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Yachts in France

Discussion in 'Boat Shows & Yacht Watching' started by mp-willow, Mar 25, 2006.

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  1. mp-willow, Mar 25, 2006
    #1
    mp-willow

    mp-willow Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2006
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    120
    Location:
    Maine, York County
    Ok a newbie Question, I had a wild Idea while reading some history to take a yacht up the Seine river to Paris. The idea, to be able to sail open ocean and the river, in a moter Yacht, any thoughts on this? Is is just a crazy dream?

    I have read a little and should be able to get a nice ocean going Yacht, say 30 -5- meters, up the river ;)
  2. TRY, Mar 26, 2006
    #2
    TRY

    TRY Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2004
    Messages:
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    Location:
    cannes
    Prepare well!

    Hi,
    Before deciding on cruising the french canals from the Med (from Marseille via the Rhône river to start) you should first google the french canal and river system.
    Length should not be a problem, beam and airdraft is much more important since some bridges on secondary canals tend to be quite low.
  3. mp-willow, Mar 26, 2006
    #3
    mp-willow

    mp-willow Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2006
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    120
    Location:
    Maine, York County
    thanks, I am working on my resurch now. Also, I am interested in the Seine, from Paris to the Atlantic:rolleyes:
  4. Leveller, Mar 29, 2006
    #4
    Leveller

    Leveller Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
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    101
    Location:
    Bremen, Germany
    Hi mp-willow,

    it is an interesting adventure you are dreaming off. I've done it a few times from Germany to Marseilles mostly on transferring small yachts till 45 feet, for which it is not so easy to go round and enter the med thru the Gibraltar Strait.

    As TRY said I don't see any problems for Rhone and Seine but the canals between are really narrow, in all directions. The french canal system in the Center was built mostly more than 200 years ago and is today used in most cases from tourists with "plastic Boats" in the 30 feet range.

    On the Canels between Paris and Lyon I expect near to 250 locks, some bridges must opened by hand. Some pics could be found under:

    http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_de_Bourgogne

    http://www.burgundy-canal.com/

    Restrictions for boats travelling the burgundy-canal which is the best connection between the Seine and the Saone which will guide you to the Rhone are:

    lengt overall: 38,50 m
    beam of boat: 5,05 m
    height above water: 3,20 m
    keel dept: 1,80 m
    Opening Times: from sunrise till dawn, lock opening times can vary
    Speed limit: 6 km/h
    calculated time for the 242 km: 7 to 8 days

    If all this doesn't match with your yacht it is possible to hire one which will fit with the measurements or you can book a cabin on an hotelbarge.

    Leveller
  5. mp-willow, Mar 29, 2006
    #5
    mp-willow

    mp-willow Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2006
    Messages:
    120
    Location:
    Maine, York County
    Leveller, thanks, that is a lot to take in. I will need to do more reading, and look into where I could keep a large Ocean going Yacht while a smaller tender will have to do. That mark for hight above water is short. And 250 locks, crazy, but the trip would be worth it I think. ;)

    It is a different and I think less torest congested way to see Europe, well untill I would get into a city.