Can I sail a raft on a European river with commercial traffic?

Question

I'm thinking about sailing a part of the Danube, alone, on a self-built raft. I have no experience sailing rivers on any serious basis.

I'm considering a raft for a number of reasons:

• It's cheap.
• It provides more space than a boat.
• I can easily take a bicycle.
• It's more easily replaceable in case of theft than a boat (plus, who would want to steal a raft?).
• There are no worries about selling it or transporting it after the journey has completed.

However, the portion of the river that I want to sail is used by commercial freight traffic. My worry is that using a vehicle with little steering and no engine can lead to life-threatening situations with river freight ships, like this one, and cruise ships. I imagine getting caught in their suction can be very dangerous.

Has anybody here attempted something similar, or have some river experience?

Are there traffic lanes on European rivers, so it might be possible to do this if you stay close to the bank?

Who would I talk to to find out whether this is a completely idiotic plan, or somehow feasible without risking your life too much?

Naturally, I would sail during daytime only. I can swim of course, and I'm prepared to wear a life vest at all times if so recommended.

Answer 1

I've never taken an unpowered, hand-built raft out onto a commercial river, but I do have experience under sail and under power on the Columbia River in the United States. What I know about maritime law, tradition and etiquette might not be exactly what they expect in Europe, but I imagine the principles are much the same.

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In most cases, a craft without a motor has the right of way. On your raft, you'd be free to use the width of the river channel as you saw fit.

However, large ships with deep drafts, like river cruisers or river barges, are typically confined to a particular lane in the river. Their right to use the lane supersedes your right of way as an unpowered craft. You would have to make way.

If you're passing another vessel on equal terms, say coming head on with a small powerboat, tradition dictates that both you pass each other port-to-port. The left side of your vessel passes the other ship on its left; aim your raft to the right of vessels you're passing head-on.

You might consider posting red and green lights on your port and starboard sides, respectively. For that matter, you might even consider building a mast and flying a flag to increase your visibility. Just don't fly anything with an established meaning, like diver-down, or the NATO alphanumeric flags. Your country of origin, upright, would be enough.

You should talk to cruise ship captains and lock masters on the river for more advice about the Danubue in particular. The Danube has locks, and the lock masters decide if and when a vessel can enter the lock. I have no idea if a lock master would allow a hand-built raft into a lock, but if you're considering it, you should ask in advance.

The cruise ship captains operating on the Danube could give you more practical advice about the nature of the river and your responsibilities on the Danube.

Answer 2

The good news

Navigating the Danube with a raft is certainly possible, and has been done: for instance, Flossbusters are a group of Dresdners who went all the way from Bertoldsheim to the Black Sea on a home-built raft over the course of five summers. Their craft, the good ship Dresden, looks quite similar to what you envisage:

Source: flossbusters.de

Googling in German for "Donau Floß" turns up several other tales of successful rafting on the Danube. In particular, this discussion thread has a lot of useful information.

The bad news

The worrying aspects of your plan are (to me) that you want to travel alone and unpowered. All the accounts I've come across involve more than one person and some kind of engine. I'd personally regard an engine as essential if travelling alone on a raft on the Danube: a single person paddling will have a lot of trouble manoeuvring a raft effectively. Of course this doesn't mean that you have to use the engine for any longer than necessary, but you need the capability. (In addition to being a practical requirement, an engine will be a legal requirement at least on some parts of the Danube.)

Legal aspects

The Danube passes through 10 countries, so I think the legal aspects are best considered once you've decided which countries you're aiming for. Registering the 1.3-ton Flossbusters raft apparently required submission of CAD drawings, fitting a 10 horsepower engine, and demonstrating provision of fire extinguishers, first-aid box, horn and various other things. In general, the smaller and lighter the craft, the less paperwork there will be.

A possible alternative

In your place I would give serious consideration to a canoe or kayak rather than a raft. You'll have to travel a little lighter, but the logistics will be greatly simplified. You might even be able to satisfy your bike requirement if you bring a lightweight folding model. Canoeing the Continent is a very informative account of a canoe trip from the Atlantic to the Black Sea (going along the Danube for the eastern part) and has a lot of information which will probably be useful even if you decide to go by raft.

Answer 3

There are rivers and channels which forbid sailing without an engine running! In Europe there are several countries which have by themselves more than one law system. But as every law, they are written in a book. Ask in a boating shop (or tourist information point) for more localized information and buy that book of law. In several countries that is a requirement by law.

Indeed stay away from the suction at backs but also at fronts and be aware that such ships you posted can't see 300, 500 or even 1000 meters ahead by the dead angle they have and can't manoeuvre quickly. Ships do not have brakes.

"I can swim of course": This doesn't mean anything if you sail. Too much can happen that makes you unable to swim. A life vest is the one that will turn your face up and has a collar on which your head will float if you're unconscious (those ugly ones) and not the swim vests (less ugly) that only give a feeling of safety.

Answer 4

You obviously have underestimated the potential for danger, due to self admitted lack of experience on the water. As a blue water sailor for 50 years I strongly suggest you rent a car or take a cruise line as you will either end up in jail or swimming for your life to avoid being pulled under and chopped into chum by a prop. ...This come from a federally certified transportation manager as well as a sea captain with a perfect safety record.