Self Cruising the Inland Waterways of Europe

[@jamiewashere]

Thanks so much for making this video. It's my dream to do this when I retire and this is very informative.

[@timothywelch6450]

An immense thankyou for creating this video! Ive been scratching my head over what to do with my retirement for several years. A five year plan to explore the Rhine and Danube has emerged as being the most appealing but being without a partner a cruiser seemed beyond my capacity to handle. Your advice and suggestions are very helpful and encouraging. Thankyou ;)

[@RetiredAfloat]

Good to hear Tim. We can go into the matchmaking business and get you a partner too if you like. Good luck with your plans.

[@tonyvernon8908]

Very informative, bookmarked and subscribed

[@kcsd608wife]

Please do more videos of cruising this is so interesting and would love to see and know more :)

[@mccormickmartin]

Thanks for sharing about your experience guys. Very informative video. We hope to do something similar in the coming years

[@RetiredAfloat]

You should!

[@davidgracey2194]

Thanks for the video guys. I look forward to seeing your updates.

[@williamkeily6686]

Awesome work folks. I'm jusst planning a permanent move to the European waters. I'm currently on a 52' sewer tube, (that's the opposite of a yoghurt pot), in the UK. Having done the entire coast of Austrlia, (all compass points, highest and lowest point and the center by 4X4). It was my 50th year and I kept meeting people who would say, first, "oh, you've seen more of Australia than I have" and secondaly, "I'd love to see Europe, but I want to see my own back yard first". When I got back, I remebered this, realised why I never saw my Aussie mates on weekends, (they were all spending the weekends in European capitals), so I bought a narrow boat and spent the last 5 years travelling around the canals and rivers of England and Wales. So now I'm looking at getting a motor sailer to do inland and coastal waters of the continent . So thanks for sharing your experiences, it's very interesting and informative. Cheers.

[@RetiredAfloat]

You'll have a great time. Let us know if you need any help

[@sk4256]

That was excellent! So informative. Look forward to more. Thank you. Sk in the Uk

[@RetiredAfloat]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Jmcivor777]

Thanks! That was really helpful! I agree- please consider posting more tips :)

[@tdiddle8950]

I enjoyed this video very much. To not actually be a video (it's a slideshow presentation), it was extremely well done. Great info. Very cleaver about the Schengen Area. When looking at it, I felt hustled because before the EU, one would have been able to spend at least 30 days in each separate country. Nice to know there's a workaround. I was thinking of having to hardcore plan my trip to include Ireland, UK, Faroe Islands, Channel Islands, Schengen Area, Eastern European countries not in the EU and, of course, Cyprus to be able to cruise Europe indefinitely. Now I see a much easier way. Thanks.

[@davidmacomber1614]

Thank you. Just found this KZbin, very timely, currently semi retired, planning for something like this for full retirement in about 2 years. Excellent content. I'm probably going to do the intercoastal/great loop bit here in America first. After which I may travel to somewhere across the pond and acquire something like the Broom. WOBs and BOBs -- too funny.

[@adrianmorton2210]

love love your video and informative post.... we are on the same path and looking to do the same.. We were looking at buying a canal boat/barge but like you say and have found out, not good for navigating the Channel or open water, so liking the sound of what you bought.. We are Kiwis and like you, living the dream :-) thanks so much

[@tonycampbell3778]

Great video guys, very informative and a great help for me starting my research to do something similar. Looks like your having a great adventure. Thanks

[@RetiredAfloat]

Yes we are, happy researching

[@KirkThomson]

Wow! This was excellent. Thank you so much.

[@RetiredAfloat]

You are so welcome!

[@MrJerobona]

This is a great video! very instructive and well detailed! Thank you for sharing all this info!

[@notbman]

Very nice job you two! Look forward to doing something like this one day!

[@RetiredAfloat]

Thanks Casey, hope to see you on the waterways sometime.

[@markwilliamson2795]

Wonderful ! Thank you....

[@sailslikeagirl3154]

Very interesting, we have a 40 foot sail boat that we intend to Cruise around Holland next year. Limited by 17m air draft and a 2m keel.

[@Biczycki]

Talking information. I'm German, European, but in your video I found more information than locally...

[@alexopweg]

Very nice.

[@RetiredAfloat]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Hojiii]

Thank you. This was very helpful.

[@RetiredAfloat]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hrcsourcingltd7858]

Just subscribed, great advice thank you. My dream exactly , however what boat I’m unsure as yet.

[@Danim24]

3:35 Beachy Head not Dover, but they do look similar ;-)

[@prensesdoga-oz7xc]

Thanks.

