Taking 2 narrowboats to Europe

[Joelsanders]

This got me wondering - would a haulage company be able to place two narrow boats side by side on the back of the wagon? I think they can carry pretty wide gear although I believe above 3.5m or something it becomes much more expensive as you need an escort or something.

I'm not sure its worth it for just a year living on France (whereabouts?) If you wanted to live in Paris it is not the same deal as living in London on the cut!!

If you wanted to live in a nice quiet place on the canal de Bourgogne then it would be easier I think.

We'd like to move around and see as much as possible.

2 narrowboats side by side on a truck is definitely something I'll look into. Seems obvious but, as a cost cutting possibility that hadn't occurred to me.

[Tam & Di]

And full of froggies of course

 

That's OK - they may talk the hind legs off you, but you can eat theirs.

[Joelsanders]

 

In theory, and if you are buying a house. If you are "sans adresse fixée" things are a lot more grey. There are dozens of barge owners, particularly in France and the Netherlands, who do spend at least 6 months but who are outside of the French/Dutch etc schemes.

 

 

 

 

You don't need to do that. But you do need to buy white fuel over here and keep the invoices so that if you get checked you can show them. It is also a good idea to keep some sort of log showing how many hours you've used the engine to help substantiate the reason why there are still traces of red in the tank. You can still use red (fioul) for generators and central heating, so separate tanks are worth consideration.

 

Several comments here are very valid - narrow boats are far from ideal on the larger waterways, both in their motive power and their manoeuvrability but also in passage of locks. Locks are worked very differently to those in the UK - other than some of the Midi and Garonne you do not get off the boat and lock keepers work them for you either manually of remotely from a cabin. Some locks are extremely fierce fillers and you must have a technique to cope with this. To slip in a snidey ad, there is a dvd available showing this - the Darlingtons came to us for training too . You also need appropriate gear - bollards tend to be at least 40m apart, for the standard Freycinet peniche, so you need lines long and strong enough for this. VHF is not mandatory for craft under 20m generally, but other than the little waterways like the Midi etc it is extremely useful and it is mandatory for all craft if you intend to cruise through Paris (and why the hell wouldn't you??).

 

Finally, CWDF is brilliant and many of us with a more or less permanent base in France contribute, but if you are seriously thinking of bringing a boat here you should look in at the DBA forum (and probably join the DBA) as that has the greatest in depth information on all aspects of cruising on the continent, including social aspects such as communications, health etc.

 

Tam (not dead yet)

 

Thank you, Tam. There's a great deal to consider here but what kind of an adventure would it be without problems & complications? We need to do a great deal of work to turn this into a reality though,

 

 

edit for typo!

[Horace42]

Very interesting topic. Read it out of purely academic curiosity.

 

I can think of absolutely no reason whatsoever why I should want to take my boat to France - not if you paid me - not in a million years.

 

 

[GUMPY]

Thanks. Maybe I'll have to settle for Berkhamsted. They have a Cafe Rouge and I have a good imagination.

Oh no they don't.... its closed

[Joelsanders]

Very interesting topic. Read it out of purely academic curiosity.

 

I can think of absolutely no reason whatsoever why I should want to take my boat to France - not if you paid me - not in a million years.

 

i can think of absolutely no reason whatsoever why I would pay you to take your boat to France either.... unless you put yours on a truck, I can put mine alongside yours and this scenario works out cheaper for me than any option. I can't wait a million years though. You are taking 'canal time' to an unrealistic extreme.

Oh no they don't.... its closed

Closed? Like I said, I have a good imagination. Edited June 2, 2016 by Joelsanders

[Tam & Di]

Thanks. Maybe I'll have to settle for Berkhamsted. They have a Cafe Rouge and I have a good imagination.

 

Not too good, I hope.

 

The Moulin Rouge in Paris is well known, particularly perhaps for its dancers, but the name crops up widely throughout France. Its origins are a bit gory though. Millers had the unfortunate habit of slipping and falling into the mill, whereupon their blood rather contaminated the flour and leading to the mill becoming known as the moulin rouge from thenceforth. It's easy enough to postulate reasons for the name Cafe Rouge if you are of a goulish nature

 

I'll leave to do the imagining.

