French & Belgian canal system

[Valeria]

Would anyone be able to tell me the size limits for boats cruising through French and Belgian canals? I need to discover whether it is feasible to take a trawler from Rotterdam to the Mediterranean. The dimensions are the following: LOA 12.8 m, beam 4.3 m, draft 1.1 m, vertical clearance from waterline 3.9 m.

Also, if such a trip were possible, I am searching for someone who knows the canal system well enough to accompany us, for a fee of course.

If you want to check out the trawler that needs to make this trip you can see it at http://www.patagoniayachts.com/ It is made by my family's company in Argentina for export to the European Community, and we need an inexpensive way to get the boat to and fro from boat shows.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Valeria

ok, can do email this man who has done lotsa designing and builds for Kiwi boats on the canals, your loa, beam, d, is ok
maxcarter@marine-design.co.nz
or google it

[SeaSpark]

From http://www.hansvandijk.org/AnitaII/i...inspectie.html

Hoogte mag maximaal 3,50m zijn, liever een handbreedte minder. In de meeste Franse kanalen is 3,50 m doorvaarthoogte de norm, al zijn er wel een paar bruggetjes wat aan de krappe kant omdat het waterpeil hier en daar verhoogd is om meer diepgang te krijgen. Denk aan tunnels, die zijn rond van boven en brede stuurhuizen blijven daar nog wel eens achter hangen. Diepte is in jouw geval belangrijk. Niet dieper dan 1m 80, liever 1m 60 voor de oude kanaaltjes waar weinig geladen spitsen doorkomen. Succes. met groet .. Frank."

These people are speaking from experience.

Translation of the major points:

Maximum height 3.5 meter officially preferably a bit less, water is a bit higher than planned in some canals so 3.35 is more safe. Max depth preferably 1.6m for the older canals.

[alexlebrit]

The VNF (Voies Navigables de France) is the official body concerning inland navigation in France. Their website will tell you everything you need to know. The English is a bit odd in places, and I'm not certain you get all the info either, but if you look top right there's a tiny drop down maenu to select which language.

I'm not certain of sizes though.

[Crag Cay]

I think you can squeak 3.6m of headroom (airdraft) if you go up the Rhine and then use the Moselle and Canal de L'Est to get to the Rhone. I think 3.9 m will be too much whichever route you choose. It might be worth checking out the cost of a truck ride from Mulhouse to Chalon sur Saone. (The Rhine and Rhone/Saone are 4.9m plus), but I should think the expensive bits are being craned on and off rather than the mileage.

What time of year are you planning the trip? It can be a long haul up the Rhine and a wild ride down the Rhone if they are in flood (late spring).

[Valeria]

Thanks everyone for your information and suggestions. Unfortunately, it seems our trawler's height will make it impossible to use the canals (the 3.9 m of vertical clearance is with the acrylic wind deflector already taken off). Crag Cay's suggestion, though, of trucking to Chalon sur Saone is worth looking into. We are planning the trip sometime in late summer or early autumn. If we discover this route is feasible, I'll be posting again later to see if we can find someone local to act as our "pilot".

Cheers,

Valeria

[yipster]

at € 250 pc navigo is an exellent pc program for that.
i'm sure if you ask the nice guy's bout your boat you get a quik reply or i'll check later