Draft limits navigating European canals

[GTom]

Speaking of European canals, many navigate trough the French canal system but I haven't seen many reports on the eastern route (Danube, all the way to the Black Sea/Turkey/Greece).

[Grehan]

Tom Sommers publishes a series of guides https://www.eurocanals.com/BuyGuides/danubproj.html and we have David Edwards-May's map of the European Waterways that covers all the way from Ireland east into Russia https://www.french-waterways.com/res...s-euromapping/


Bill and Laurel Cooper did the 'Byzantium' journey and published a book about the passage https://amzn.to/2t2tpz6


We shared a lock on the Rhone with a German motor boat that was completing the circuit Danube-Black Sea-Mediterranean-Rhone-Rhine. But you're correct, there aren't too many public reports.

[GTom]

Thanks Grehan! Found lots of pictures and a wealth of information here (only in German).

One thing, the mast has to be unstepped, I don't know if this is the case for the French canal system (air draft ~15m).

[hpeer]

Ah, another bucket list item.

Schengen, bah!

We would probably be looking at a multi month charter.

[Grehan]

Originally Posted by GTom

One thing, the mast has to be unstepped, I don't know if this is the case for the French canal system (air draft ~15m).

Yes, it certainly is!

• https://www.french-waterways.com/pra.../canal-depths/
• https://www.french-waterways.com/pra...sport-trailer/

We've done many passages throughout France, carrying our 15m mast. After the first couple of locks one learns how to manage.

[hellosailor]

I think the Pardeys have a book on using the canal system. There is a water draft, for your hull, and there is an air draft--because some of the canals go through tunnels with a height much less than you might expect. As well as a limited width for some passages.

They also mentioned that in a drought year, or in dry season, you might need an even lesser draft because the water levels sometimes cannot be maintained.

[Grehan]

Many many bridges . .

[GTom]

Not much clearance there...

[athene]

You could do worse than join the European Inland Waterways Section of the Cruising Association.

See link below for details and PM me or email via the address on the flyer if you want an introductory discount of 25 per cent.

GORDON KNIGHT

https://www.theca.org.uk/sites/all/m...2018-06-14.pdf

[GTom]

Originally Posted by Grehan

Yes, it certainly is!

• https://www.french-waterways.com/pra.../canal-depths/
• https://www.french-waterways.com/pra...sport-trailer/

We've done many passages throughout France, carrying our 15m mast. After the first couple of locks one learns how to manage.

Plans got a bit more refined, the Mrs is very interested in the Canal du Midi. I wonder if anyone has done it with 1.4m-ish draft?

I guess the best time of the year to try is late Spring?