[@thomasalbrecht5914]

Your map says „Poland“ east of Switzerland. That’s where Austria is (a bit like Australia, but without Kangaroos of course...). I suggest you just come again and explore, by going down the Danube... ;)

[@shemhaque2758]

Thanks awesome advice here, just what I needed

[@RetiredAfloat]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jonnny95]

Great video. Is there any database of air drafts readily available for the waterways? Thanks jonathan

[@atill-w6s]

Are there tolls for the gates on these roads? I see doors in some places, I think they are for the water level.

[@222jimrice]

Hi ........Any more boating videos coming up ?

[@johncowley4387]

Hi geof france is nice we have done it also sailed from uk to med via rivers canals consider Caledonian canal scotland or river Shannon Ireland regards john carol spindrift

[@yuquoint6633]

Sold me. Great video love the boat. Next may I am doing it. Fuel cost cruising in a canal?

[@RetiredAfloat]

Very low. You can only cruise at 6 knots so not using much fuel. We have this boat because we want to go into the Med eventually but if you are just cruising the canals then much smaller engines are all you need. We cruise on one engine (only use two for maneuvering) to save fuel.

[@kjetilovegrimstad]

Thanks for all the information in your video. I'm trying to find how wide and how high boat one can have, Any input?

[@RetiredAfloat]

Well we can lower our radar arch and get our air draft down to 3 metres (from 5 metres normally) which is handy for passing under bridges. We are 4.1 metres wide and I don't think you would need much wider

[@kjetilovegrimstad]

@@RetiredAfloat Thanks a lot. Is there any site showing where the lower bridges are. How high boat can you have going Mediterranean to lyon or Paris.

[@RetiredAfloat]

@@kjetilovegrimstad We don't do much cruising in France due to the issues with weed and the maintenance of the locks/water levels etc. I think the VNF website has information though. The other option is to join the Dutch Barge Association as they have great information about all canals in each country

[@The442nd]

Thank you for sharing. Does your boat have a stabilizer? do you need it for navigating in the European waterways?

[@Booksbyphilmitchell]

I can only find this one video about your canal journies through Europe. Do you have any more videos in France?

[@RetiredAfloat]

Hi Phil. We haven't done much cruising in France yet. We crossed the Channel from Ramsgate to Dunkirk with the intention of just doing France but met some people in the marina at Dunkirk who talked us into Belgium. Then we got talked into The Netherlands and then Germany (all of which we have enjoyed enormously). Our current plan is to do The Netherlands next season before heading south into France the following year. We have heard though that France has issues with water depth and the maintenance of their lochs.

[@Booksbyphilmitchell]

@@RetiredAfloat Ok, thanks, your video and trip through Germany and beyond looked breathtaking, but I'm thinking of living on the boat and I won't want to be stuck up north for the winter. Maybe 3 months up there then head south. You must be looking forward to finally getting down into France and the Med in 2023.

[@RetiredAfloat]

@@Booksbyphilmitchell Yes we absolutely are. We've booked our flights for late April.

[@michaelbarber5137]

Hi G & L, thanks for posting your vid. Its great! I'm interested in how you went about choosing the right boat for your adventures. Can I ask which other brands/models made your shortlist before you settled on the Broom 39? What specific characteristics did you need from your potential boat to safely and comfortably undergo a pan-European and offshore Med trip? Thanks!

[@RetiredAfloat]

Hi Michael. From our experience cruising a little 10 metre fibreglass hire boat in France we made a list of what we needed and what we would like. Geoff wants to be able to cruise the Med at some stage (not sure it will happen) so a boat capable of ocean travel. We looked at Atlantic boats which are also very good but choose this Broom because it really had everything we needed.

[@yuquoint6633]

Hi How many ks a day would you normally travel.

[@michaelfoster6]

Thank You

[@stevez5252]

Love it thanks.

[@sjohno5268]

Great video guys. My wife and I have just hit 50 and are looking at your idea of travel. What are the fuel costs associated with running your boat, and do you run just one motor at a time to save fuel .

[@RetiredAfloat]

Hi Stephen. The speed limits in the inland waterways (rivers and canals) is only 6 knots, so you're really puttering along and not using much fuel. We have 800 litres aboard and fill up once mid season and again at the end of the season when we put the boat into storage. Obviously it depends on how far you want to travel each season. We haven't bothered only using one engine because two is so handy if you need to maneuver.

[@grillking6528]

Hi guys, how much average monthly expenses do you incur with your inland waterways experience?

