Boat Share in France | Decize

General Comments By Vendor

We purchased our share in 2001/2 when Decize was being constructed by Piper Boats for the boat management company Ownerships who then sold 12 equal shares in the boat with an five year contract to provide management services to the syndicate for running the boat in France, In 2004 we purchased a further existing share from an existing owner. In 2005 at the end of the contract the owners syndicate took over the management of the boat

A management committee, comprising of a Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and Engineer, is elected by the syndicate owners at an annual AGM, and is responsible for ensuring that the boat is managed, maintained and serviced each winter. The annual management costs are proposed and agreed at the AGM, these costs have varied over the years and for 2005 were set as £1000 per share. The syndicate has considerable reserves for maintenance, painting and holiday insurance.

There are no other costs save replenishment of your own consumables, for example, diesel and 5 Euro per week to cover cost of gas which is kept in a "Kitty" on board. Gas Bottles are replaced by the owner on board at the time a bottle runs empty. Locally based boat engineering services are available for any problems encountered during boat usage.

Each share entitles an owner to a two week period on the boat in the high season, that is April to October, also to a one week period in the low season, that is the months of March and Octobre. The weeks are booked at around October/November each year using a rota list of the owner’s names and is distributed by the Secretary. The owners are grouped in pairs and move up and down the list as a pair. However, the shares in each pair rotate about each over every year. so that each share will be at the top of the list or second every six years. The owner at the top of the list selects their weeks and then in order down the list each owner selects their weeks in turn. The following year the pair at the top of the list moves to the bottom and the other pairs move up a place on the rota, all rotating. In this manner the owner of a pair will be able to book a four-week period every year if available. The last two owners on the list each get to pick their one-week period from the remaining two weeks of the high season. Each owner may arrange with the other owners before or after them on the booking chart to do a remote changeover, this happens quite frequently. One simply negotiates with owners once the rota is finalized for the following year, usually in September/October. The system may appear, complex but it does work.

Decize is based in Auxerre in Bourgogne, and is easily accessed by rail or road. Free parking is provided at the marina in Auxerre and there is a large Leclerc Supermarket nearby. The port is on the Yonne and at the start of the Nivernais canal system one of the most attractive in France. We have spent many enjoyable holidays on Decize both as a couple and also with family and friends. Decize is a very comfortable and manageable vessel and have cruised to Dijon and Paris.
 
An International Certificate for Operator of a Pleasure Craft License or equivalent is required by the owner on board. That may be attained and purchased via the Royal Yachting Association. It is also very useful to hold a Maritime Radio Operator's Certificate of Competence for the VHF, although these days it is far easier to use mobile phone communication with the locks.

Please note the picture below will give you a general idea of the layout. Some aspects (TV) have changed. If anything is a "must have" please check with vendor.

To use a boat in France you need to get an ICC Certificate. Find out how to easily get one here

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