Newbie questions - sorry!

[Penryar]

Hi, you lot seem a helpful bunch so maybe you could give me some real world advice, I'm going to be dropping out of the rat race, in the very near future, and moving to the south west of France, one thing i'm planning on doing down there is getting a boat. So a number of questions really.
1> What are peoples opinions on sub 30' boats suitable for weekend and longer accomdation, probably somewhere in the £35-40k region.
2> What qualifications will i need, or would be recommended for using such a boat on river/coastal waters
3> Does anyone have experience of the Bordeaux/Bergerac ares, mooring etc.

Thanks to anyone who can answer any of the above.

Cheers

Steve

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Renegade_Master]

1) I would go for plus 30ft for longer accomodation

2) qualifications needed: for coastal minimum ICC but would recommend Day Skipper Practical which comes with ICC also.
CEVNI required for inland waterways in France

3) cant answer

Welcome to the forum Clive, Sun Coast Sea School

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.suncoastmarine.co.uk>Sun Coast Sea School & Charter</A>

 

[tcm]

Hi.

yep, sub30' is fine for weekending, bit smaller allows you to trailer the thing too, so you can visit lots of different areas (around marseillles frexample is great) AND most important drag the thing home instead of having to pay for a berth all winter. There are some places that might do dry berthing where they use a fork lift to drop the thing in the water ready for when you want it. unless you are very med type, you will likely need some shade. Also, instead of tons of galley gear you could have basic cooking/loo facilities and eat out.

Qualifications you don't *actualy* need any for the sea but you would be well advised to get an ICC - an international certificate of competence - this gives you a bit of paper to hand over to the gendarmes if/when they trawl around - UK doesn't have this as no quals at all are needed. Good idea anyway for your own piece of mind that you can "do it". For inland you need a CEVNI endorsement - dunno what it is but you neeed it.

Note that there is a spped limit around the whole coast of france 10 (or is it 5?) knots within 300m of the coast, so no belting it up rivers else you will get nicked and they can give out spot fines, like ordinary ploice on the roads can do as well.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[oldgit]

Re:Cabin fever.

Hello newbie and welcome.Will only comment from personal experience.Up to about 30ft is perfectly ok for weekends and for occaisional week if only two of you.
Reckon you need at least 30 + for extended cruise.AND try to get something with a perm double berth somewhere on boat.It will drive you up the wall to keep tearing down and making up that dinette berth day after day after day......And you NEED a shower.Not sure that you will get that lot on 40K mind.

<hr width=100% size=1>If it aint broke fix it till it is.

 

[Penryar]

Re:Cabin fever.

Thanks for all that info, I was planning on doing the basic course(s) anyway for my own peace of mind, I've got some free time before I set off so I guess I'll do them in this country.
From the boat size angle, do you think it would be better to go for an older, bigger boat than a smaller newer one then? I may e able to assign more money to the boat, but of course that depends on the better half, as always.
As with everything in life i guess there is more research required.


cheers once again

Steve

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Renegade_Master]

"Qualifications you don't *actualy* need any for the sea " since when Matt?

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.suncoastmarine.co.uk>Sun Coast Sea School & Charter</A>

 

[Newbieknownowt]

I think in France you need either an ICC or a "permis de bateau" for any motor boat with an engine > 6hp - ie all but a tender. Unless you know you're "babord" from your "tribord" and other nautical expressions in French the ICC might be easier to do. You might want to look into how the French tax system works if you're going to be tax resident in France - I think boats are taxed according to engine size but am not sure if this is a "one-off" or an annual thing and might only apply to French-registered boats - I did read in a french boat mag about owners registering their boats in Belgium because it was supposedly cheaper.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[tcm]

Not sure of the date - since ever as far as i am aware.

To re-iterate, for a UK-flagged private boat in coastal or open waters, you don't need formal qualifications to skipper a boat, power or sail. This isn't a contentious point is it? I mean, you most certainly do need *ability* but that's a different thing.

You *might* need formal quals above 24metres (not sure) and you definitely do need qualifications if skippering on a commercial basis.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Renegade_Master]

That fact that you dont need an ICC in the UK is surely academic in this case, as hes gonna be cruising in France. So yes he needs an ICC by law to do so.

Technically yes you dont NEED actual qualifications to go to sea, just need to be completely brain dead to do so dont yer fink/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.suncoastmarine.co.uk>Sun Coast Sea School & Charter</A>

 

[BrendanS]

You don't need an ICC to cruise in France, unless you go inland in which case need ICC and CEVNI, thopugh it's handy to have one to show beaurocrat types

info from RYA website:


Generally, an ICC is required when navigating the inland waterways of Europe, the main notable exception is The Netherlands. In Holland an ICC is only required by vessels that are either longer than 15 metres and/or capable of more than 20 kph (~ 11 knots). If cruising to Europe to explore the canals and rivers, both categories 'coastal' and 'inland' will be required and so the CEVNI test, as well as proof of general boat handling competence, is needed.


It should also be noted that most European countries insist that vessels navigating their inland waters carry a copy of the relevant local rules. For France, The RYA Book of Euroregs for Inland Waterways suffices, but it does not for Holland or Germany. Those countries insist that their own publications, written only in their native languages, are carried. It is probably advisable to also carry the Euroregs book so that there is an English version of CEVNI on board too.


For coastal areas in Northern Europe and Scandinavia, the ICC is generally not required. Again, there are exceptions and these include Poland and the Baltic States of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. It is also useful to have one in Germany. Conversely, in the Mediterranean an ICC is usually required, particularly in Italy, Greece, Croatia and Turkey. ICCs are not required in Spain on British flagged yachts. However, Spanish harbour masters and other officials are used to their own nationals having to be licensed and so can be difficult to persuade that British flagged vessels do not require them. You either have to be prepared to stand your ground and argue the case or you may decide that it is easier to actually have an ICC. Portugal does require skippers to hold the ICC.


More information on the regulations for taking British registered boats abroad can be found in the RYA "Foreign Cruising" booklets which are available from our online shop at www.rya.org.uk/shop or telephone the Orders Line on 0845 345 0372.



<hr width=100% size=1>Utinam logica falsa tuam philisophiam totam suffodiant

 

[oldgit]

Re:Cabin fever.

Size is everthing as far as I am concerned.
Difficulty is the trade off twixt nice new shiny soap dish with no(well not many)problems to sort as you go along or decent sized older craft with stuff that is going to need fixing as time goes by.
Think most here have had to ponder this problem and it does not go away as you climb up the size/price ladder.
My guess is that your price range will get you nothing new in the live aboard department and mebbe a Princess 30DS in the UK s/h world.Have a look on the many French Brokers www sites,seem to remember a few of the smaller 10M ish Azimuts lurking within.
Ps.As you will almost certainly have to double your budget sooner or later.May as well do it now and get it over with /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif
infesting the pages within.

<hr width=100% size=1>If it aint broke fix it till it is.

 

[whisper]

Dear Mr. Knownowt,
Please change your sobriquet as you obviously don't knownowt, you knowsummat.
Welcome by the way.

<hr width=100% size=1>