[@RetiredAfloat]

A couple of caveats first. We spent just over 50% of our time on free moorings instead of being in marinas and we ate onboard most of the time. We had a budget of 600 euro per week but that included all of our expenses including flights, insurance, travel insurance as well as all of the daily living expenses. Hope that helps but if you need more information please don't hesitate to contact us again.

[@grillking6528]

@@RetiredAfloatAppreciate the information. Amazing. Ive been planning to do what you are doing approximately 7-8 years from now. I plan to retire too while Im still healthy. Ive also look at the same boat that you guys have. It has good reviews too. How do I contact you guys for more information?

[@RetiredAfloat]

Our email is [e-mail] whereabouts are you located?

[@harmvandecamp9170]

Great informative video. Just small note about min 15... you talk about Norway, but actually show Danish flag 😉

[@Booksbyphilmitchell]

I'm thinking of buying a Dutch cruiser in the Netherlands and sailing through Europe. Where do you buy diesel? And where was it you got your ICC?

[@RetiredAfloat]

Hi Phil. There are numerous marinas in the Netherlands and diesel is readily available. Remember you only cruise at 6 knots so you don't use a lot. We have 800 litres and only fill up once per 6 month season.

[@RetiredAfloat]

Phil. I obtained my ICC from Geert-Jan Smolders in Maasbommel, Netherlands who can be contacted at [e-mail] I paid 275 euro but also did a VHF course with him as well which cost an additional 175 euro.

[@Booksbyphilmitchell]

@@RetiredAfloat Thank you for your replies. I was thinking more of where I could get fuel in France rather than the Netherlands. But when you say you only fill up once in 6 months, and you've such a big boat make me feel a lot happier. I will contact Geertjan Smolders whilst I there buying my boat. Thanks again great video's I wish there were more.

[@yuquoint6633]

Hi Is the drought affecting the canals?

[@RetiredAfloat]

No so much in the Netherlands but we hear that France and Germany are having issues. On the days when we are cruising, we very rarely do more than 3 hours at 5 knots. Too much to see and nice places to stop.

[@yuquoint6633]

@@RetiredAfloat Thanks, when I think about it I just cant imagine how we can see it all. Cruise for an hour or so then stay a couple or more days and only a 6 month season.

[@MrJerobona]

On a boat like yours, is it ok to run only 1 engine? We always do it on catamarans, but motor yachts like yours, is a normal thing to do?

[@RetiredAfloat]

Yes we often just cruise on one engine.

[@rafalgorski8151]

What is the maximum air draft allowed or necessary to visit most places?

[@RetiredAfloat]

Good question. It depends on which country you're visiting. With our radar arch up, we have an air draft of 5 metres and didn't have to lower it at all because most of the bridges lift up. In France it's different. Most countries have information on their waterways website about bridge heights.

[@rafalgorski8151]

@@RetiredAfloat thanks. Any good books or websites regarding canal travel in Europe?

[@cruisingschatzy]

🙌🙌

[@johncowley4387]

you do need a waterways license permet in uk inland waterways canal river trust regards john & carol spindrift

[@geoffpeters3333]

Hi John and Carol. Yes that's right but not for coastal cruising or cruising into London. We were considering spending our first season cruising further up the Thames but the costs for two months were higher than a whole year in France. Thanks for the comment and the information.

[@brianfowler2233]

Love ur boat ooo to retire soon me hopes

[@jeefder]

@@geoffpeters3333 i heard you need a licence for medway/thames and a different licence for norfolk broads ect or get a "gold" licence which covers both(another rip off no doubt)

[@RetiredAfloat]

@@jeefder Hi Jeff. Yes as John says you do need licenses in the UK. I'm not sure how much they are but we had the boat in London for a month in mid 2017 and thought that while we were there we would explore further up the Thames. It turned out that it was going to be twice as expensive for one month on the Thames than for a full year in France (and France is expensive compared to Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany). They were even going to charge us an extra 50% for having a dinghy.

[@jeefder]

@@RetiredAfloat typical U.K crooks :(

[@StephenJPayne]

Erm ..... not sure the British have invaded France for a very, very, very long time.

[@MrPeterpan1954]

Make better audio next time..

[@prepperjonpnw6482]

England has NOT invaded France recently lol. We did however save their butts in TWO world wars. If it wasn’t for us Brits people in Paris would be speaking German now lol Do you know why the French plant trees along the streets in Paris? It’s so the Germans can walk in the shade! lol lol 😂 lol 😂🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@tanksouth]

Thank you.