Canal boat and Pénichette® for sale in France & Europe

Over the last 40 years, Pénichette^® has become an iconic boat around European waterways. This type of boat was specifically designed for inland navigation and has a really distinctive line on the water.

Riverly owns the largest fleet of Pénichettes^® in Europe. All our boats are well-maintained and wintered by our experts.

Several models are available per range. You can visit the boats at our bases in France and in Germany.

Interested and wishing to learn more?

Please contact our team by email at: [email protected]

What are the next steps?

Step 1: We will answer all your questions and provide you with all the information available on the boat. Please note that second-hand boats will be sold as is. However, they will be given a full service before being handed over. Any faulty equipment will be repaired or replaced, technical equipment will be checked and in good working order.

Step 2: You make an appointment with us to visit the boat. Perhaps you would like to test your boat before buying it? In this case, you can hire it during the season. If you confirm your purchase after this rental, the latter will be deducted from the sale price of the boat.

Step 3: A sale contract, duly completed by both parties, will allow you to reserve the boat until the date when you actually take possession. Payment of a deposit will be required and the balance must be paid when you take possession of the boat at the latest.

Step 4: Cast off onboard your Penichette^®!

Canal boats for sale across France and Europe

What are Pénichette boats and why should you buy one?

The Pénichette boat has become the defining boat when it comes to European waterway travel over the last half a century. Perfectly designed to navigate Europe’s canals, the Pénichette boat is created specifically for inland water travel and is defined by its unmistakable line in the water. Riverly operates the largest fleet of Pénichette boats in all of Europe, all of which are maintained by specialist staff. There are a variety of canal boats for sale in France, Germany and also canal boats for sale across Europe.

Buying a Pénichette boat can have huge benefits, not only for your holiday pleasure but for your overall health and well-being. Let’s take a looks at the many reasons why you might want to buy a used Penichette boat:

A boat to call your own! While renting a canal boat can be exciting, actually owning your own boat means you no longer have to rely on certain time constraints and others to dictate your boating holiday.
Owning a boat creates the perfect space to share with family and friends on the water. Time spent on the boat also promotes a sense of well-being and can improve your mental health.
Buying barges for sale in France or any other European country is not only something that will benefit your holidays, but it is also a financial investment. The robustness of the Pénichette boat means it often keeps its value for many years, and you can sometimes even make a profit with a few boat improvements.

Canal boats for sale across France and Europe

Four stages of securing a canal barge for sale with Riverly

Firstly, the seller of the boat will provide all the information you need and answer any questions about the boat that you’re hoping to buy. A full appraisal of the boat will be carried out, and any faults will be repaired or exchanged, ensuring it is all in working order.

Secondly, you will make an appointment with one of the bases to view the boat. You can even test the boat before buying it by renting it for the season. If you agree to buy the boat once you have tried it out, the rental price will be taken off the sale price.

Thirdly, a deed of sale is then drawn up and signed by both parties, allowing you to reserve the boat until it finally becomes your property. A deposit should be paid, and then the full balance once the boat passes into your possession.

Fourthly, cast off at the helm of your Pénichette and enjoy endless memorable boating holidays.

What are the benefits of buying European canal boats for sale?

Unlike renting a boat for a weekend or a week-long holiday, buying river boats for sale in France gives you far more freedom and control over your waterway journeys. If you want to stay moored in one place for an extended period of time, you can. If you want to change your plans at the very last second, owning your own boat means you can do this without being held back.

Thinking of your boat as a second home that is also mobile really shows how much buying a boat can really benefit your life. There’s no need to search for overpriced and uncomfortable holiday accommodation when you already have your home away from home canal boat. Similar to having a second home, you can also lend out your riverboat out to friends and family to use. As they are easy to drive and maintain, passing the keys over to a friend or family member is a breeze. Just remember to check if your insurance covers them!

Checks you should make when you see a used canal boats for sale

Boats for sale from Riverly are well maintained and cared for, ensuring your investment doesn’t turn into an expensive loss of money. There are certain checks and assessments you can carry out when you’re looking for a second-hand French canal boat for sale. By ensuring these things are looked over before you commit to buying a Pénichette boat, you can have the highest quality boat possible.

You should ensure that the boat has been treated for protection against damage from the elements. Sun and water damage on the outside of the boat can go a long way to ageing and damaging a boat’s performance.

It’s also important to make a cockpit check when you’re buying a new or used boat. Sometimes boats will have a double cockpit, with both an exterior and an interior one. It is essential to make sure nothing is missing or needs replacing. This may include installing the latest boat navigation technology, something that will help you while travelling around Europe’s waterways.

The boat’s bedding is also a key element to make sure everything is present and correct. Being able to sleep well while you’re travelling along the canals and rivers is important, and you may want to change it to your style and tastes. Finally, you’ll want to check that the sanitary equipment is all working as it should. Bathrooms and toilets specifically need to be in good working order before a Pénichette can be sold.

Choose from two different types of Pénichette boats

Opt for the Classic Pénichette if you’re travelling light

The Classic Penichette is the perfect boat for travelling through rivers and canals. Made famous for their iconic design – they look like the traditional barge – the Classic Penichette is the easiest to manoeuvre license-free boat and is perfect for families or those with little experience. With the ability to hold between two and seven people, this Classic Penichette provides excellent comfort onboard. The Classic Penichette also has a large sunroof that will give you great visibility, especially when the cockpit is raised by two-thirds. Equipped with a large solarium deck, there’s plenty of space to enjoy the European sun when you’re off the helm.

