Study on
private pleasure boating
direction du
Développement
thema
Summary paper
T
he surveys carried out since 2001, the year the national river tourism watchdog
RNOTF (Voies navigables de France Observation - Développement Ingénierie
Tourisme-France) was set up, have provided much better information about pro-
fessional pleasure boating activity. However, private pleasure boating remains less well
studied, despite representing a major component of river tourism (there were more than
20,000 boats registered in France 10 years ago).
The RNOTF therefore decided to launch a study during 2007 in order to better identify all
the private boaters sailing in France, to better understand their profile and their needs,
in order to make an active contribution to the development of French river tourism.
To this end, a questionnaire focusing on areas such as the identity of owners, their
boats, their sailing habits, their favourite waterways and stopovers, was produced in
collaboration with Association Nationale des Plaisanciers en Eaux Intérieures (ANPEI)
[National Inland Waterways Boating Association]. This document was sent out to more
than 14,000 French and foreign boaters who own their own boat and who sailed on
French waterways in 2007. The survey was conducted by post from 15th October to 1st
December 2007.
Study on
private pleasure boating
Summary
page 2
paper
Summary
Use of the boat
Sex of driver
Average age
Socio-professional category
Nationality
Age of the boat
Period of ownership of the boat
Average number of berths
Registration
Habitable
Average size of the boat
Mean engine power
Average number of years of sailing
Average sailing duration
Navigation abroad
Most popular activities at stopovers
Average number of people on board
Most popular waterways
Average length of stopover
Services in France satisfactory
Services in France unsatisfactory
Average budget per day
Average budget per year
Estimate of total tourist-related
consumption on the VNF network
Key findings
means of recreation (95%)
main residence (5%)
men (96%)
56 years
retired (41%), middle management (16%),
employee / worker (15%), professional /
senior executive (14%)
French (67%), German (12%),
Dutch (6%)
24 years
6 years
6 berths including 4 beds
maritime (58%), river (40%)
Yes (63%)
2
9 m long, 3 m wide, 27 m floor space
81 kw (60 hp)
13 years
56 days per year
No (56%)
1. site visits, 2. total relaxation, 3. restaurants
2.7 adults and 0.7 child
1. Saône, 2. Seine, 3. Rhône,
4. Marne, 5. Oise
5.3 nights
signs, shops and services
fuelling
€ 39
€ 2,170
€ 31 million
The full report is on sale from ODIT France via the website http://www.odit-france.fr/,
in hard copy or electronic version in PDF format (only on french version ).
Study on
private pleasure boating
Summary
page 3
paper
Study results
Knowing you better
The age brackets
This average pleasure age (56 years) seems to be aging slightly if the current study is
compared to the one conducted in 2001. The average age of French boaters is well
below that of German and Dutch boaters.
The socio-professional category of the driver (SPC)
16%
Retirees
15%
Middle management , supervisor
Employees, workman
Professionals, senior executives
41%
14%
Business owners, traders, company manager
Without professionnal activity
1%
2%
11%
The dominant SPC, retirees, represents 41% of boaters against 44% in 2001. The biggest increase relates
to the «Middle management, supervisor» SPC (16% in
2007 against 11% in 2001). Overall, the wealthier SPC
(business owners, traders, company managers, professionals, senior executives and farmers) were less
well represented in 2007 (25%) than in 2001 (27%).
Farmers
The nationality of the boater
12%
French
6%
5%
3%
2%
3%
German
Dutch
The French clientele is in a distinct majority on French territory (67%).
There is nevertheless an increase in the proportion of foreigners (33%
against 27% in 2001).
English
Belgian
67%
Swiss
Other (danish, swedish, american, luxembourg....)
Study on
private pleasure boating
Summary
page 4
paper
Your boat
Pleasure boaters have owned their boat for an average of 6 years. Between 2001 and
2007, there is a larger share of boats purchased less than one year previously (16% in
2001 to 22% in 2007). This reflects a significant enthusiasm for pleasure boating.
The average capacity of boats is 6 people, with 4 actual berths. 63% of boats are habitable and 55% are operated under French flags. Out of the whole fleet, 58% of the boats
have maritime registrations.
The size of the boat
25%
33%
22%
7%
The fleet of private boats is very diverse, with an average size considerably lower than in 2001.
