I hope you don't mind me saying, but with an occupation such as yours, it's no doubt that you retire to the water.
I hope you find some useful information here. The only place I have ever seen such detail on European waterways are in boating magazines. For example, Motor Boat Monthly (MBM) have done articles on the canals through France during the past summer. They might have some searchable back catalogue. Have a search around
http://www.motorboatsmonthly.co.uk/mbm/home.htm