Inland waterways of Europe

[paul salliss]

Does anyone with actual experience of this type of boating ( I have none at all) know what air draft you are typically limited to to pass through bridges etc in northern Europe, if you have a lot of experience would be interested in what type of boat you have if possible

Many thanks

 

[aquapower]

Does anyone with actual experience of this type of boating ( I have none at all) know what air draft you are typically limited to to pass through bridges etc in northern Europe, if you have a lot of experience would be interested in what type of boat you have if possible

Many thanks

To get to most of European inland waterways you need to be no higher than about 3.5 m

 

[itchenseadog]

No recent information, but I seem to remember that a Rampart 48 with 12ft 6in air draft was able to access most canals

 

[sailorman]

There are free digitised Dutch charts for free download

 

[oceanfroggie]

Does anyone with actual experience of this type of boating ( I have none at all) know what air draft you are typically limited to to pass through bridges etc in northern Europe, if you have a lot of experience would be interested in what type of boat you have if possible

Many thanks

Not sure if you meant only continental European waterways. The inland Shannon in Ireland airdraft is typically 4.8m, but access from the sea through the hydro dam is about 3.65m. Higher vessels arrived by road and lifted in. The Erne system is similar, but the SEW connecting the Shannon to the Erne in NI is limited to 3.5m. Many larger Fairlines, Sealines and Princesses based on the system cannot get south of Killaloe at the southern extremity of the Shannon.

 

[capsco]

I am at present (in the season) cruising the French canals, my Broom Ocean 42 is slightly less than 3.5m with the screen up, I have not yet had to lower it.
A few years ago I brought a Princess 410 from Nice to Southampton through the Canals although the water levels were high at the time there were no real problems.

 

[stillwaters]

There are a number of countries in Northern Europe which have navigable inland waterways and with the correct boat it is possible to travel through to the Med,the Black Sea or even the Caspian. However,possibly the prime area to consider would be any or all of France,Belgium,Holland or Germany. Out of these,I would personally recommend Holland plus at least the NW of Belgium for any boat over 3.5 metres air draft. As you have quite correctly identified,air draft is without doubt the number one factor in where it is possible to go and,whereas much of France and even Germany (apart from the main rivers generally) will tend to limit boats over about 4 metres high,or often less than this,almost all of Holland and much of Belgium is ok up to around 5.2 metres. Additionally,due to the vast number of routes with lifting bridges on them,even sailing yachts are able to travel extensively through Holland. And this is an area of very diverse waterways ranging from protected estuaries,lakes,big rivers and thousands of miles of canals of varying sizes where it is possible to moor-up outside restaurants and bars in towns and villages at comparatively little cost (current average about 1.40 euros per metre per night). And the icing on the cake is that they all seem to speak English - they even seem to like us as well! By all means PM me if you want more detailed info.

 

[superheat6k]

I may have some guide / pilot books for some of the European waterways from my last boat, which came to the UK from extensive European cruising. If you want I can look them out, as I don't expect I will ever need them.

I will look tomorrow and send a PM if they are still in the garage. All I would ask is a contribution to the RNLI or Hamble lifeboat commensurate with their value to you.

 

[paul salliss]

Dear Stillwater

I did just PM you. Great reply. Many thanks

 

[saskia]

Plenty of useful information here: http://www.french-waterways.com/

 

[Trundlebug]

There are free digitised Dutch charts for free download

Where? Can you post a link

 

[sailorman]

Here you are," free Dutch charts works"
http://opencpn.org/ocpn/chart_sources

 

[david_bagshaw]

http://www.vnf.fr/vnf/img/cms/Touri...arte_du_Nord-Pas-de-Calais_20130801122920.pdf

might be useful





Strangely one of the lowest bridges in france is at the calais end of the eponymous canal. seem to remember 3,45, but might be wrong.

later edit

(seems if the low bridge has been removed from looking at the above link!)

http://www.vnf.fr is the site to check

 

[paul salliss]

Huge thanks to you and a big thank you to Still Water for calling today Best Paul

 

[Grehan]

Plenty of useful information here: http://www.french-waterways.com/

More specifically - http://www.french-waterways.com/practicalities/dimensions.html

 

[sea-commander]

Hello Paul,

I often cruise in the Netherlands, mainly in "Friesland". Really lovely there. Most of the bridges open for sport boats, so you'll be fine with an air draft of 5m. But, yes, less air draft (2.80) will allow you to go to quite hidden places.
The "staande mastroute" leads from Rotterdam via Amsterdam, Ijsselmeer, Sneek, Groningen to the Dollart and allows even sailing boats to cruise the Netherlands on inland waterways without lowering the mast.
The anwb waterkaart Nederland is quite good for planing a cruise in terms of air draft.
https://www.anwbwatersport.nl/vaari...eralmanak_cursusboeken/anwb-waterkaarten.html
You can also download it as an app.

Chris

 

[stillwaters]

Hello Paul,

I often cruise in the Netherlands, mainly in "Friesland". Really lovely there. Most of the bridges open for sport boats, so you'll be fine with an air draft of 5m. But, yes, less air draft (2.80) will allow you to go to quite hidden places.
The "staande mastroute" leads from Rotterdam via Amsterdam, Ijsselmeer, Sneek, Groningen to the Dollart and allows even sailing boats to cruise the Netherlands on inland waterways without lowering the mast.
The anwb waterkaart Nederland is quite good for planing a cruise in terms of air draft.
https://www.anwbwatersport.nl/vaari...eralmanak_cursusboeken/anwb-waterkaarten.html
You can also download it as an app.

Chris

Just on the off chance that anybody planning to visit Holland is still reading this thread there is an alternative planning aid to finding out the all-important fixed bridge heights there which, imho, is even far better and easier to use than the otherwise useful anwb charts. It consists of a folding map of the entire waterways network of Holland called 'Nauticring Vaarkaart Nederland' and, at a glance, highlights virtually every fixed bridge and navigable stretch of inland water there is. The bad news,however, is that this is no longer in print but, luckily, it is still possible for anyone quick enough to buy a good used one online for around £4.75 (just google the title). The other essential guide , again imho as one who has already been through this, is the 'Inland Waterways of the Netherlands' guide by Louise Busby & David Broad, which is a veritable mine of useful information and, even some 6 years on, is still fairly up-to-date. Costs about £25 from Amazon or Sailingbooks.

 

[paul salliss]

I very appreciate the info here, I have some serious planning to do now

 

[sea-commander]

Thank you very much, great info.
I think that One is quite similar to the anwb chart.

 

[stillwaters]

I think that One is quite similar to the anwb chart.

Not sure if you have actually seen the Nauticring map, certainly I haven't found anything else,anwb or otherwise, that has come anywhere close to it for the easy-to-follow info it provides. Love to hear which chart you have in mind, though. One other useful guide to have is the Wateralmanak 2 which not only provides much of the technical info which is summarised and easier to follow in the Inland Waterways guide I previously mentioned but also lists every marina (jachthaven) complete with contacts & prices etc. Incidentally, the other Wateralmanak 1 which comprises a set of rules in Dutch and is therefore about as useful as a wet roll of toilet paper to most of us, is a legal requirement for any boat visit to Holland. Each almanac is published every two years and the latest rule book must be carried. However, I'd be amazed if you were to be asked to prove you had one.