 

Tam

[Stilllearning]

Most of Europe is finding money tight now that they have millions of refugees from middle eastern conflict, so expect there to be many checks on your entitlement to be there and to have any benefits there. In France expect all the civil forms to be in government jargonese French with no translation and little free help.

 

Remember that red diesel doesn't exist for continental leisure boating -flush your system before you get a truck over there.

The civil French forms may or may not be in jargon else , it depends where you live. Around here the one page questionnaire used to join the health system is in English and French and no one has been in the least bit difficult in their dealings with us. Having some French really helps, as does having the right paperwork ready or the right attitude to going and getting the requisite papers. It's not difficult, just not the same as in the UK.( And why should it be?)

[Tam & Di]

....... Having some French really helps, as does having the right paperwork ready or the right attitude to going and getting the requisite papers. It's not difficult, just not the same as in the UK.( And why should it be?)

 

And indeed too, why would the French all be expected to speak English? What chance would a French/German etc on a narrowboat holiday in the UK have of finding someone to speak his language if he had a problem?

 

Tam

[Stilllearning]

And indeed too, why would the French all be expected to speak English? What chance would a French/German etc on a narrowboat holiday in the UK have of finding someone to speak his language if he had a problem?

 

Tam

I completely agree. Both of us are very glad that we have degrees in French Studies and a good selection of dictionaries.

[Jim Batty]

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? ...

 

The Book Barge did the crossing (afloat) a couple of weeks ago: https://www.facebook.com/The-Book-Barge-153222811393506/

 

Not sure if they are still selling books ... but looks like they're having fun.

 

Thanks. Maybe I'll have to settle for Berkhamsted. They have a Cafe Rouge and I have a good imagination.

 

[Saani]

Hi I’ve been trying to work out if there’s a maximum length for boat transport from  UK to Europe by ship or by truck as considering a 70 foot does any one know ? thanks 

[mrsmelly]

9 minutes ago, Saani said:

Hi I’ve been trying to work out if there’s a maximum length for boat transport from  UK to Europe by ship or by truck as considering a 70 foot does any one know ? thanks 

No maximum length.

[Alan de Enfield]

45 minutes ago, Saani said:

Hi I’ve been trying to work out if there’s a maximum length for boat transport from  UK to Europe by ship or by truck as considering a 70 foot does any one know ? thanks 

It is not part of the question you asked …………………. but

 

Not many of the Mainland Europe canals / rivers / locks are set up to suit the British 'weird sized tubes' we call narrowboats.

 

Its not a length problem but a problem of being able to get down the gunnel to tie up to amid-ship bollards.

 

There are quite a few boaters who base themselves (at least for part of the year) on Europe' waterways. If you outline where you plan to use the boats they will be able to give you advice as to their suitability.

 

If taking a boat over to France you will need a copy of the VAT paid certificate and the RCD paperwork. 

The French authorities (in particular) like their paperwork.

 

Are you planning it to be a 'permanent export' and take the registration of which ever country you re planning to live in ?

If you are not registering it locally then you will probably need a full suite of 'Ships Papers'

 

Here are the details (published by the RYA)

 

Ship's Papers

 

When you are sailing a UK registered boat from the UK to any other country, you will require papers both for the boat and for the crew on board. There is a core set of paperwork - your ship's papers - which, together with your passport, any other personal paperwork and any country specific documentation or publications you may be required to carry on board, should enable you to satisfy a foreign customs official, if required.

The following documentation should be carried:

Vessel	Skipper and / or Crew
Registration document	Evidence of Competence (requirements vary by country)
Ship Radio Licence	Authority to Operate Maritime Radio
Insurance documents (requirements vary by country)	Passport or other recognised travel document
Evidence of the Union Status of the boat	European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and / or appropriate medical and repatriation insurance
Evidence of RCD Compliance or Exemption
Voyage Log

Your Ship's Papers should be original documents.

Registration Document

Registration of a vessel is not compulsory for a UK Citizen who keeps their boat in the UK, but it is essential if you wish to take your boat outside of UK Territorial Waters. This applies both to boats which are sailed or driven to a foreign port and to dinghies, ribs, sports boats and PWC etc. which are trailered to other countries. You should always be prepared to present the original registration document - photocopies are often not acceptable.

