Keeping a boat in France

[andyasj]

Does anyone have experience of keeping a boat in France - any special regulations or documentation required etc.
The RYA know nothing and just tell me I have to contact the French authorities - which is a bit awkward with my iffy French.
Cheers

 

[saskia]

I have kept my boat - SSR registered - in France (inland) for the past seven years or so. No contact with any authorities: just pay the marina charges (which are pretty reasonable, actually). For navigating inland you should have ICC with CEVNI endorsement, and insurance, of course.

Best of luck

Nick

 

[badman]

I agree kept my boat in france for two years no one asked for anything other than money for the marina.

 

[B175Chris]

Ditto

 

[Nick_Pam]

We kept "Freya" in Port Camargue last season and were visited once by the "Douane"...a couple of young lads with virtually no English and an older guy who stood in the background and understood EVERYTHING although he didn't let on.

They wanted to see....
Bill of Sale - VAT evidence
Insurance documents
Part 1 Registration Certificate (as far as I understand it, if you keep your boat abroad ndefinitely, you must Part 1 regster it)
VHF Certificate of Competence
Crew Passports

They also asked me for my "Skipper's Licence" - since I didn't have it aboard, I merely told them that as a UK citizen on a UK flagged vessel there was no requirement for any formal qualification (They had obviously heard this before because they accepted it without question)

Apart from that if you can find a permanent berth and pay for it, then you wil be OK...we were told there was no space in Port Camargue and had to leave on 31st March...now in Spain!!!

Regards

Nick

 

[albineer]

The family has had no problems keeping our boat in France for over 20 years . We've been asked for the insurance certificate when we paid for our annual mooring occasionally and for the boat's documents. Never been asked for ICC or CEVNI but we boat on the Canal du Midi and the Charente where there are lots of hire cruisers who are hiring 'sans permis'

 

[Cloven]

Re: Keeping a boat in France

Just done this and have been based in France since May.

Did a lot of research and most of what Nick_Pam says is correct other than you do not need Part 1 registration - Part 3 SSR will suffice.

We are marina based and apart from money, the marina asked to see evidence of registration (SSR); insurance (to make sure that if we damage the marina they can claim!). Having said that, I sent them photocopies in advance and since arriving they have not asked to see the origianls etc.

I have heard of skippers being fined on the spot for not carrying originals of registration (Part 1 or part 3) or simply not being able to find them. Also a friend who was crew on a boat whose skipper who was fined 1000euros on the spot for not having originals of VAT paid status and only had photopcopies.

Sorry you have not had a great deal of help from the RYA as I found them extremely helpful, particularly the legal department. They sent me various documents relating to registration, RCD etc. If you want copies of these send me a PM and I'll email them to you.

 

[Nick_Pam]

Re: Keeping a boat in France

Thanks for the correction re Part 1/SSR...could have saved myself some money!

Should have mentioned in marina they wanted registration (so they could copy my address onto computer easily!!) and insurance...nothing else.

Nick

 

[bendyone]

Kept mine in Calais, no problems at all, marina wanted to see SSR and insurance. Been inspected by the customs once, SSR and passports, not interested in VAT

 

[dratsea]

Nothing needed to be put on hard in Dunkirk (Travel hoist fees less in Euros than would have been in Pounds in UK). Boulogne wanted the registration documents left in the office while I was not on the boat "in case office visited by douaniers" but may have been that they offered to let me pay in arrears when I wanted to leave, at the monthly rate.

 

[canalcruiser]

My boats have lived in France for many years.Today if you can aford the port prices and your boats not to big you might find a place.
You will need on your first visit to a port your boats papers, may be asked for your passport and if you are insured

 

[andyasj]

The one that worries me is VAT evidence as my boat is old and has no such documentation (1979). She was built pre RCD but again I have no documentation.

 

[Sea Devil]

The French customs officials understand EU legislation as well as UK officials.. The only time proof of VAT payment could be a problem is with a relatively modern boat and the same with CE plating.. Provided you can prove the approximate old age of a boat - then that's fine... When there are more than a couple of customs people coming on board it is often because they are training the others.. You may get asked to questions out of ignorance or over enthusiasm by the 'student customs guys!!

French legislation requires you to have a 'boat licence' - a form of annual tax if you are non French but regard France as your primary place of residence.. I do so I have to pay for my boat licence annually but if you live in another country and merely keep your boat in France you do not have to pay the licence fee..

 

[Sybarite]

Re: Keeping a boat in France

<<....I have heard of skippers being fined on the spot for not carrying originals of registration (Part 1 or part 3) or simply not being able to find them. Also a friend who was crew on a boat whose skipper who was fined 1000euros on the spot for not having originals of VAT paid status and only had photopcopies. ...>

In my opinion this was an error on the part of the custom's officers. There is much misunderstanding in this area - as explained to me by the customs people themselves on their stand at the boat show.

I am frequently questionned and challenged on controls. I ask them why they take a different poisition from their headquarters. This is usually enough.

John

 

[trouville]

Re: Keeping a boat in France

I think whats needed is a comfortable mini sailer 4.99m max with a 9.9hp motor.Then in France at least you need no papers no vnf vignet and simply have to sail or follow the rule on the canals for the safty of the boat!

The tourist boats on the Rhone are HUGE!!!I was going to tie up to a post when i was told it was part of a parking for a tourist boat,i moved along and was happy i did when late in the evening one of the monsters arrived flying a German flag

I bought a vignet later when i was asked for my canal driving licence i asked "whats that" they similed then me looked at my canal charts to get advise on moorings further up.I do have a dozen copies of the letter given to rent a boaters on the canal saying i have been shown the the way!!I just have to date them.

Keeping a boat in France amazingly is less costly than haveing one in Italy!The French are building more places an 8m place costs from about 2400€ to 5200€ per year.In some ports people that have bought moorings are not allowed to sell of rent them to another!You have to go to the capitaniery

To find a place you can best start in winter where then there is a chance of a winter stay then you will have 6 months to go along the coast looking.If you put your name on a waiting list and want a place in the same port call at least once a week otherwise you will hear nothing.

I put my name on a list at a port owned by the Dutch in 1997 anonther economicaly challenged med sailor did the same but he wanted to stay there and was less challenged than i was he called and by september had a place at a price!I still havent heard from them?

It used to be that the more expensive the port and the worse the place the better the chance but not today as everyone seems to be swimming in cash.

If you want to come to the med be sure to bring at least two good anchors a lot of chain and a good tender.

On the Atlantic coast you will find a place but after Brest going south it will become increasingly full.