I (moins
de 12
Less than
12m2)
m2
From
to m2)
25 m2
II (de
12 12
à 25
2
From
to 40
III (de
2525
à 40
m2)m
m2
IV From
(de 4040à to
6060
m2)
2
More
than
60
m
V (plus de 60 m2)
13%
Wintering sites
The most popular wintering sites are ports, followed by dry dock. Looking more closely,
a significant number of boaters winter their boat in their city of residence (36%).
TERRAIN-DOMICILE-GARAGE
Ground-residence-garage
16%
Port
port
Drysèche
dock
cale
14%
31%
9%
Hangar
hangar
Other
autre
3%
46%
81%
BERGE-QUAI-PONTON
Bank-quay-pontoons
DIVERS
other
Study on
private pleasure boating
Summary
page 5
paper
Navigation and you
Years of sailing by duration category and by nationality
There is an average of 14 years of sailing on inland waterways. The Germans and
Dutch have many more years of practice of inland waterways than French boaters.
Origin and practice of sailing
48% of boaters first started out with river sailing. These results are broadly the same
between French and foreign boaters. 40% started with maritime sailing before moving
onto the rivers. The rest of the boaters are former rental customers.
Number of days of sailing by category
The average duration of sailing is estimated at 56 days a year with 44 days for French
boaters, 61 for German boaters and 100 for Dutch boaters.
Sailing period
Holiday sailing is no longer at the top of the list, having been overtaken by weekend
excursions which are the most frequent (82%). This change can be explained by the 35
hour working week, which has led to an increase in short break, near to home tourism.
Boaters leave for shorter periods, but more often during the year. Midweek excursions
are also common (55% against 40% in 2001), which tends to mean that sailing is carried
out across almost the whole year. The summer is still the most popular period for sailing
(96%). Boaters over 55 years old are those who most often go out during the week. 44%
of boaters sail abroad and 71% of the French are sedentary.
100%
100%
96%
84%
80%
66%
50%
50%
11%
0%
Printemps
Spring
Eté
Summer
Automne
Autumn
Hiver
Winter
82%
55%
0%
Vacances
Week
end Semaine
Holidays
Week end
Week
Study on
private pleasure boating
Summary
page 6
paper
Your stops
Mooring sites most popular during stopovers
61% of boaters choose to moor in a marina or river stopover sites.
Activities enjoyed during stopovers
River tourism is usually associated with relaxation and calm, which explains why the
predominant activities are walking, relaxation and food. Out of the list of 10 proposed
activities, boaters chose 5 on average.
Sporting activities:
Loisirs
Nautical
leisures
nautiques
Bicycle
Cultural activities:
VisitsVisites
of sitesde
34%
Vélo
With foot
A pied
Other
Autres
74%
sites
47%
Discovered
of the
craft
Découverte
industry
62%
32%
de l'artisanat
Museums,
Musées,
spectacles
33%
spectacles
11%
Others:
Restauration
Restaurant
Shopping
Shopping
Relaxation
Détente
71%
46%
72%
Map of the waterways and the major city stops
The duration of stopovers is on average 5.3 nights. The French
usually stay longer at a stopover than foreign boaters. (3.9
days for German boaters and 4.2 days for Dutch boaters)
Nancy
Paris
Saint-Jean-de-Losne
Lyon
Study on
private pleasure boating
Summary
page 7
paper
Your holidays in 2007
Composition of the group on board
The average number of adults is estimated at 2.7 adults with 0.7 child. There are on average 2 times as many French boaters on board than the Dutch. (2.2 adults for 0.2 child).
Half sail as a couple, the rest being shared between families and friends.
Level of satisfaction with regard to services in France
On average, 60% of those surveyed said that service levels in France are satisfactory
or very satisfactory. Navigation signage, shops and amenities are the services with the
most positive opinions. By contrast, toilet and even more son fuelling facilities are clearly
seen as unsatisfactory.
Très
Verysatisfaisant
satisfactory
Site of
mooring
Point
d'amarrage
15%
Eau
Water
14%
Electricité
Satisfactory
Satisfaisant
Sanitaires
50%
Collectes de déchets
19%
14%
15%
49%
2%
10%
8%
32%
11%
7%
6%
23%
30%
Does
know
Ne
saitnot
pas
21%
43%
7%
Toilet
Att du
all unsatisfactory
Pas
tout satisfaisant
55%
11%
Electricity
Peu
Not satisfaisant
satisfactory
15%
21%
9%
10%
Collect waste
Avitaillement carburant
2%
Fueling facilities
Signalisation navigant
31%
16%
41%
16%
Navigation signage
Commerces et services
16%
Shops andtouristiques
amenities
Informations
15%
0%
10%
9%
60%
60%
30%
40%
4% 4%
16%
4% 4%
19%
51%
20%
16%
50%
60%
70%
6%
80%
90%
8%
100%
Study on
private pleasure boating
Summary
page 8
paper
Your budget
Estimation of the budget per item
Alimentation
Food
24%
Marinas fees
Dépenses
portuaires
Other
Autres
40%
10%
7%
5% 7%
7%
Leisures
Loisirs
Bar,café,
coffee,
ice creams,...
