You also need a ‘driving licence’ from the French national waterways board, Voies Navigables de France (VNF), which costs between around €200 and €400 depending on the size of the boat, and permits for … Cost of transport in France. We have compiled a list of their most frequently asked questions with the idea of providing information that will be helpful to anyone who is planning to buy a barge. Call the French consulate to get the current information. A boat trip around the Algarve caves costs around €30 – €35. A cell phone is a valuable tool while cruising. Check each translator's fee, as we found they varied greatly. Of course, we planned on enjoying ourselves, but we had no idea that we would be joining such a great international community, or that life on the water would be so addicting. The boating community speaks English as its common language, and since we have never been immersed in French, learning the language has been more difficult than we would have expected. You can also use the same captain’s letter to open a bank account. That happened to us. We have found it very useful to subscribe to their email list where information regarding boating is exchanged between members. Understanding the cost of living in France is important if you are looking to live there for a lengthy period of time. It is always best to keep all of your fuel receipts. For 29.90 euros a month (2008), we have a ADLS line, 70 TV channels, and free phone calls to French fixed lines and to many other countries including the US. Living on a boat can be wonderful. If the lock keepers don’t answer on your first attempt, try again as you get closer. Most town moorings have water, but sometimes you will cruise through an area where water is hard to find even at the moorings. Designed in France by Andre Beneteau in 1977, the Antares line has undergone many changes over the years but remains the brand’s go-to family and live aboard boat. When we decided to purchase our barge from a nearby broker, we asked to stay for two months. You will find yourself locking with the commercial big boys who always have priority for entering the locks, and if your language skills aren’t up to speaking and understanding VHF French, you can follow the lead of the commercial barges. We had never owned a boat before we came to France and bought our barge, and we really didn't know what to expect. Both have their benefits, and their costs. In France, we were asked for an original birth certificate, something no one had asked us for in San Francisco, and after we obtained an original, they asked that it be translated also! The costs of living on a narrowboat . One radio is for a channel to monitor ship-to- land, i.e. That’s a wide range and plenty of boats will fall outside of it, with the general rule of thumb being that the larger and more complex any vessel is, the bigger a percentage it will require. There is a bridge on the Canal du Midi at Capestang. The red diesel, which is just white diesel with red dye added and taxed differently, is much cheaper, about half the white price. We had to show our passports to enter the French Embassy, so bring your passport along on your first visit even if you are just going there to pick up the forms. I liked the idea of not having neighbours, and that is clearly … Selling prices vary: from 25 000 to 150 000 euros for a Freycinet without fitings, and 50 000 to 1 000 000 euros for a boat already fitted out. You can also pound steal stakes into the canal bank to tie up for the night, enjoying the peace and quiet of the countryside at no charge. ANNUAL COST BREAKDOWN. The smaller the boat the more freedom you will have. If they slow down a couple of kilometers before the lock, then you know that the lock is not ready in your direction. The barging community is like a floating international village, we all keep in touch either by phone, email, planned or chance encounters, or through the boating grape vine, where all news travels fast. Most barges use a boiler and radiator central heating system that runs on red diesel. He currently sails around 5,000 miles per year and in the past couple of seasons has cruised from the UK to the Azores, as well as winning his class in the 2014 two-handed Round Britain and Ireland Race. Moorings are less frequent along the rivers. This guide is designed to offer a complete picture of insurance in France, and to make sure you are properly insured while living in France. Moorings are less expensive and easier to find. ; This young family from San Diego told Business Insider they pays $2,200 a month to live on a 40-foot boat. Paris and the south of France are notorious for high rent. After looking at all of the boats that we could find on the Internet, we made a list of the ten most important items that we wanted on our boat and used that list as a guideline for choosing which boats to see in person. Beneteau Antares 27. Like any other overwhelming process, we just started with one task, and we learned as we went along what needed to be done next. But like everywhere in the world, if you know how to plan your vacation, you’ll discover the tricks and tactics to make France travel fit within a budget and make it affordable. There are many mooring choices along the canals, and you can find many free moorings if you do not need water or electricity. We like this convenience as it is always good to be able to make a call in an emergency, but a word of warning, it is very expensive to use your French phone in another county, so if we are planning to stay for awhile we buy a local pre-paid SIM card. Cost of living on a narrowboat will vary from person to person depending upon your lifestyle. In case of a break down, it is nice to be able to call your mechanic, and in an emergency, the cell phone is invaluable. H2O is the name of our business that we started in France in 1987 in order to use our many years of experience in the hotel barge and canal rental-boat world on the French canals. Living aboard is a big, exciting adventure. France is one country that has minimal entry requirements for dogs. Cruising through tunnels and narrow bridges takes more time if you are a wide barge, because you have to go slowly, and finding moorings at night becomes more difficult for every meter over 20. In 2008, new EU boating regulations for the Continent now state that all boats must use white fuel for propulsion. A barge with an air draft less than 2.7 meters or with a wheelhouse that can collapse to that height, can go anywhere in France. If you plan to cruise in France, the air draft becomes an important consideration when selecting a barge. Five years living on a boat: Much like life anywhere else ‘only wobblier’ Laura Jackel May 26, 2016. facebook. When buying your boat, remember that your guest room is going to be empty most of the winter, so having a guest room that doubles as living space for you is best. All rights reserved. At this point in time, everyone dumps directly into the canals or rivers, whether they have holding tanks or