RYA before taking a sailing dinghy to France. As far as I recall the answer was make sure it is insured both on the trailer and on the water, and carry proof of insurance with you; and register it on the SSR, so if there is any dispute over ownership, you've got proof. SInce then this whole RCD thing has got out of hand, so you might want to also have proof that it is VAT paid.

 

[Anchorite]

Re: Good gear guide

No liferaft as long as he stays inside the 300m - 2 nmiles limits. Much heavier than the safety gear should be the icebox (champagne, pâté, Bayonne ham,
fromage, etc., etc....)

 

[John_C_H]

Took my tender and outboard to France last year (La Trinite/Carnac). Checked with RYA. All I needed was to obtain insurance certificate to cover use in France. I also took the receipt as proof of VAT paid. Recommend you take usual kit -lifejackets, couple of hand flares, small anchor and basic engine spares. Had a great time exploring the coast and fishing. Have fun!!!

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[flex40]

Thanks for all replies, advice gratefully received.

Flex40

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