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Hi Sapper

I am hoping not.  Have not been able to find any laws regarding rivers although I know that in France you must have a skippers licence for a boat in the sea.  I would think common sense would be your guide and obviously some lakes and waterways which are wildlife reserves would be restricted to 'oar power' only. We are taking our inflatable to Loire and Brittany this May/June  with either the 6hp or 2.3hp outboard (whichever we have room for!).  So will let you know how it goes

Pam 

Sometimes You're the windscreen; sometimes the fly

We have used a dinghy and outboard in France.

As I understand, it boats under 5 meters do not pay tolls on the canals in France nor do you require  a cetificate of competance or licence.

 Boats over 5m do,and you require an International Certificate of Competance, unless you are hiring a canal boat,in which case you dont.

We found it very easy to use our dinghy, which was mostly on the River Vilaine south Brittany. There were no launching charges and every village along the banks had a slipway. It was brilliant.

It is about 4 or 5 years ago since I Iast used the dinghy abroad so the rules and regs may have changed.