French Canals - Depth and Height Limits?

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by cooper

hey now theres a weird but possible idea. I could cut the keel off and plate it (would only take two days including painting) dont need it in the canals. Send the keel by truck to the other end and stitch it back on !! Being a steel boat its not that hard to do. Strange idea but...... : )

Or you could find a long "piano hinge" and put the extra keel on the hinge and then just fold it up for the canals. Then put it back down when you get to the Med. Since you are motoring all the way in the canals the folded up keel should not be too much of a drag. Besides the speed limit in the canals is rather - very low.

[eladhari]

I found yhis link for you
Carte de la France fluviale - Dictionnaire des canaux et rivières de France

but no indications in it...have a scond look may be I missed it

[Gordo]

Hi Eladhari,
That site is brilliant,
Gordo

[SabreKai]

Originally Posted by cooper

hey now theres a weird but possible idea. I could cut the keel off and plate it (would only take two days including painting) dont need it in the canals. Send the keel by truck to the other end and stitch it back on !! Being a steel boat its not that hard to do. Strange idea but...... : )

Hmmmm

I like it!

Sabre Dance draws about 6 foot 3 or so. Fin keel. Cutting torch, some plate and a chisel to bust up the concrete fill. Works for me!


Sabre

[Joefloki]

I have made the passage from the Ijsselsmeer to Port St. Louis in the Rhone Delta last year with my 1,8m deep steelboat.
1,8m are the official limit for this route.
However I have dug the mud and stuck in it for several times.

I would not recommend anyone with a fiberglass boat to make this with a draft more than 1,6m.

Most of the other channels in France are much shallower.

[paulclan]

Hi all,

We made the transit from Le Havre via La Seine, Marne and Saone Rivers, thence to the Rhone in May 2003.The boat was a Dufour 36 Sloop drawing 1.8 Metres with a club foot to the short chord keel. She did not sink appreciably in fresh water, even with mast on trestles.Going aground did not really happen.We slowed sometimes and left a trail of suspended particles behind.Not often.The raw water filter was cleaned only twice and nothing found there, on the saildrive arrangement.The route is long, allow 6 weeks or more if you want to stop. The VNF staff are great mostly, peniches vary in temperament,sometimes failing to turn off their engines to allow you into a lock behind them.Wave arms at lockkeepers, often they are in high towers on the Seine.CEVNI regulations knowledge is essential and a certificate is officially needed.Do you know what the "blue board" signifies for example?There is a handy book available on these rules, Author Marian Martin available from www.RYA.org in the UK, or probably Amazon too!A long plank is essential to get ashore as yachts cannot get near the bank except near locks.Key in the word "Grehan" into the search box on Yachting and Boating World - Sailing and motor boats for sale, forums, news | ybw and you will find a website with lots of info.Also there is JimB's sail Europe a great site for more info on what to do to prepare.

[goboatingnow]

1.5 metre draft is about as deep as you can go

[paulclan]

Your Experience? Confirm route is all to the east.Beg to differ!Time of year?
Midi route is out for all but less than 1.4M.Please amplify your statement.
Good sailing to all.

[Grehan]

Hi Paul and thanks for the pointer. For those who are interested in traversing the canal system, north-south or east-west, I have produced a page that outlines the key factors and parameters at - > Waterways routes through France - Grehan's French Inland Waterways, Rivers and Canals Information Guide <