Ribbing to Paris

[martini]

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

We could go there on the way back. Changing the subject, has anyone given anymore thought to how they're going to store stuff onboard? I'm leaning towards a lockable plastic storage box like this one: http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.205-8607.aspx

It's not 100% secure of course, but anyone who's determined to thieve from the boats will just take the whole box regardless of what type it is. Any thoughts anyone?

Cheep and cheerful but should at least last the trip. Similar size to what I'm looking at but me being me, I'll probably go for something a bit tougher and maybe get a cushion made to fit the top which would velcro on for a bit of extra seating.

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

By the way, has anyone read on the "Going inSeine" article that quayside petrol is only available at Le Havre and Port d'Ilon? Everywhere else is by portage.

Although the article is fairly recent, with the amount of research we've done between us I'm confident there's more than that, I think they just didn't do their homework. Speaking only for myself, fuel at Le Havre, Rouen and Port D'ilon is enough for me to get by. The pump at Port St. Louis will be a handy one, I think we've got good proof it exists.

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by martini

I'll probably go for something a bit tougher...

Pelicase then? We do a good deal on the Pelis.

Originally Posted by martini

... and maybe get a cushion made to fit the top which would velcro on for a bit of extra seating.

Oooh, does that mean the Witch can go too?

[martini]

Originally Posted by Channel Ribs

Pelicase then? We do a good deal on the Pelis.
Oooh, does that mean the Witch can go too?

I had the seat in mind more for 10kts in fresh water than 30 in the big stuff but of course she can!

No room onboard for broomsticks though

[willk]

Originally Posted by Channel Ribs

Pelicase then? We do a good deal on the Pelis.

Pelis are great, I have three. A Note of Caution however, the plastic will quickly wear down if subjected to vibration on a rough surface, e.g. a painted non-slip deck. I know this

[willk]

Originally Posted by martini

No room onboard for broomsticks though

Surprised at ya!

From wiki: "
During World War II, American submarine crews would hoist a broom onto their boat's fore-truck when returning to port to indicate that they had "swept" the seas clean of enemy shipping. The tradition has been devalued in recent years by submarine crews who fly a broom simply when returning from their boat's shake-down cruise. This tradition no doubt stems from the action of the Dutch admiral Maarten Tromp, who in 1652 tied a broom to his main mast after defeating the British admiral Robert Blake, and claim that he would sweep the British from the seas. "

[GJ0KYZ]

Originally Posted by martini

Speaking only for myself, fuel at Le Havre, Rouen and Port D'ilon is enough for me to get by. The pump at Port St. Louis will be a handy one, I think we've got good proof it exists.

Are we certain there's quayside fuel at Rouen? If not, we'll waste most of the next morning carting '95 from the nearest garage. The good news is that B&Q now sell cheap collapsable trollies.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Channel Ribs

Pelicase then? We do a good deal on the Pelis.

Not sure how big peli's go but these are worth a look as an alternative (http://www.dewarbrothers.com/lmenu/s...duct_range.asp) We use them from time to time for work. I think they are a bit cheaper than Pelis (but still enough to make you think carefully!). Martini will be pleased to hear that they are available in a range of military grey and green colours!

[Erin]

Originally Posted by martini

No room onboard for broomsticks though

Originally Posted by willk

Surprised at ya!

I think you underestimate the Martini. No space for unsophisticated brooms.... nothing less than a Bissell would do on his boat!

[Erin]

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

Are we certain there's quayside fuel at Rouen? If not, we'll waste most of the next morning carting '95 from the nearest garage. The good news is that B&Q now sell cheap collapsable trollies.

Iron Stores Marine have got some fairly reasonable priced plastic fuel tanks. Think they were about 50l for £75. Fairly easy to strap down on deck and also trolleyable to the pompe. Matt had a good idea of using one of the spare inlet ports on the filter/water separator to take a fuel line from a portable tank to save having to decant into the built in tank. Would involve a bit of plumbing and some valves, but not a bad idea to get an extra 80k's 'mileage'.

[martini]

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

Are we certain there's quayside fuel at Rouen? If not, we'll waste most of the next morning carting '95 from the nearest garage.

There's a 'fuel' barge at PK 239 mentioned in a few places inc the french-waterways.com website, although no mention of what fuel exactly.

Also the Fluviacarte (2010) shows quayside fuel at Villetard (PK 242) "Go Super" I take to mean super unleaded.

[martini]

Originally Posted by Polwart

Not sure how big peli's go but these are worth a look as an alternative (http://www.dewarbrothers.com/lmenu/s...duct_range.asp) We use them from time to time for work. I think they are a bit cheaper than Pelis (but still enough to make you think carefully!). Martini will be pleased to hear that they are available in a range of military grey and green colours!

I like the look of those, there's quite a few "peli-esque" cases around these days but I'll have to put my hands up to being a sucker for brand names
I look forward to an unbeatable price from the malteaser

Originally Posted by willk

Pelis are great, I have three. A Note of Caution however, the plastic will quickly wear down if subjected to vibration on a rough surface, e.g. a painted non-slip deck. I know this

Ta for the heads up!

[Avocet]

Circumstances are still such that I am unable to commit yet ..... but I successfully obtained my CEVNI certificate this afternoon and will be applying on Monday to the RYA for the endorsement to my existing ICC.

Originally Posted by martini

There's a 'fuel' barge at PK 239 mentioned in a few places inc the french-waterways.com website, although no mention of what fuel exactly.

Also the Fluviacarte (2010) shows quayside fuel at Villetard (PK 242) "Go Super" I take to mean super unleaded.

