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Marco Flamingo
Joined: 09 Jul 2015 Posts: 1155 City/Region: Seattle
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2004
C-Dory Model: 16 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Limpet
Photos: Limpet
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 11:22 am Post subject: Boating in France. |
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I just spent some time on a bare boat (or bare barge?) charter in France and posted some pictures under 2017 Travels in the Limpet pictures. A little background might help for those who are interested. Years ago, my father got the bug to do this and, since I knew something of boats and my wife speaks French, we were captain and crew. This was one of those vacations that is so enjoyable that it's worth repeating, especially since there are a variety of canals in France.
This time, we did the Lot River. I have to credit my wife with all the research and arrangements. The Lot River has limestone cliffs which are covered with ancient "troglodyte" structures as well as caves with prehistoric paintings. One town we visited during its annual "festival gastronomic," but the food was excellent everywhere and the boat had a nice galley, complete with a pressure cooker (good for goose gizzards) and sharp knives (a rarity on any rental). We went on a truffle hunting excursion with a local and my wife dug one (I finally found a use for a dog on a boat).
The locks were all manual and required more effort than our last trip on the Loire because the changes in height were greater. Still perfectly doable. The boat was 11 meters with a 40 hp Yanmar and no bow thruster. We only had one problem when the lock wasn't closed properly and the water pressure forced the rudder hard over and steerage was lost (I found out when leaving the lock). I had to use just prop walk to do a 180 and get to shore before floating off down the river with my crew still on shore. A little bit exciting. The company had a mechanic there in about 45 minutes. It is about as safe as boating can get. Still, we saw plenty of boats with smashed rub rails and tended to avoid all other traffic, if possible.
There were a couple of sections of the river marked for planing hulls (to appease the water skiers). We only saw one for a few minutes. The planing capabilities of a C Dory would be largely lost, however, there would be other advantages. France is slowly rehabilitating its ancient lock system, but there are sections that remain closed. It isn't actually possible to get from Cahors, where we were, to Bordeaux, even though they are in the same drainage. It would require trailering in a few places. France (and the rest of Europe) is covered with similar ancient canals that don't quite connect, which is okay because it makes them worthless to commercial traffic. There must be over a thousand miles. At 3 knots, and a beautiful little town ever 2 miles, that's a lot of cruising.
Time to ship a C Dory to France for a River Horse type of trip. I'd have to change Limpet to Cheval du fleuve. Changing the name is the easy part.
Mark |
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nimrod
Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 268 City/Region: Mount Vernon
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1996
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Berta's Boy
Photos: 'Berta's Boy
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds like a lot fun. Would you mind sharing the name of the boat rental company you used?
jd |
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thataway
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 20813 City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 2:42 pm Post subject: |
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How is the draft? When we were there in 1980's there was a challenge with 2 meters in some places. We only did the "fixed mast" route in Belgium to Amsterdam.
It sounds as if you had a fantastic vacation. We had some friends who had a group of 4 couples and owned a boat.--each got 2 months each year--with Layup the middle of the winter. The next couple in rotation took the boat from where the other couple left off. They had a rotation so that every year the months that each couple changed. _________________ Bob Austin
Thataway
Thataway (Ex Seaweed) 2007 25 C Dory May 2018 to Oct. 2021
Thisaway 2006 22' CDory November 2011 to May 2018
Caracal 18 140 Suzuki 2007 to present
Thataway TomCat 255 150 Suzukis June 2006 thru August 2011
C Pelican; 1992, 22 Cruiser, 2002 thru 2006
Frequent Sea; 2003 C D 25, 2007 thru 2009
KA6PKB
Home port: Pensacola FL |
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Marco Flamingo
Joined: 09 Jul 2015 Posts: 1155 City/Region: Seattle
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2004
C-Dory Model: 16 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Limpet
Photos: Limpet
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 8:39 pm Post subject: |
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We used Locaboat both times. They have several models of the Penichette (which I think might be a tradename for a hull design that they actually own and have fabricated for their business). They have designs which very comfortably fit 3 couples and that takes the sting out of the rental price. Plus, with 6 people aboard it allows an evening taste/comparison of several bottles of local wine. And cooking for 2 is no fun when the public markets have all kinds of things that Trader Joe would find exotic. We had a contest for the cheapest/best wine. And the winner is . . . a 3.8 Euro Cahors "black wine."
http://www.locaboat.com/en/our-boats-and-penichettes/hire-canal-boat-flying-bridge/penichettes-1180fb.html
Draft is about 1 meter and cabin height/low bridges is generally more of a concern. I did manage to run aground on the previous trip, but the lock system on the canals tends to make for silt bottoms. And speeds are slow. It's sort of "hey, we've stopped moving, let's back off of this mud bank." Anyone who has run a CD 16 in a 10 knot breeze could do this.
Mark |
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jbdba01
Joined: 18 Nov 2014 Posts: 172
State or Province: FL
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Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:16 am Post subject: |
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Holy smokes...gotta run this by the spousal unit.
This is looks like a great time and very different. |
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Foggy
Joined: 01 Aug 2013 Posts: 1521 City/Region: Traverse City; Northern Lake Michigan
State or Province: MI
C-Dory Year: 2014
C-Dory Model: 26 Venture
Vessel Name: Boatless in Boating Paradise
Photos: W B Nod
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Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2017 4:52 pm Post subject: |
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C'est C Bon!
Aye. _________________ "I don't want any cake" - said no one ever.
If someone tells you they don't eat cake, unfriend them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life. |
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hardee
Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 12633 City/Region: Sequim
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sleepy-C
Photos: SleepyC
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Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2017 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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For boats as it is for boaters, everything is a compromise and to each his own. Agree, it would be a different experience, although it would work for some, for me it would be a different kind of challenge.
Harvey
SleepyC
_________________ Though in our sleep we are not conscious of our activity or surroundings, we should not, in our wakefulness, be unconscious of our sleep. |
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localboy
Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 4656 City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
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TyBoo
Joined: 23 Oct 2003 Posts: 5313 City/Region: Warrenton
State or Province: OR
C-Dory Year: 1996
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruise Ship
Vessel Name: TyBoo
Photos: TyBoo
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Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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I just looked through your pictures and I have to say it looks fantastic. Your captions are perfect, too! Thanks.
Now I'm going back to your album to see if there are photos of your previous trip. _________________ TyBoo Mike
Sold: 1996 25' Cruise Ship
Sold: 1987 22' Cruiser |
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