Water depth in the Canal du Midi

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Cspirit

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Can anybody give me some up to date and accurate info re the current water levels in the Canal? I know that I can get the official info from the French waterways office, but I understand that snow levels in the Pyrennes are such that perhaps there will not be quite as much water available as there was last year. I would like to transit that Canal in May, so I would be most grateful for any on the spot intelligence that the Forum can provide. My boat draws 1.5 metres, so is right on the margin, but I know of two boats with the same or greater draft that made the passage last year in late May/early June, so I'm hopeful. I've read the warnings about water levels so, if I do get stuck I'm resigned to the crane out/truck option.

Any info gratefully received.
 
There has been lots of rain (and snow) 'down south' in recent months, so there will be plenty of water available for the Midi. Your problem (if any) will not be shortage of water but available depth below the water level (if you understand me). 1.5m is on the limit, but people certainly do get through with that draft, maybe with the odd problem here and there. May/June should be relatively ok, all other things taken into consideration.
I would suggest that you do try speaking to the VNF office at Carcassonne (sorry, can't find that number right now) and you could also try Stephanie or Francoise at the capitainerie there (04 68 25 10 48). I suspect that you'll get the truthful answer that the Midi should provide 1.5m, in the centre of the channel, which it will basically do, albeit maybe with some 'shoals' in places (e.g outside lock gates on the 'down' side, and maybe with a few cm of soft mud or leaves overlying that in places. I'm not sure if the Midi has had much in the way of dredging this winter - Carcassonne will be able to tell you.
[edit] The Midi gets its water, thanks to Pierre-Paul Riquet (bravo!), from the Black Mountains to the north, not the Pyrenees.
 
I can see the Montaigne Noire from my house and the snow has all melted now, but 2 weeks ago we had about 30 cms here in the valley near the Midi.

The lockkeepers maintain the depth in the canal, but with 1.5 metres you should not try to enter or leave at Port La Nouvelle. A friend of mine tried and failed quite recently.

Your main problem will be approaching the bank to get ashore.
 
Grehan said:
James - do you know? The problem with Port la Nouvelle, is it that first canal section from the harbour, north towards Narbonne? Otherwise a notional 1.5m depth. I have an idea that that's the tricky bit. Correct?
Click to expand...

We tried to exit the canal into the Med at Port la Nouvelle in May five years ago. We ground to a halt about 200 metres before the final bridge. I blew up the dinghy, went ahead and sounded with a lead line. Immediately under the bridge the depth was well under one metre. Just a short distance further on there was enough for us to float, 1.4 metres.

I assume this part is dredged before the main part of the season, as a neighbour berthed in Narbonne advised that he uses that route frequently, also drawing 1.4 metres.
 
Yes the problem is at La Nouvelle itself. My friend had checked with the lockkeeper at Narbonne who told him that he would manage alright with 1.5 metres, but he failed to pass the first section. As he was making a permanent move from the sea to the canal, his solution was to cut off the bottom of the keel. A bit drastic for most people.

I would think that 1.4 metres would normally be alright, but the only time I exited there was in a Centaur with twin keels in 1972, so I don't have personal experience to support that.
 
I'd be very interested to know if you made this trip? We were planning on transiting the Canal du Midi in April/May 2011 - however with an on paper draught of 1.5m we are now less sure. Would definitely appreciate any advice you have. If you did transit did you ship or take the mast with you? Thanks in advance.
 
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