Some interesting facts from expert Dagmar Rockel-Kuhnle
Holidays on a houseboat are the perfect introduction to the world of boating: with no special licence required we chug along the waterways at a leisurely pace, on the move without sacrificing comfort and experiencing nature without getting your feet wet. Together with houseboat expert Dagmar Rockel-Kuhnle, the most important questions about "how”, “where” and “what" are answered here.
Anyone can go houseboating! With or without a licence, as a family or a girls' trip, for a group outing or a romantic getaway for couples – boat holidays are whatever you make of them! Whether you want to go diving, try out a SUP or canoe, get out your fishing rod or cycle part of the way, few holidays are as versatile as a houseboat holiday.
Getting there is easy by car or by bus and train. Once underway, you'll travel at a top speed of 8 to 11 kilometres per hour – don't be surprised if you're overtaken by cyclists or inline skaters on the towpath. But how does it actually work? What do you need to bear in mind? Here are Dagmar Rockel-Kuhnle's tips.
Tip 1: Book in good time!
The largest selection of boats and sailing areas is available in January. By the end of February, the selection is steadily decreasing – as soon as the sun starts to warm up, the last boats for the main season are gone. Boat crews who want to set sail during the holidays in a federal state such as North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria or Baden-Württemberg should really get moving now. Those who are flexible in terms of sailing area and time can always check the charter companies' websites for last-minute offers, where discounts of up to 20 percent are available, but you may not get your dream boat, just another one.
Tip 2: Set your priorities
Before you start looking through the endless expanses of the internet for descriptions of sailing areas, boat layouts and technical questions, you should define what makes the perfect holiday for you. So please answer the following questions: What is most important to me? The boat? The dates of your trip? The region? Depending on how you set your priorities, certain charter companies may be ruled out because they’re not present in the desired region or don’t have the boat you want in their fleet.
Tip 3: Find a charter company
Especially beginners should choose a large, well-established charter company for their first trip. If you’re still a bit unsure, it’s good to have a really reliable partner at your side. From smooth-running procedures and high quality standards, being experienced with beginners to tried and tested procedures for unexpected situations and a 24-hour emergency call service, you also benefit from a clear contractual relationship with such providers.
Here, you are also protected from fake companies that have in the past used surprisingly well-designed websites to defraud charter crews of their deposits.
About Kuhnle-Tours
Kuhnle-Tours have been renting and brokering houseboats in Europe for over 40 years now. Currently the fleet contains about 150 boats for 2 to 12 people, which are handled by charter crews in France (Alsace-Lorraine) and at four locations in Germany. Between the bases in Berlin-Zeuthen, Zehdenick, Malchin and headquarters on the Müritz in Mecklenburg, licence-free and licence-required single trips can be booked. The company group has its own shipyard where Kormoran, Aquino and Febomobil boats are built. Information on boats, trips, regions and dates can be found at kuhnle-tours.com. In addition, the company publishes fluvius-magazin.de, an expert boat portal with cruise reports and all kinds of worthwhile reading from the boating world. Videos on boats and educational films on boating are available on their YouTube channel.
Tip 4: Select your region
All you need for boating is water, a boat and, ideally, some sunshine. Each region has its own unique charms: the lakes in Mecklenburg and Brandenburg invite you to take a dip in their clean waters, while the French canals feature spectacular hydraulic engineering structures such as ship tunnels and ship lifts. In addition, cosy historic old towns invite you to stroll around. Ireland delights with its pub and music culture, the Masurian Lakes with affordable restaurants and the Netherlands with a mixture of everything. Every crew member should get their money's worth: whatever it may be, Dagmar Rockel-Kuhnle's advice is not to overload your bucket list on your first trip, so that you have enough time to enjoy your maiden voyage.
Sport Boat Hire Ordinance
If you want to sail fast boats (more than 15 hp) anywhere on Germany's inland waterways, you need an inland navigation licence. This can be obtained with a reasonable amount of effort within a weekend at certified boating schools. With a German licence, you can usually also sail on inland waters in other countries. There are two exceptional rules for boating WITHOUT a licence on German inland waters:
If the boat’s engine power is less than 15 hp, it’s not necessary to obtain a licence to travel on German inland waters (except for the stretch of 6.5 km in front of the Chancellor's Office in Berlin).
Within the framework of the charter licence regulation, you don’t need a licence for boats with more than 15 hp engine power if the boat cannot go faster than 12 km/h. Please note: this only applies on specially selected waters.
Further details can be found in the Sport Boat Hire Ordinance Binnen (Sportbootvermietungsverordnung Binnen. Poland and France have similar regulations. You can also sail a houseboat without a licence in Italy, the Netherlands, Ireland and many other countries.
Tip 5: Check extras
What’s included, what isn’t? Bed linen, life jackets for children, barbecue, final cleaning – consider in advance which extras you need and what you can bring or do yourself. In any case, the technical briefing for the boat and the charter licence briefing for crews without a licence should be included. A suitable life jacket for each crew member and a map of the water routes should also be on board free of charge. It makes sense to have at least one bicycle on board for running small errands ashore. You should also take a look at the inventory list of the chartered boat. But don’t worry, on a houseboat you’re not travelling outside of civilization! It’s still possible to buy a potato peeler or the mosquito repellent you forgot to pack.
Tip 6: Preparation & implementation
Stay relaxed. Your first houseboat trip doesn't have to be completely planned out. One thing you can do to prepare yourself is get the charter primer from Quick Maritim Medien and a cruising guide for the area. Some charter companies or agencies include the cruising guide in the price. In any case, the companies have a good overview of which books are recommended. Don't take on too much. With a houseboat you will travel between 20 and 40 kilometres a day if you’re still on holiday. Passing through a lock takes an average of 30 to 40 minutes, so plan in a leisurely lunch break and also an afternoon to while away at anchor.
Typical beginner mistakes
Yes, they happen and they will happen to you too. Sinking the mobile phone, missing the dolphin when mooring, not hitting the box until the third try - these things also happen to crews who have been on the water for ages.
Keep calm and don’t lose your sense of humour - the biggest mistake you can make would be not to set off at all and miss out on a great adventure on the water.
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