My 2011 Reeds Almanac indicates that only diesel is available from the fuel barge at PK239 with petrol being available at Rouen only by cans.

The Almanac also mentions that even a 5kn boat leaving Honfleur at LW+1 should carry the flood all the way to Rouen. A faster boat could presumably leave later. On 23 April, LW at Le Havre is at 0952 French time with LW Honfleur being +30. The bridge to leave Honfleur's Vieux Bassin opens at half past the hour and the lock does likewise (presumably with a view to being able to get through both on the same opening rather than having to wait an hour before passing through the lock). The 10.30 opening should therefore catch the flood and allow a gentle passage to Rouen with even a break for lunch!

[Duck Witch]

Originally Posted by martini

I had the seat in mind more for 10kts in fresh water than 30 in the big stuff but of course she can!

No room onboard for broomsticks though

Thank you. You'll be please to know i travel with little baggage, broom or not, i'm a demon at compact packing.

All i have to do now is find someone to look after the dog, the chickens and water the plants.

[GJ0KYZ]

Originally Posted by Avocet

Circumstances are still such that I am unable to commit yet ..... but I successfully obtained my CEVNI certificate this afternoon and will be applying on Monday to the RYA for the endorsement to my existing ICC.


My 2011 Reeds Almanac indicates that only diesel is available from the fuel barge at PK239 with petrol being available at Rouen only by cans.

If the nearest petrol station is a mile away from the boat and you have two jerry cans on a trolley you'll need to make five trips there and back to fill the tank. That's 10 miles of walking. Looking at Google Earth, I make Port d'Ilon 150nm from Le Havre. I should be able to get there if I have some reserve fuel on board.

By the way Avocet, congratulations on the CEVNI.

[martini]

Originally Posted by Avocet

Circumstances are still such that I am unable to commit yet ..... but I successfully obtained my CEVNI certificate this afternoon and will be applying on Monday to the RYA for the endorsement to my existing ICC.

Congratulations We're all fingers crossed you can join us, but at least you'll have all the necessary ready for the future.

Originally Posted by Avocet

My 2011 Reeds Almanac indicates that only diesel is available from the fuel barge at PK239 with petrol being available at Rouen only by cans.

I wouldn't be suprised about the fuel barge but talking about it today with Erin, we're quite hopeful about Villetard. We found a website for the company that runs it so (hopefully!) Erin's going to fire off an email to them for more detail. They should tell us if petrol's available anywhere nearby even if they don't do it.

Originally Posted by Avocet

The Almanac also mentions that even a 5kn boat leaving Honfleur at LW+1 should carry the flood all the way to Rouen. A faster boat could presumably leave later. On 23 April, LW at Le Havre is at 0952 French time with LW Honfleur being +30. The bridge to leave Honfleur's Vieux Bassin opens at half past the hour and the lock does likewise (presumably with a view to being able to get through both on the same opening rather than having to wait an hour before passing through the lock). The 10.30 opening should therefore catch the flood and allow a gentle passage to Rouen with even a break for lunch!

Someone's been doing their homework, good to see You've probably read about the rolling HW that takes several hours to move up river so you're right we probably could leave later. The fluviacarte has tide data for various points between Honfleur & Rouen, you could go right into it to gain the maximum benefit if you really wanted to.

PS Avocet, there is the odd email going back and forth with bits of info about this trip, if you want to pm me your address I'll copy you in, no bother.

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

If the nearest petrol station is a mile away from the boat and you have two jerry cans on a trolley you'll need to make five trips there and back to fill the tank. That's 10 miles of walking.

10 miles to fill your tank? So that'll be over 25 miles of walking for me then Saying that, isn't that what we captains have crew for?

[Erin]

Originally Posted by martini

Erin's going to fire off an email to them for more detail.

Will do.

[Avocet]

Thanks for the pats on the back! I got one of the CEVNIS wrong: if I'm hit by something coming from an axial you'll know it's ignorance rather than incompetance

Google Earth shows a Shell station 100m from the pontoons to the North of the island in Rouen.

Its main problem is that it seems to be across a two lane dual carriageway and a busy two way main road!

I've a 225l tank so should be able to get from Le Havre to Paris without assistance (and vice versa) unless prolonged displacement uses more than I would have thought - I've never done it before, so don't know!

[martini]

Originally Posted by Avocet

I've a 225l tank so should be able to get from Le Havre to Paris without assistance (and vice versa)

Only if you fuelled in Paris...which you can't! Although the non tidal section seems to be better for fuel despite being quieter than the tidal.

You've got similar engine size and fuel capacity as GJ0KYZ and Erin so you're in the same boat (excuse pun).

The deal breaker is Le Havre to at least Port D'ilon, once we've got firm evidence of fuel somewhere between these 2 ports then I think we've cracked it

[Erin]

Originally Posted by Avocet

Google Earth shows a Shell station 100m from the pontoons to the North of the island in Rouen.

There's quite a few roadside fuel stations en route, but the main problem is the sheer volume of fuel we would need to cart and the time it would take. I take 220l and have a Suzuki 200, so we should burn similar amounts overall I would have thought, but I don't fancy 8 return trips with a 25l jerry to refuel, I know Matt doesn't relish the thought of 24 trips . I think roadside fuel would have to be a last resort if, for some reason, waterside was closed or unavailable.

I will email a couple of places along the Seine and see what advice or info they can give.

[Avocet]

Originally Posted by martini

The deal breaker is Le Havre to at least Port D'ilon, once we've got firm evidence of fuel somewhere between these 2 ports then I think we've cracked it

..... as in "Get to Port Dylan and Bob's your uncle"!