Boaty Jo

Put search 'Boats for sale Netherlands Belgium France' into Google / Bing. Lots of brokers come up (Apollo Duck is one) That's a link to the Dutch site but they cover many countries. There are literally thousands of boats for sale. For example, we bought ours through a private ad, then sold through Dutch broker Fikkers Don't know about further east but there is a wide variety of waterways throughout Netherlands, Belgium and France. The Rhine is not for the faint hearted after rain so make sure you get a boat that can cope. As Tony says The Barge Association is a one good resource Not sure what you're after particularly, but there is a huge choice of barge, cruiser, motor-sailor etc, with a confusing variety of equipment (for the novice anyway) and a variety of technical specifications for boats of certain length cruising certain waterways. Research is key. Best of luck.

The Canal du Nivernais is lovely. Rural so if that's your thing, it may suit. Le Boat have (or did have) a base at Decize at the southern end and another at Migennes at the top of the Canal du Bourgogne. In fact, there's a Le Boat base in St. Jean de Losne (or was) at the southern on of the Bourgogne too, so there's another option. This may help

Henk, perhaps try: The Barge Association

Not sure if this has been posted, but here's an idea of the cost of things......

Contact Us | Owatrol Direct

I installed a microwave in the camper where the TV used to be.

There may be a Hull or HIN number (or other) stamped or welded somewhere on the hull (lower part as the superstructure forward of the rear cabin will probably be a later addition) The Dutch boat administration and register is called the Kadaster, IF you can find a hull number, perhaps they can help. The Dutch Barge Association may also be able to help. www.barges.org

Deleted, why?

Difficult to know who to believe on the important things isn't it? I try and make my own mind up. That means mainstream and others. Two people I have watched are Scott Tinker and Ian Plimer. Here’s Geologist Scott Tinker giving fascinating talk on You Tube. He refers to two further films which I have also watched. One basically from a producers / suppliers point of view, one consumers. For example he say, an astonishing 2.6 billion people worldwide still use wood to heat and cook indoors. 3 million a year die from breathing the indoor smoke. Then (during the next storm when you’re stuck) Here's Ian Plimer on You Tube, another geologist, very interesting on climate.

Indeed. According to 'conspiracy theorists' China is building one coal-fired power station a week. My belief is we're being taken for another ride - a mighty expensive one. It's all supposing that there actually IS a problem with excess CO2. Does CO2 causes 'warming'? Inconveniently, higher CO2 follows warming, not the other way round. The earth has warmed and cooled over millions of years. The Neanderthal Green Brigade were furious with the low-life's when it warmed up a bit. 'Put those ***** fires out.' Is there really an anthropogenic rise in CO2 or, god forbid, is it overwhelmingly natural.

"clean propulsion technology company" promising to reduce your carbon footprint with Zero-Emission Technology. Is that not a niche system in a niche market, (likely highly subsidised by you and me). Appears that they may well have net zero profits to go with the zero-emission tech. Net Zero in general is an unrealistic, unworkable, expensive mess. Fairline is another victim.

But there are so many viable, cheap alternatives these days........

Very interesting to see something brand new as I've recently been researching the early canals. It says it links the Seine to the Rhine. Gives me goose bumps imagining the size of ships (@ 200m x 12) that will use the new waterway having encountered similar on the Waal. It's good to see commitment to a new inland waterway.

I tend to agree with Blackrose. Poured concrete on a steel/ iron hull sounds initially like a great idea, but if it really was the panacea, many more boats would go down that route. Our old boat had a couple of metres poured concrete at the front and back which would probably have been added some 60 - 80 years after it was built. We never had a visual problem with it but I can only conclude it was there for remedial purposes instead of replacing or repairing the iron / steel work, which would be far more expensive. Me, I'm a coward and would probably try another boat.

Interesting. You'd perhaps be surprised that a number of people are doing their best. I walk and cycle the canal 3 or 4 times a week, variously between Littleborough and Mytholmroyd, admittedly only about a 12-mile stretch, and your three areas of concern seem to be doing quite well considering. It's a lovely environment, with areas, particularly close to Hebden Bridge, planted with wildflowers by local residents, partly I suspect to prevent people mooring outside their properties, but it is a lovely stretch. There's more on the outskirts of Littleborough too, just past Summit. Early morn, there is plenty of wildlife, many birds and deer in particular, plus a herd each of Alpacas ad Llamas, albeit not strictly wild. Tourists come in the form of hire boaters, cyclists and walkers and Hebden Bridge seems to be thriving, incomers are always up for a gongoozle around the canal basin and a ferret round the trinket shops. Sure, there are problems. Short pounds and big locks around the summit area poor bedfellows and it can take a while to fill it all up again. The infrastructure, like many other places is creaking, but boats still do get through. I haven't done it for quite a while but coming up out of Manchester can be a bit of a battle and Rochdale isn't the most savoury of spots, but the scenery is largely wonderful and the people I speak to, quite regularly, seem happy enough. There's a Rochdale Canal Group, administered by a guy called Steven John Parker, who is passionate about trying to maintain and improve the canal. I will shortly be meeting with him to tap his brains because my wife has agreed, on our behalf, to give a talk on the history of the canals where my current knowledge is scant. Facebook links to The Rochdale Canal Group and Steven Parker if you'd like to have a look. I'm sure they'd welcome any input.