Where to have boat delivered ?

[oakleyb]

We are finally Mediterranean bound but unfortunately only have 6 weeks to get there. To save time at the start we are looking to have boat delivered to the Benodet area and take her from there via the Canal du midi with the final destination being Sant Carles - Mdl's marina where she will stay for the next couple of years.

What I need to work out is which marina to have boat delivered to - possibly 1 or 2 weeks prior to us joining her. We also need to leave our vehicle somewhere safe until we return to collect late August

Any recommendations really appreciated

 

[RobbieW]

Benodet's parking area is quite small so I dont think theyd thank you for leaving a car there long term. I've left a car at La Roche Bernard for a week but I wouldnt want to do that long term. Of the places I can visualise, La Rochelle might be better with much more space but security could be the concern. Why not leave the car in UK, just make sure everything you'll need is on the boat when she leaves ? You can fly to La Rochelle, Nantes or Bordeaux from Southampton

 

[Resolution]

Where is the boat starting from, and how is it being transported?
When I moved to the Med I simply had Resolution trucked straight down to Sant Carles and launched off there. Important to have good facilities, experienced riggers to stick the mast back in, etc etc.
We put everything into the boat back in the UK, including a couple of cases of necessary "medicine"!

 

[Tranona]

Unless you are desperate to transit the canal (assume you have shallow draft) then another vote for going direct to San Carles. Unlikely to cost much more than going to Benodet as a big chunk of the cost is unstepping/stepping, cranage and getting the truck across the channel. As resolution says excellent facilities at the other end and a transit time of around 4/5 days.

I used Boatshift (going the other way) who do the run regularly, but you need to shop around as there is always a chance of a return load because it is a regular route both ways.

 

[Ningaloo]

You might try Rochefort which is close to La Rochelle. Can be reached by a short train ride from La Rochelle and there are regular flights there in the summer months. I was based there for 8 years and spent one summer exploring the canals as far as Toulouse My 1.3m draft prevented me from going much further. Watch out for the very strong tides at Bordeaux.

Rochefort is some way up the river and has good hard standing for winter storage which is semi-secure (gates are not always locked but there is a regular security patrol at night). I am sure you could arrange to leave a car there. I always found the guys who do the boat maneuvers to be very helpful.

 

[[3889]]

I regularly leave my car at Arzal Camöel for a month or more without problems. Plenty of parking on both sides of the river.