[brian eiland]

"There are 10,000 miles of waterways in Europe, 8,000 of them are in France.

The French network includes 100 canals and rivers and there are dozens of possible cruises, along a single canal or into other inter-connected waterways.

We like to share our own experiences of cruising in Europe with our customers, passing on tips and our considerable knowledge of sailing in France. Our Category C Dutch style barges can easily cross the English Channel putting the dream of exploring all the fascinating places in France and Europe within easy reach."

...quoted from here:
http://www.piperboats.com/dutch_france.html
...this is a nicely organized website with lots of info on their variety of canal vessels.

http://www.barging.co.uk/Elessina/autocaddrawing.htm

Brochure
http://www.piperboats.com/images/pip...spec_sheet.pdf

[brian eiland]

This question came up on another subject thread on this forum, and look what I chose as a first pick


"Okay I've been giving a little thought to how I might spend those jackpot winnings, even though I seldom ever play these lotteries. It's nice to dream though

NUMBER 1: First off I think I would have a very nice canal boat built to go cruise and live on the canals of Europe for some portions of the year. I particularly like this vessel design Roi Soleil. This would be my 'floating apartment' in Europe"....

http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/ya...tml#post149991

[Blue Ghost]

Is it me, or does the water in those French waterways look a little unclean?

[K1W1]

Originally Posted by Blue Ghost

Is it me, or does the water in those French waterways look a little unclean?

The colour of the water is no real indicator of it's cleanliness.

I just spent a week in the port of Genoa, that as to be the dirtiest place I have seen for several years. The water was not a bad colour but the floating turds, plastic bags and scum on the surface were a whole other story.

[FISHTIGUA]

We've got a canal boat in our weldingshop at the moment.

38ft of rot next to the 58ft of rotten trawler in wood.

Jeez, we get all the best jobs.

(Photos tomorrow, today is a holiday; ejecting Nazi powers and all that)

[colintraveller]

Originally Posted by K1W1

The colour of the water is no real indicator of it's cleanliness.

I just spent a week in the port of Genoa, that as to be the dirtiest place I have seen for several years. The water was not a bad colour but the floating turds, plastic bags and scum on the surface were a whole other story.

LOL Did you take pics ? A picture can do more to raise awareness and cause severe embarrassment to the locals ..

[K1W1]

Originally Posted by colintraveller

LOL Did you take pics ? A picture can do more to raise awareness and cause severe embarrassment to the locals ..

No, If you want to see something similar close to home take a run to Granton.

[brian eiland]

I had almost forgotten about this subject thread until this evening when HTM09 brought up the subject of a pivotable rudder nozzle over here:

http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/ge...tml#post172166

These type of systems could prove quite usable on these shallow draft barge vessels.

Weren't these also termed 'kitchen rudders' (Kitchen rudders) ??
Kitchen rudder - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[HTM09]

As we can not compete with you guys across the pond with your inland water ways, canals, big long rivers and the great lakes, boating on inland water ways in Europe also can be very adventurous and very romantic.

Travelling the rivers and canals in the Netherlands is very convinient and easy. This country is made for watersports. If you travel on the canals in the netherlands during summer, it looks like every second Dutchman (if not every) has a boat. But their is no hassel, everybody is friendly and patient. And when you go go on the hook over night, you easily make friends.

But there are 3 inland waterway crossings in Europe, which are the dream of any boater in Europe. The listing is not ment as (my) priority.

1.) The Göta Canal / Trollhätte Canal / Göta älv in Sweden:

It goes from Göteborg on the west coast of Sweden to south of Stockholm on the east coast across the country and climbs up 300 ft above sea level and back down towards Stockholm. It has 58 locks (some of them are really dramatic) and is 210 NM long. It can take pretty large boats, even sailboats with an air draft up to 72 ft. After that crossing, you are either proficent in handling locks or you need a new boat. You can even travel the canal without boat. There are several vintage cruising ships travel the canal during summer taking passengers in double cabins on nice comfort. A very nice and great adventure.

TBC

[HTM09]

2. The Caledonian Canal in England (or whatever: Great Britain, Scotland, etc.)

It connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west cost at Fort Williams. The canal is 53,4 NM long and has 29 locks. It can take pretty large boats up 150 by 35 ft and has no airdraft limit. The country side of wild and historic Scotland is very dramatic. Sailors like to take that canal when circumnavigating the British Island. I have done it twice in either direction, but never managed to do the trip around England completely in nice weather. Storm and / or heavy rain is automatically booked with that trip even in summer.

Do you know the 4 British seasons? Winter, Spring, Rain and Autum

[HTM09]

3.) From the North Sea to the Med via Rhine River and Rhone:

This passage is done by boaters in Europe if they want to go the Med on their own keel, without doing the long way around. The size of boats are limited and sailboats have to lay down their mast(s). This trip gives a totally different experience. You have to go up the beautiful Rhine River up to Mühlhouse and then change into France. At that point a phenomena starts, that our doctors call "mental deceleration". Just relax, take your time and follow the rivers and canals via Rhine-Rhone Canal, Saone and Rhone down to the Med. Encounter more than 100 locks (self service) and enjoy nice french food and wine.

The journey is the reward

[brian eiland]

WOW ! Thanks for those additions to this subject thread HTM09. As I said above,....

Originally Posted by brian eiland

"Okay I've been giving a little thought to how I might spend those jackpot winnings, .... It's nice to dream

NUMBER 1: First off I think I would have a very nice canal boat built to go cruise and live on the canals of Europe for some portions of the year. I particularly like this vessel design Roi Soleil. This would be my 'floating apartment' in Europe"....