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Hi Everyone, We are finally looking to move our widebeam to France launching at Evans Marine in Migennes in Spring 2016 using CPL Transport (http://www.cpltrans.com/index.php). So if anyone is looking at moving their boat back from France to the UK (unlikely I know!) around that time there'll be a transporter with an empty space for at least a 60ft x 12ft boat coming back to the UK from Migennes sometime in Spring of 2016 (exact date yet to be decided) which may offer both boats cheaper cost for transportation. Phil

So, the story is that I've been a canal anorak since the 60's, but last week took hubby on a canal (lateral a la loire) in France for a week, and he is bitten almost as much as me, so, being all set to sell up and do it, the question is, given that we live in France, how does one go about getting a permis? I had a quick look at the French vnf website but it's hard work (we're thinking up to 20m). I'm sure there are many here that are liveaboard in France (well several anyway). At coming up 68 (hubby) is it a ridiculous idea? (we're already in the French health system, so that's a start) Wide beam UK boat or dutch barge (dutch barges are more expensive and we'll have limited funds)? Any boatbuilders in France that build sensible boats? I see Piper do but they're a bit pricey too. New hull and superstucture or fitted out and not knowing what's going on beneath the floor? Any redirection to appropriate blogs/websites gratefully received. Any information about anything relative also gratefully received!

Hi there, We're planning to sell our house and take a couple of years out before we get locked down to school with kids. We're hoping to buy a boat, preferably a Dutch-style barge capable of being piloted across the Channel. We would stay on the Kennet and Avon near Bath / Bristol for the winter before heading to the European canal network in the spring. I'm struggling to get to grips with what is actually a realistic beam size for this - within reason, we want the biggest boat we can manage on the K&A but there seems to be a lot of conflicting info about what you can actually take from Bath - London. I understand the theoretical 13ft 10in is perhaps not possible because some lock gates don't open fully and the edges of the canal channel are very silted in places. But I can't find any solid info anywhere about what is actually a realistic beam! We're looking at something like 65ft - 68ft in length to give us a few feet leeway. I know the European canals are much larger and I imagine that if your boat is too small it would quite intimidating over there, besides the fact that we want space for the kids (we'll have an infant and a 3 yr old). Any advice would be welcome - also if anyone has any tips on boats for sale - obviously we're looking on Apollo Duck etc Many thanks for your help Kind Regards Emma

Hi all, We have a 1908 Dutch tjhalk 60ft (18m) ,11.5 ft wide (3.5m) which we have been renovating since last summer when it was in dry dock. It is nearly finished and my daughter and I have been living on her in Castelmoron-sur-Lot in the South of France during the week when she has been in school doing her A Levels. Now she is heading to London to do a course near Farringdon/Barbican. We were wondering whether anyone would be interested in a 10 month barge swop starting in September. We have asked if she would like to go into student accommodation but she would rather live in the barging community because she says "people on boats are much friendlier". Obviously the closer she is to where she will be studying the better. I guess we are talking Regents Canal, Lee or Limehouse Cut. Our boat is currently on the Lot which is absolutely stunning. It is only a half day journey from the Canal des Deux Mers, alternatively called Canal Lateral. The trip involves a piloted trip up part of the Garonne and then onto the river Baise although passage does depend on river water levels. You can then follow the Baise or pass through a lock onto the Canal which will take you towards Bordeaux or Toulouse continuing along the Canal du Midi towards the Med. We would probably not want to move the barge we borrow for our daughter but we are happy for our own boat to be moved provided it is back in the area of Toulouse by the end of the period. In order to move our barge you would need to have your ICC which may need you to do the RYA CEVNI course (£20) which we did online and then RYA issue an ICC based on your IWHC. We haven't really thought about mooring fees etc - who would pay what - but if we can find someone interested then I'm sure we can work this out. Really interested to see if we can make this work.

A friend and I have talked for years about taking our boats to France and living abroad for a year. Has anyone here done this with a narrowboat or have knowledge of how to turn this dream into a viable, safe reality? Tug? Lorry? And costs? 'Narrow Dog To Carcassonne' was published in 2006 so really hoping for the most recent , practical information & options available. Merci beaucoup

When we take our boat with the motorbike on the front to France, do we have to register the bike in France? How do we insure it for the roads without a French address?