PhilipF
Well-Known Member
Article in MBM's November issue relating to a journey using a rubber dingy, from Kent to the Black Sea.
These waterways are of interest to me, though the only time I have been on the water, was just a few weeks ago, this down the Danube from Vienna as far as Bratislava. Last year though we did try and explore the new (opened about 17 years ago) canal linking the River Main to the Danube.
Worth noting that it is doubtful that there is any motor boat owner who reads MBM, nor indeed it's sister monthly MBY - catering for larger boats I think, whose boat would be too large for this trip. Air draft is the only likely restriction, but as three deck cruise ships get through, I reckon any privately owned boat could do so.
Interesting trip too - so why do so few do it? I submit the trouble is the return journey. True, the larger boats could return via the Med and the Atlantic. But not many have the time nor inclination. Returning on the same route is not to my mind a viable option due to the fact that one would be battling against the Danube's current. True commercial craft have to do so, but this does not appear easy. I reckon the average downward flow of water to be around six knots, a major consideration in view of the fact that this has to fought against for several hundred miles. The heavy craft I passed going upstream were trying to hug the bank very closely, not easy, and I surmise the skippers knew the river well. Another disadvantage to taking a motor boat into the lower sections of the Danube would be security. Not sure how the commercial boats manage.
The best option to my mind would be to journey as far as say Regensburg on the Danube, then return. But very few seem to do this.
These waterways are of interest to me, though the only time I have been on the water, was just a few weeks ago, this down the Danube from Vienna as far as Bratislava. Last year though we did try and explore the new (opened about 17 years ago) canal linking the River Main to the Danube.
Worth noting that it is doubtful that there is any motor boat owner who reads MBM, nor indeed it's sister monthly MBY - catering for larger boats I think, whose boat would be too large for this trip. Air draft is the only likely restriction, but as three deck cruise ships get through, I reckon any privately owned boat could do so.
Interesting trip too - so why do so few do it? I submit the trouble is the return journey. True, the larger boats could return via the Med and the Atlantic. But not many have the time nor inclination. Returning on the same route is not to my mind a viable option due to the fact that one would be battling against the Danube's current. True commercial craft have to do so, but this does not appear easy. I reckon the average downward flow of water to be around six knots, a major consideration in view of the fact that this has to fought against for several hundred miles. The heavy craft I passed going upstream were trying to hug the bank very closely, not easy, and I surmise the skippers knew the river well. Another disadvantage to taking a motor boat into the lower sections of the Danube would be security. Not sure how the commercial boats manage.
The best option to my mind would be to journey as far as say Regensburg on the Danube, then return. But very few seem to do this.
