River Danube to the Black Sea

[Irish rambler]

There's a pretty hefty current going via Strasbourg and then up to Basel and you need to make at least 7 knots, commercial barges such as Jedi's family used will sometimes give you a tow for a charge. Personally we stop in Strasbourg and take the train up (it saves an awful lot of fuel).

[K_V_B]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Man, I would go all the way up to the Bodensee (Lake Constance); it would be a highlight of your trip. Friedrichshafen, Constanz, Reichenau etc.

But you can't go all the way to the Bodensee...

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Irish rambler

There's a pretty hefty current going via Strasbourg and then up to Basel and you need to make at least 7 knots, commercial barges such as Jedi's family used will sometimes give you a tow for a charge. Personally we stop in Strasbourg and take the train up (it saves an awful lot of fuel).

The Canal du Rhône au Rhin runs from a southeast of Dijon to Niffer on the Rhine about 12 miles from basel.

We likely will fight up current to visit Basel by boat a) because we can win bar bets when people say we couldn't have driven to Switzerland by boat and b) we can use it to reset the VAT clock.

[Steve Pope]

Surely there is a link to lake Constance from the Rhine.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Steve Pope

Surely there is a link to lake Constance from the Rhine.

Based on what I've found on line, back in the 1700-1800's there was a small canal in the works but the info, I've found, suggests it's not operational.

[K_V_B]

Originally Posted by Steve Pope

Surely there is a link to lake Constance from the Rhine.

No there's not. You can get as far upstream as Rheinfelden. Upstream of that the dams no longer have locks. Most do have small portage railways, that can move a small boat across, but then you end up at the famous Rhine falls, where there is no way to get a boat across.

[s/v Jedi]

No, it isn't possible over the Rhine, but I had thought a canal with locks would be present but it doesn't look like it. So all the shipping on the Bodensee is isolated to just there. That's a shame.

[K_V_B]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

No, it isn't possible over the Rhine, but I had thought a canal with locks would be present but it doesn't look like it. So all the shipping on the Bodensee is isolated to just there. That's a shame.

It is. A long time ago stayed in Überlingen to learn German, and sailed with the local sailing school. They had a beautifull steel 15m yacht, that the founder of the school had taken with him from Danzig (after having to leave there after WO II). They had some impressive pictures of the transport of that ship to the Bodensee in the club house...

The big steamers you see on the Bodensee just get build locally. The Upper Rhine is never going to be navigable, as that is now even banned by the Constitution of the Canton of Thurgau...

[tasman42]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

We are in the early planning stages of doing Europes Great Loop.

If you don't want to fight the current up the Rhine, you can cut thru the french canals and pop out on the Rhine just north of Switzerland. Then it's a downstream run to the Main River, which appears to be fairly tame and then it's downhill on the Danube.

Actually getting to the Danube doesn't seem to be much of an issue; It's all fairly well travelled. Not many boats seem to take the plunge and go all the way to the blac sea though, so information seems a bit sparse.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by tasman42

Actually getting to the Danube doesn't seem to be much of an issue; It's all fairly well travelled. Not many boats seem to take the plunge and go all the way to the blac sea though, so information seems a bit sparse.

The problem for a slow boat is going up the Rhine. While I think we could do it based on reports we've found. I don't much like the idea of several days at full throttle making 2kts over ground.

By cheating around it via the french canals, you can ride the current down.

[mwhr]

I am thinking of taking my sail boat up the Danube and down the Rhine. I believe it has been done but timing with the current is critical. Getting a tow from a barge is an option.

Does anyone have any previous experience or comments ?

[Irish rambler]

I think a sailboat going up the Danube would be a tall order against the current.
If you take a tow up behind a barge be aware that they can do up to 12 knots and your lines need to be strong, several have had cleats ripped out and the boat adrift as the barges won't stop to recover them.
Contact the Dutch Barge Association as some of their guys have done the journey to the Black sea.
I hope this helps you a little.

[andypag]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

You will need an ICC with CEVNI extensions to navigate the Rhine/Danube.

dave

How do you get that?