Carrying additional evidence of ownership such as a bill of sale is also recommended, especially if the vessel is registered on the UK Small Ship Register (SSR - Part III of the register). 

Edited August 29, 2019 by Alan de Enfield

[rusty69]

I have it in my head that a 70ft needs some kind of commercial licence too, though might have dreamt it. 

[mrsmelly]

10 minutes ago, rusty69 said:

I have it in my head that a 70ft needs some kind of commercial licence too, though might have dreamt it. 

Just about any other kind of boat is more suited for use across the channel in europe rather than a narrowboat. Just sayin like.

[ditchcrawler]

25 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

It is not part of the question you asked …………………. but

 

Not many of the Mainland Europe canals / rivers / locks are set up to suit the British 'weird sized tubes' we call narrowboats.

 

Its not a length problem but a problem of being able to get down the gunnel to tie up to amid-ship bollards.

 

There are quite a few boaters who base themselves (at least for part of the year) on Europe' waterways. If you outline where you plan to use the boats they will be able to give you advice as to their suitability.

 

If taking a boat over to France you will need a copy of the VAT paid certificate and the RCD paperwork. 

The French authorities (in particular) like their paperwork.

See here for the treatment Ann and Olly got in Germany https://wanderingsnail.blogspot.com/2014/01/no-sooner-had-we-tied-up-for-evening.html

[Mike Adams]

We boated in France for the last 10 years but sold the boat last year after Cameron screwed it up for everybody. The main disadvantage of a long narrowboat apart from those already stated above is that above 20m you need a French boating licence and lots of marinas/moorings will only accept boats up to about 15m. Whilst you can often moor on a quay with a barge it is more difficult with a narrowboat especially on commercial waterways and rivers. I am not sure of what happens after Brexit but I fear it will be more difficult and expensive to take a boat into the EU for more than 6 months due to import duty. I remember back in the 1970's if you wanted to leave a boat out in France  over the winter it had to be placed in a customs bond and in theory as a British citizen after Brexit you will only be able to stay for 90 days in any 180 days as far as I understand it.

[Saani]

Thank you all good to know perhaps future boat swap for a few months in order.

[wandering snail]

We were over there in Mainland Europe with our narrowboat for 10 years but gave up after the uncertainties of the Brexit vote. Feel free to pm me with any questions, I've also got a book out 'A Cigar in Belgium' which will give you lots of hints but - you're biggest problem is that you will only be allowed over there for 3 months after a No Deal Brexit or probably even with a 'deal' one which is hardly worth the thousands it will cost you to get over there with the boats. 

[Neil TNC]

Just imagine the fun we are going to have in Ireland, where 8 miles of the Shannon-Erne waterway is the border and even the locals would be hard put to find the border in the Upper Erne.

Spot the "UK"/EU border (one of the Upper Erne "loops")

 

[wandering snail]

23 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

See here for the treatment Ann and Olly got in Germany https://wanderingsnail.blogspot.com/2014/01/no-sooner-had-we-tied-up-for-evening.html

We hear that Germany has now come in line with other European waterway regs and allow pleasure boats up to 20m. This of course still doesn't help with us leaving the EU so only being able to be there for 3 months. And then there's the problem also of medical insurance which the government have now put advice about on their web site. Soooo glad we went over when we did. A carefree and wonderful experience now probably denied to everyone else.

[Saani]

Thanks “Wandering snail” I know! So sad to think of Europe after Brexit

[GUMPY]

18 hours ago, Saani said:

Thanks “Wandering snail” I know! So sad to think of Europe after Brexit

I think there may be more problems here rather than there.......

[Dav and Pen]

Germany only recognizes the ICC up to 15m. Any boat needs to be registered and usually Brits use the ssr. You also need a vhf operators license and a ships radio license and depending on length of ship a fixed vhf set and if over 20m 2 radios and now a class A AIS. The continentals love papers and numbers painted on boats. If a boat was exempt vat in the U.K. you should have an invoice showing vat paid at the zero rate.