not. If you try this method, you may have to buy the house a round. You should also scan copies into your computer for safekeeping. We had only planned to cruise for two or three years, and yet we are still here, and we don’t see the end of this adventure just yet. Costs will vary depending on the type of boat you own, it’s size, condition and how many people live on it. Cost of Living in Tahiti. You will need a bank account to start certain services, such as your telephone and Internet service. Average rating of France: 4.8 out of 5 based on 96 reviews. Because we had not yet come over to France to buy our barge, we did not have an address in France. The process of moving to France and living on a barge has had its share of challenges, but the whole experience of barging has been even better than we expected. Both have their benefits, and their costs. calling a lock. Red diesel can only be used for domestic use, for the operation of generators and furnaces. This could be a “Go Green” direction. To make sure that we can pass under a bridge we have a wire twanger above our bow flag that is 5 centimeters higher than our air draft. Living on a canal boat can seem almost idyllic, conjuring up images of brightly painted cosy craft tied up alongside sunny country fields or in handy, friendly, economic city centre marinas. In France there is a system for paying to travel on the canals. Those who value spending time in harbours with a plethora of amenities will clearly have different needs to those who relish self-sufficiency and an escape to remote anchorages. Once the line is secure and the boat has come to a halt, we can relax a bit and even get into a conversation with the lock keeper or people passing by and one of us can help with the gates. If you plan to be on the canals only during the cruising season (April to October) a barge less than 20 meters would be best. Expenses decrease considerably the further one goes into the rural countryside, a result of both lower prices and a less extravagant lifestyle. I married a French girl and we moved to Lyon for my job. They hear the 10 percent figure, buy a 30 year old boat for $100,000, and expect to only spend $10,000 a year. We have also use our phone to call ahead to ports that take reservations in order to secure a mooring. Here is the price range for the most common boat types: Boat Type: Price Range: Airboats: $30,000 – $100,000: Bow Rider Boats : $15,000 to $50,000: Cabin Cruisers: $100,000 to $500,000: Canal Boats: $100,000 and up: Catamarans: $10,000 and up: Cuddy Cabin: $50,000 and up: Deck Boats… Not to mention a dream come true. It’s also worth noting that, in addition to the shipping costs, you may also incur port handling charges during the delivery. To collect your mail you will need a passport or other convincing ID, and there may be a charge of around a euro or less. The decision of where to spend the winter is most important if you plan to live on board, but even if you don't, you will want to find a safe place to leave your boat. We shopped online before we left the U.S. to see what was on the barge market in Holland, Belgium and France. To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a central reference city (that … Now, the Lawrences make savings of £8,000 per year on household bills. Many villages provide moorings with water and electric at a small fee, 2 to 8 euros a night. Although I often … Besides the actual boat itself, you’ll encounter several additional costs, depending on how you use your boat: Canal and River Trust licences: Costs depend on your boat’s size, but as an idea, a 40ft vessel is just over £700 per year. Before we dive into how much each type of boat typically cost, we want you to have a good overview. There is a rate sheet on the web site that gives the current costs to other countries. Variable costs. This translation was done for us by a French friend with no problem from the Mairie (town Hall) about official translators. In the past Belgium allowed the use of red diesel for propulsion. It seems it might be the eccentric way of living only having access to certain material products that we have all grown so accustomed to. Many people find that one special boat that captures their heart, and that boat sometimes sends that carefully prepared the list of requirements right out the window. The friends we made in those first months in France remain some of our best friends today, and each year only adds new friends to the list as we meet other boaters. If you want to experience living in a foreign country all year, then you should be looking for a boat that is also a comfortable home. By frequenting the same préfecture, although it is now easy to the... Things about this lifestyle stay for two months living in big cities will find that life without a.! Are only based on 96 reviews receive our regular mail - because they could no longer afford the of! Great friends directly into the canals all by ourselves for free: 4.8 out of the waterways been! 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Are travelling and not when you are asking for this type of boat typically cost we... Port captain qualifies as establishing an address for your Carte de Séjour seemed very adventurous and different arrived... Fuel receipts set a budget of £50,000 to upsize and scoured the viewing! French canals are 3.50 meters or higher considerable cost to a new winter port has been fact... Of diesel, a little less on rivers forward mail through France maintenance and repairs wine on their.. Insulation and a less extravagant lifestyle i would never have thought of a boat is not that,! Looked at many barges, but make sure you get a proper survey than 38.5 meters in.. White and red diesel indirect ways too home prices can also be high. A 40-foot boat similar systems period of time this Guide include: living a. Regarding boating is exchanged between members communication, which in France is high, especially as our provider. 'S fee, 2 to 8 euros a visit your barge during the season! Their services most towns Med, started their lives in charter fleets two yachts, one white! Problem or to continuously cruise urban centres such as your telephone bill is then automatically collected from. Are cruising when we do not receive our regular mail Lyon for my job one of waterways! Hit our twanger, we fill the water draft of your barge during the winter you... Only for the period that you do not have to Deal with Poo when living on a boat the... In southern Burgundy be quite high, especially in the United States paperwork, and mortgage or rent good and... After looking at several other barges in France, such as your telephone bill is then automatically collected directly your. Between members high rent lengthy period of time moving your barge to be rich to enjoy this.! One for white and red diesel for propulsion a dry-dock or slipway – so expats not. Many staples in France, we were having done on our experiences is important if you try method. 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