Bar,
glacier…
Restaurants
Restaurants
Cultural
visits
Visites
culturelles
The first item of expenditure is food followed by marina fees. In other expenses (10%), fuel costs are
dominant and represent the same percentage as in
the 2001 study. In the same study, spending on food
accounted for only 23%, giving a higher proportion
of spending on restaurants, bars, coffee, and ice
creams of 25% against 14% currently. Cultural visits
account for negligible expenses.
Estimated total budget
Average
Average French
Average German
Average Dutch
Estimated average
annual budget
Estimated
daily budget
€ 2,170
€ 1,460
€ 2,780
€ 3,270
€ 39
€ 33
€ 45
€ 33
The average budget is estimated to be € 39 per day (€ 11 per day and per person) for
expenditure during trips.
More than € 3000 of the total budget is devoted to the stays and the boat (excluding
the cost of purchasing the boat). 60% of boaters spend more than € 1,000 per year for
their boat.
It is estimated that € 31 million of total tourist-related consumption is generated on the
VNF network (for vessels subject to tolls).
Study on
private pleasure boating
Summary
page 9
paper
French data sheet
Sets out the profile of French nationality boaters sailing on the French network.
Average age
Socio-professional category
Period of ownership
of the boat
Average number of berths
Habitable
Average size of the boat
Average number of years of
sailing
Average sailing duration
Navigation abroad
Average number of people
on board
Average budget per day
Average budget per year
Results of the sheet
53 years
Retired (35%),
middle management (20%)
5 years
Results of the study
56 years
Retired (41%),
senior management
(16%)
6 years
Yes (51%)
8 m long, 2 m wide
6 berths including 4
beds
Yes (63%)
9 m long, 3 m wide
11 years
13 years
44 days per year
No (61%)
56 days per year
No (56%)
2.9 adults and 1 child
2.7 adults and 0.7 child
€ 33
€ 1,460
€ 39
€ 2,170
6 berths including 2 beds
Study on
private pleasure boating
Summary
page 10
paper
German data sheet
Sets out the profile of German nationality boaters sailing on the French network.
Average age
Socio-professional category
Period of ownership of the boat
Average number of berths
Results of the sheet
60 years
Retired (43%),
Liberal (19%)
9 years
6 berths including 3
beds
Yes (83%)
9 m long, 3 m wide
20 years
61 days per year
Yes (62%)
Habitable
Average size of the boat
Average number of years of sailing
Average sailing duration
Navigation abroad
Average number of people
2.4 adults and 0.3 child
on board
Average budget per day
€ 45
Average budget per year
€ 2,780
Results of the study
56 years
Retired (41%),
senior management
(16%)
6 years
6 berths including 4
beds
Yes (63%)
9 m long, 3 m wide
13 years
56 days per year
No (56%)
2.7 adults and 0.7 child
€ 39
€ 2,170
Study on
private pleasure boating
Summary
page 11
paper
Dutch data sheet
Sets out the profile of Dutch nationality boaters sailing on the French network.
Average age
Socio-professional category
Period of ownership of the boat
Average number of berths
Habitable
Average size of the boat
Average number of years
of sailing
Average sailing duration
Navigation abroad
Average number of people
on board
Average budget per day
Average budget per year
Results of the sheet
62 years
Retired (63%),
Liberal (15%)
11 years
7 berths including
4 beds
Yes (84%)
12 m long, 4 m wide
Results of the study
56 years
Retired (41%),
senior management
(16%)
6 years
6 berths including 4 beds
Yes (63%)
9 m long, 3 m wide
28 years
13 years
100 days per year
Yes (81%)
56 days per year
No (56%)
2.2 adults and 0.2 child
2.7 adults and 0.7 child
€ 33
€ 3,270
€ 39
€ 2,170
division
Tourisme - services
aux usagers
175, rue Ludovic
Boutleux,
boîte postale 820
62408 Béthune cedex
téléphone
03 21 63 24 54
télécopie
03 21 63 24 42
www.vnf.fr
mars 2009