Ideas for boat doing French Canals 1st, Med 2nd

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

If you are bashing your way thru you need a boat that handles better. The extra mass of a steel boat works against you as there will be a lot of times, you are holding the boat in place since you don't want to tie off while going thru locks.

We've done probably 75-100 locks in the US (River system and Erie Canal). Never bashed...Lots of fenders and a boat that is manageable in close quarters.

We've hit logs and other debris. In the canals, you shouldn't be going that fast anyway. Fiberglass doesn't just shatter

I see, this was us doing our best not to hit anything, but we did frequently. What would you recommend instead? The steel hulls have sacrificial D shaped strips along the hull which are easily replaced if necessary. Oh and you have 4-6" clearance. Boats are 6'10" and the locks 7'2"

The outboard powered Gemini could be interesting with twin engines to deal with the wider rivers and canals like the Rhone with 3-4 knots of current going southbound. The other problem though is some of the French locks are not parallel, but more US football shaped,. So bows and stern touch with a big gap in the middle just to add to the fun.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Pete7

I see, this was us doing our best not to hit anything, but we did frequently. What would you recommend instead? The steel hulls have sacrificial D shaped strips along the hull which are easily replaced if necessary. Oh and you have 4-6" clearance. Boats are 6'10" and the locks 7'2"

The outboard powered Gemini could be interesting with twin engines to deal with the wider rivers and canals like the Rhone with 3-4 knots of current going southbound. The other problem though is some of the French locks are not parallel, but more US football shaped,. So bows and stern touch with a big gap in the middle just to add to the fun.

We've been by some of the UK canals (by land). Narrow boats are pigs for handling but what are you going to to do to fit thru a 7ft lock and have anything close to decent living quarters.

Actually, having had a single engine Gemini and twin engine Catalac (both of similar size), I liked the Gemini better for handling. What you have to remember is the outboard turns so you have directional thrust in both forward and reverse without having to make headway like single inboard monohulls. In tight quarters situations, I would often drag the stern to the side without creating any significant headway. Once you learn how to use it, it really does a nice job and you can turn in place under most conditions.

As long as you have a backup (we had the dingy motor on a spring loaded mount that could be quickly deployed), no need for twin engines on a small cat. Once you hit hull speed, more power doesn't do much for you and for all practical purposes your small cruising cats will have a hull speed. Ours was about 7.5kt. Running up river against 4kts is not something fun. Under the Blue Water Bridge on St. Clair River (Michigan), we were running flat out making 1.5kt over ground. Luckily it was only about a mile where it was bad.

I've seen some of the semi-circular locks. Yes, adjusting the fenders will be needed but not insurmountable and with a light boat, you can fend off rather than just letting it bash away.

[naroz]

This boat you need for French waters,
is for sale or rent, if you want more pictures pls send a email
gr,
Zoran
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...1&d=1606921783

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

We've been by some of the UK canals (by land). Narrow boats are pigs for handling but what are you going to to do to fit thru a 7ft lock and have anything close to decent living quarters.

Actually for an object shaped like a 35ft house brick I was pleasantly surprised that in a normal canal say 30ft wide the boat steered quite well. Shame there is no autopilot. The bow is pointed, flat bottom lifts up at the bow and the stern has a taper which you can't normally see to direct water at the prop and rudder.

The problem is locks, bridges and tunnels. They are so narrow you get that big ship effect of pulling water away from the river banks, or in our case the boat into the bridge. You also push a large amount of water in front of you because its got no where else to go being so narrow, speeds take a real dive at a narrow bridge.

Being a square brick shape meant although 4.5 feet narrower than our 31ft yacht, there was plenty of usable space for two on board with a dining area and two lounge chairs. A separate double bed room and good sized loo with shower with hot water heating meant we had everything we needed.

Actually that's a good point for the OP, North European canals freeze in the winter, they even have ice breakers to help with the thaw, but it does get cold and heating will be needed to survive a winter on the water.

Pete