Your first boat rental on the Charente

Sévérine and Simon Julienne hired a boat for a weekend cruise with their two children on the Charente. They share their experience.

Hiring a boat to cruise down the Charente? We regularly come to the region on holiday, but we don't have a boating licence. Seeing all these boats cruising along the river, we were tempted to take a cruise. When we found out that Nicols offered boat hire without a licence for novices like us, we were reassured and jumped in! We boarded the boat with our two children, who were delighted to cast off and play sailor.

A weekend on a boat with the family

We hesitated about the length of the trip: a day's boat hire seemed too short to us... with barely enough time to familiarise ourselves with driving the riverboat, we already had to stop. A week's boat hire without a licence seemed too long for a first sailing experience. We were afraid we'd get bored, that the cruise wouldn't appeal to the whole family or that the children would get bored. In the end, we opted for a short break, hiring a boat for a weekend. We were able to make the most of our river cruise: we set sail on Friday afternoon, exploring the boat from 3pm and returning on Monday morning at 9am!

We chose to sail aboard the Nicols Estivale Quattro, a model that offers all the comfort you could dream of: it has two private cabins, each with its own shower room, a central living room with steering position and fully equipped galley: the living room has a pleasantly high ceiling, so you can stand upright inside our miniature yacht without having to bend your head. From the living room, you have access to the aft terrace on one level, which you reach via a large sliding bay. On this terrace, there is a comfortable staircase, secured by a ramp, leading to the upper deck with a second helm station, ideal for driving the boat while enjoying the sunshine. In short, ideal conditions for a first cruising experience!

A successful introduction to river navigation

We were a little intimidated by all the manoeuvres to be carried out on board during this boat hire. But the team at the water sports centre explained everything we needed to know about driving a speedboat and accompanied us through the first manoeuvres and a lock passage. Driving a boat without a Nicols licence is really child's play! You don't need any special skills to drive one. With the steering wheel in one hand, the throttle in the other and your eyes on the navigation tools, all the nautical reflexes are learned in just a few turns after leaving the marina quay. Mooring, keeping to the right, turning around, going through a lock, recognising the signs and markings on the waterway, reading a river chart, mastering the navigation codes: thanks to all the explanations from our instructor, we easily got to grips with the launch. Comfortably seated in the steering cabin with a panoramic view of the canal, it's so good to feel like a captain when you hire a boat.

Locks: a ritual not to be missed when chartering a boat

Going through the locks is undeniably one of the highlights of rent a canal boat. Especially as the locks are operated by hand on the Charente! The advantage is that you can sail from sunrise to sunset, without having to worry about lock-crossing times.

At each lock crossing, our organisation was well oiled: my husband as captain, concentrating on the manoeuvres, me armed with a boat hook to get close to the shore and ready to hang the rope on the mooring bitt, and our two crew members ashore. The perfect combination to allow all four of us to participate. We were all mobilised to open and close the locks and facilitate these gentle manoeuvres, carried out in slow motion for greater safety. The steps are always the same, and you quickly get used to them: you first have to moor up on the first pontoon to go ashore to open the entrance lock before slipping in with the boat to get through the second gate. It's the strength of the arms that activates the large flywheels and the cranks of the locks! It's a plunge into the past that gives all its charm to these gestures, which are repeated over and over again during the 18 lock passages on the cruise... and always with as much pleasure and mischief, for our children as for us!

Discover the Charente itineraries

Like Robinson among the islets of the Charente

What surprised us most? The change of scenery! We know the region well, but all the landscapes can be seen in a whole new light from the river when you hire a boat! The Charente has retained its wild and bucolic character. It's a real pleasure to watch the weeping willows, ash trees, alders, vineyards, fields and hamlets go by at 8 kph. Not to mention the birds: moorhens and ducks, of course, but also grey herons and kingfishers! We didn't think we'd be so peaceful: we often sailed without another boat in sight. We were so lucky to be able to enjoy such a spectacle while having the impression of being alone in the world. We felt really privileged to experience such moments with our family on our barge.

Farniente, sunset aperitifs and excursions

On board, our schedule has been organised according to our desires. A pontoon invites us to make a stopover? It's the perfect opportunity to moor our barge and discover a Romanesque church, a picturesque village and some new addresses in the Charente region! A little beach time? Everyone's up for a swim. Lunchtime approaching? Let's get our poles out and moor up by the river in the middle of nowhere, so we can enjoy the lush green surroundings. Is the sun starting to set? We stop to enjoy an aperitif at sunset, fascinated by the glowing colours and the trees reflected in the river.

And what about the children? They weren't bored for a second during this weekend of boat hire! They were able to take part in the navigation, enjoy the scenery from the comfort of their deck mattresses, and so on. We had bikes on board and they were delighted to be able to pedal along the towpaths that run alongside the river while we sailed along. Or simply follow the boat on foot from the shore between two locks.

Carp fishing on board the boat

During our weekend on the boat, everyone was able to find activities to suit their interests and we weren't bored for a second. Preparing meals on board was really easy, as the kitchen was fully equipped. The children immediately adopted the boat's forward terrace: with its handy table where they can sit and read a book in peace while enjoying the scenery, it's an ideal vantage point for the cruise! I also really enjoyed the large sundeck at the stern, ideal for lazing around. As for my husband, he had taken his fishing rods on board to try his hand at fishing directly from the boat: a very successful first as he reeled in some lovely carp on deck.

If this logbook of a weekend on the Charente has convinced you, don't hesitate to book your cruise on :

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