Understanding your boats facilities

FUEL

Our boats have Diesel engines.

• Our boats have enough fuel on board for the length of your cruise. Nevertheless, for long cruises, fuelling points are shown on the guide-maps. We will give you a fuel key to open the filler cap.
• All our boats are fitted with a meter which is read on your departure and on your return.

The number of hours of engine fuel use will be invoiced according to the rate displayed at the base.

Please stay safe and take appropriate precautions when handling fuel:

• Don’t smoke when filling tanks.
• Don’t store any inflammable materials near tanks.

GENERATOR

Some boats are equipped with a generator that can supply power for equipment such as air-conditioning and dishwasher.

Refer to the manual for operation.

GAS

Our boats are equipped with 1 or 2 bottles of gas (Butane or Propane) which last varying lengths of time according to the season and the use of the heating system. Generally though you will get between one and three weeks usage per bottle.

The gas bottles are already connected which avoids you having to manhandle them.

If you run out of gas:

Some boats are fitted with a coupler which connects the 2 bottles of gas.

• When one bottle is empty, turn the coupler tap towards the second bottle. Normally the coupler will switch back from the empty bottle to the full bottle.

Your gas bottle(s) is(are) empty:

Firstly, telephone the base. Do not buy bottles without asking the base.

If the base team tell you by phone that you can replace an empty bottle, you must:

• Turn it off, unscrew the relief valve (careful: not a left-hand thread) and screw it onto the new bottle, which you then turn on. Check for leaks!
• If you can smell gas, stop the engine, turn off the gas and phone your base. Don’t light matches and don’t smoke!

LIGHTING THE HOB RING
Select the appropriate burner. Put a lighted match to it. Turn the corresponding knob to maximum. Keep the knob depressed in this position to override the safety cutout.

LIGHTING THE OVEN
Use the knob on the left, indicated by the oven symbol.
Put a lighted match to the hole at the front of the oven. Turn the knob to maximum. Keep the knob depressed to override the safety cutout.
Before closing the oven door, make sure the burner rack is lit.
Before using the oven, leave it to heat up for 15 minutes.

Some boats are also equipped with a microwave.

FRIDGE
Most of our boats are fitted with either a gas fridge or electric fridge. When it is hot in summer, do not keep opening the fridge and do not put too much in it. Operation instructions are explained in the manual of each boat.

Your boat has water reserves of between 200 and 1150 litres, depending on the model. We advise you to top-up your water reserve every day. During your cruise you will have ample opportunity to top up your water reserve (locks, ports, mooring points, campsites on the river’s edge all offer this). To find these places, consult your waterways guide.
Check carefully as at some places you may have to pay.

The boat is equipped with a water-pipe and a water-key for opening the filler cap. Please be careful not to fill the water tank with fuel by mistake: make sure the cap is the one nearest the front of the boat and which is clearly marked “EAU” or “WATER”.

Drinking water is relayed to the taps by an electric pump fed by the battery. Remember to switch off the pump when you have finished with the water – you’ll find the switch on the boat’s control panel.

What to do if the water isn’t running

Firstly, check that you have not run out of water. If you have, refill the tank. It may be necessary to bleed the pipes when you refill – to do this turn on all the taps and switch on the pump, then when the water starts to run again turn off the taps.

If the water still doesn’t run then you need to telephone the base team who will arrange a technician to come and sort the issue for you.

HOT WATER
All boats are equipped with a hot water tank of between 20 to 100 litres, depending on the model.

• In order to provide hot water the boat engine will need to have been running for between 15 minutes to 1 hour.

• On some boats, the hot water tank also has an electric heater so when moored up where there is an electric hook-up point you can connect to the hot water tank.

Once on board, the only power source available is the boat battery (except models 1350 VIP, Estivale Sixto Prestige C & Octo Fly C which have an extra generator) which is used to power the boats lighting, water supply pump and systems etc.

LIGHTING

Your boat has sufficient overhead lights with switches. If one of these lights does not function or one or other of the electrically-operated services does not work (water pump, shower drainage pump etc.) check that the battery disconnectors (big red keys) situated in the rear cabin (Riviera or Confort Range) or in external area, under the terrace (for the Estivale and Sedan Range) are in position.

CONVERTER

If you want to take electrical equipment on board the following options are available:

• A cigarette lighter in the cockpit means that it is possible to connect certain items, for example a mobile phone charger. You will need to bring the appropriate adaptor/cable for the cigarette lighter though.
• You can rent a converter from the Nicols base. This allows you to convert electricity from the battery of 12 volts to 220 volts.
• You still need to be careful not to flatten the battery though – devices with low power consumption (150 watts max) such as telephone, laptop, tablet, will be fine but for devices and equipment that requires more power (over 150 watts) or electric resistance (hairdryer, electric coffee maker) you will need to remember that you are always supplied by the battery which is a limited source.
• If you think you’ll need 220 volts consistently or continuously (for example CPAP machine during the night) then it is possible to plug into electrical terminals that are available in some mooring points and marinas using the extension cord supplied onboard. These terminals are usually listed in your waterways guide. Some of our newer boats allow you to connect directly.) then it is possible to plug into electrical terminals that are available in some mooring points and marinas using the extension cord supplied onboard. These terminals are usually listed in your waterways guide. Some of our newer boats allow you to connect directly.

SHOWER

All our boats are equipped with a shower that is supplied with hot and cold water. The water is drained automatically by an electric pump.

If the water does not drain:
Check if the drainage filter situated in a corner of the shower tray is blocked; clean it if necessary.

If the electrical drainage pump is not working:
Contact the base team and a technician will come and check it for you.

Our boats are fitted with “marine toilets” which are either manual or electric. The operation of these toilets is explained in the manual found on your boat.

IMPORTANT – With both types of toilet (marine toilets or electric toilets) we would ask you to use thin toilet paper and not to put cotton wool, sanitary towels or other materials into the toilet which could block it.
This is important as all repairs by our technicians due to your negligence will be charged to you at the end of your cruise.

Safe deposit box closing

• Press the CLOSE button
• CLOSED appears on the screen
  
  

Safe deposit box opening

• Enter a 4-digit code.
• The entered code is displayed on the screen.
• The safe box opens: OPEN appears on the screen.

NOTE
If an incorrect code is entered, the E-CODE message appears on the screen.

After five incorrect entries, the safe deposit box remains locked for 15 minutes and no further attempts are possible.

If you have forgotten your code, contact the base of departure.