Italian Lakes

johnstevens · 14 April 2005, 07:45

I am hopefully taking my rib to Lake Garda in the summer. Does anyone know anything about rib on the lakes?Eg. What licence i need, speed limits, restrictions,charts,and best route by road etc. Any advice would be most helpfull. Many thanks

Paul Knowlson · 14 April 2005, 10:42

Fab place but pretty testing roads! Hope you've got a big strong towing vehicle. VERY busy in August!

johnstevens · 14 April 2005, 17:29

Paul. Have you done this trip? Whats the best route? Have Audi A4 Est-company car ---Who said "new clutch"!!!!!!!!
Any tips. You mentioned the roads-how bad are they????

jim68585 · 14 April 2005, 18:26

Agree that Garda is fantatstic place - we were there a couple of years ago in late June. Also the drive is spectacular, but will place big demands on any towcar. We went over the St Bernards Pass, having broken the journey in Switzerland. Amazing views, but steep and twisty both up and down!! Not certain that Mont Blanc would be any better - maybe someone else could comment?

You'll also need to be prepared for the driving on the motorways!!

simmons0 · 14 April 2005, 18:41

There is a speed limit on the lake - 70mph i believe

Tim M · 14 April 2005, 19:23

Do you need your ICC in all European countries?

Andre · 14 April 2005, 22:22

Oh and don't forget to drive on the wrong side of the road

Did I say the wrong side

ups sorry I meant on the right side

InfBoatsMag · 14 April 2005, 22:46

last time i was there was about 15 years ago when i lived in italy
back then it was beautiful but always crowded in the summer
lots of germans

theres an island in the lake called
isola dei conigli (island of the rabbits)
used to be pretty - should still be
theres great cliff wall diving there too (well used to be)

I agree with everyone else on the roads though- their murder

Theres plenty of RIBs on that lake even in the summer
bring tons of sunscreen
it used to be a place where 70% of the ppl went around topless
thats a good and bad thing depending on who is on the beach

dont know if it still is- just a head up
triple check your hitch before you leave- we lost ours in a tunnel once going up a steep climb

Phil · 14 April 2005, 23:34

I have stayed at Garda the last 2 summers in a place called Manerba;

the lake regulations state that if you are using a foreign boat you must comply with that country's regulations.

So technically you may not need an ICC but I would recommend it and have the usual safety equipment.

There are plenty of good places to launch and fuel is available waterside at most of the larger resorts.

Although there are a couple of rocks and reefs just off Manerba the rest of the lake is virtually hazard free and deep to the shore.

I would rig a shade of sorts because it can really boil with no protection at all on the water.

As for the drive just use the motorways and DONT be tempted to use the road on the east of the lake whilst towing -it is narrow with overhanging rocks and your likely to meet a tourist coach at the wrong moment

My wife has towed her 8 metre caravan down there and back using different routes so it can't be that bad-- the Brenner pass from Innsbruck is long but not steep.If it helps the caravan club European touring book deals with the suitability of all tunnels and passes so by analogy should offer good advice for towing a rib

I hired a boat on the lake last year and it was great fun.If you leave your boat on a mooring double or triple your lines or beg/borrow from a hirer -the place can be prone to storms which can be upon you quickly and can be severe -not unnaturally strong winds funnel down between the mountains and the lake is about 30 miles from top to bottom

Phil · 15 April 2005, 07:03

should have said West side being bad not the East

jim68585 · 15 April 2005, 10:31

Agree with Phil that the Brenner pass is likely to be much less demanding, but it adds a fair bit of mileage (autoroute suggests about an additional 150 going that way!)

Paul Knowlson · 16 April 2005, 00:16

John - it's quite a while since I did that route - in my company car - they are made for it!. Do look out for the road arond the West side of the lake though, it is narrow with many tunnels and a sheer rock face! Great fun though but as I said previously August is well busy! Do make sure that you reserve accomodation.