Choose from two different types of Pénichette boats

The Pénichettes Terrasse is better suited for larger groups

Much larger than the classic model, the Pénichettes Terrasse offers boaters a large rear terrace and a much larger living room space. Its u-shaped bench allows holidaymakers to sit together and enjoy meals outside. Pénichettes Terrasse can cater for 2 to 12 people, and each cabin has a double bed, a sink and storage space. Thanks to the two opening roofs and a large bay window, that waterway sun can stream into the Pénichettes Terrasse and be enjoyed by everyone on board.

What do canal boats for sale in Europe cost?

Buy a comfortable river boat in good condition

Riverly sells a number of Pénichette boats every year in France and the rest of Europe, averaging around ten annually. Many of these models were constructed through the late 1980s and mid-1990s, making them decades old. Despite this, they are so well made and cared for that they’re still in top condition. The boats are not only looked after, but they are also driven regularly and maintained in a winter harbour. Maintaining and refurbishing the boats, they keep themselves in excellent resalable conditions and will continue for many decades to come. Designed to carry five to seven people, these boats are nine to eleven metres long.

What do canal boats for sale in Europe cost?

Other fees to consider when you’re buying a boat

Along with paying for the actual boat, there are other fees to consider if you’re thinking of buying a boat on the continent. First of all, you’ll need to pay for a place to moor your boat, which is known as a mooring fee. This mooring fee in your home port could cost between €1,000 and €1,500 depending on the port and how often you need to use it. Alongside the mooring fees, you will usually have to pay an issuance fee too. This can vary between €200 and €500/year depending on the level of insurance that you’re looking for. The insurance fee is there to cover three different conditions; repairs, environmental pollution and liability.

For your first outing choose from a myriad of European waterways

Exploring the canals and waterways of France

Once you have purchased your boat, you’ll have the exciting task of deciding where you’re going to take it for its first outing. Home of the Pénichette boat, France is one the best places in which to put your boating holidays into action. In the north of France, the Bretton region opens up a whole world of boating opportunities, crossing both rivers and canals. The main route through this picturesque northwest countryside is along the Blavet Canal or through the Nantes-Brest Canal.
Being able to travel along the Brittany waterways with a canal barge for sale in France gives you the opportunity to take in all of the smaller and niche-like delights of the region.

Further to the east of the country, the historical region of Burgundy offers up a famous network of crisscrossing canals, vineyards and iconic French towns and cities. A famous wine-producing region, Burgundy attracts those who want to mix their boating holidays with a little bit of gourmet fine dining and wine tasting.
Arguably the most famous canal route in all of France is the Canal du Midi in southern France. Searching for boats for sale on the Canal du Midi France will open up a world of history, famous landmarks and towns and cities that fall out of the imagination and before your eyes. Being such a famous waterway for canal exploration, you will not struggle to find many boats for sale on the Canal du Midi.

For your first outing choose from a myriad of European waterways

Travelling through Germany with your new boat

You’ll also find a large number of canal riverboats for sale in central Europe, Germany especially. Germany has vast swathes of areas taken up by lakes, rivers and canals, perfect for houseboat exploration. One of the premier destinations is Germany’s northeastern Mecklenburg Lake District. Known as the land of a thousand lakes, the German Lake District allows you to explore the pristine countryside, nature and riverside settlements with ease – this can be said about Germany’s largest lake, Müritz. Müritz is situated within the Müritz National park – a fantastic place to get out and explore on foot. The fragrant beech forests of the national park invite you off the boat and onto dry land, an ideal place to hike and explore the Mecklenburg woodlands.

It’s not only the woodlands and countryside of Germany that can be explored by boat. Why not trade the touristic route of the city streets and explore the German capital of Berlin and the towns of Potsdam and Brandenburg via boat. The interconnecting canals, rivers and waterways make stopping off at any of the inner city, and town spots a simple undertaking. This way, you dodge the crowds and traffic that often back up when travelling into the capital.

Known as the Tuscany of the north, the Bradenburg area of Germany is another of the must-see areas when you purchase a canal boat in Germany. Travelling on a northwesterly course, you can explore the open spaces of the Havel River valley. Navigating this river gives you access to the Westhavelland Nature Park.

Go boating through the Emerald Isle

Securing a canal boat for sale in Ireland allows you to travel across the island in style and really take in every nook and cranny of the beautiful country. Covered in all directions by a series of rivers and canals, exploring the length and breadth of the country can be done with ease. The main and most famous route through the country is via the River Shannon, a river that runs through the country and allows you to navigate your way through Ireland’s most picturesque surroundings.

Starting from Carrick-on-Shannon in County Leitrim, you can start your journey along the Shannon River, going in a northerly direction. First arriving at Keshcarrigan, boaters will notice a quintessential idyllic Irish village, with an ancient pagan burial site overlooking the nearby lough. Continuing north, you’ll eventually arrive at the town of Ballinamore.

Ballinamore has a traditional beauty to it, one that makes it a perfect stopping off point on your journey down the river. With charming Irish houses and green flowery gardens, there is so much to enjoy in Ballinamore.

Moving further on, you will eventually arrive at the border regions of Ireland and the UK near Leitrim. This border region is renowned for its stunning beauty and delightful fishing spots. Close to this region is the Lough Key Forest Park, a stunning lough surrounded by an 800-hectare park. The water itself is part of local legend and myth, with the lake being named after a druid named Cé, who drowned here during the formation of the lake. Getting out of the boat and exploring the wider park will reward you with views of Myriad Islands; Castle Island, which houses a medieval castle, Stag Island, Bullock Island, Drummond Island and more.

Canal du Midi & Camargue

Bourgogne & Environs

Lacs du Mecklembourg

Lagune de Venise

Grande Lago

Shannon & Erne

Venice Lagoon

Do you have a question?