Publication date: 17/02/2025
Grilling a boat in Gironde or elsewhere
If you are one of the few boater-owners who have never ‘lifted a boat’, let’s start with a few explanations:
Every motorboat or sailing yacht undergoes its first craning when it is new – or when it is first launched at the end of its construction. But then, what are the reasons for craning a boat in Gironde or elsewhere?
Whatever the area you’re working in, lifting and handling a ship is often essential for preparing it for sailing, keeping it in good condition and ensuring the safety of the crew on board.
For example, the owner of a sailboat or motorboat can resort to boat lifting or cranage operations:
- To carry out maintenance or repair work
- Because he chose to station his unit ashore
- To transport it
- To inspect it in detail
Handling a boat, mandatory for storage on land
Some boaters choose to keep their boats dry over the winter, to protect them from the elements. The boat then has to be launched at the start of the season, in the spring, and taken out of the water at the end of the summer. The boat has to be handled twice a year. The boat remains in the water during the sailing season.
There are also owners who choose to keep their boat dry at all times, for example by storing it on a quay, in a dry port or in a garden. For these people, the boat has to be handled each time it leaves the dock, either in or out of the water, using a slipway or a hoist. Depending on the characteristics of the boat and the water surface!
Boat cranage for road transport
A boat is also handled to place it on a trailer or lorry, for example, in order to move it to another site. This may be the case when a boat is being moved, or following a decision to change the navigation area.
If you want to discover a different body of water, it can be very practical to hire a boat and take it by road to a new destination!
Lifting a boat to inspect the hull and live parts
Rigging a boat in Gironde or elsewhere also allows you to discover its submerged parts – invisible when the boat is in the water. Lifting a vessel allows you to visually inspect the hull(s), propellers, daggerboards, rudders… as well as equipment such as the depth sounder. Inspections are much easier and more precise than by diving!
Thanks to this operation, the shipowner can be sure that the ship’s structure is in good condition, and that safety on board is assured.
Handling for servicing or maintenance work
If an anomaly has been noted during the boat condition check, taking the boat out of the water allows you to work on repairing the damage. Taking a boat out of the water allows you to work on its hull, for example, to clean the living structures or apply antifouling.
With the boat still in the water and parked close to a quay, cranes and other handling equipment can also be used to remove or replace some of the equipment. This is often the case, for example, when work is being carried out on the rigging of a sailboat, with mast removal and dismasting operations.
Craning or boat lifting in Gironde: what are the options?
Do you usually sail on the Gironde estuary, the Bassin d’Arcachon or along the Atlantic coast, and would you like to take your boat out or launch it in the department? Several marinas offer boat lifting and craning services in Gironde.
These include the port of La Vigne in Lège-Cap-Ferret, the port of Meschers-sur-Gironde, the Les pieds au Sec boatyard in Mortagne-sur-Gironde and the Port Médoc marina in Le Verdon-sur-Mer.
Marinas offering boat lifting in and around Gironde
| Place | Location |
|---|---|
| Port de la Vigne | Lège-Cap-Ferret |
| Port of Meschers-sur-Gironde | Meschers-sur-Gironde |
| Les Pieds au Sec (Chantier Naval) | Mortagne-sur-Gironde |
| Port Médoc | Verdon-sur-Mer |
| Port of Arcachon | Arcachon |
Although there are a number of players offering craning and boat handling services in Gironde, Port Médoc stands out from the other Gironde ports thanks to the capacity of its lifting equipment. The diversity of services offered to boaters is also a strong point.
The marina has large working areas, as well as high-performance handling and craning equipment. The port’s teams are able to lift and handle vessels weighing up to 45 tonnes.
Did you know? To remove a boat from the water in Gironde, or to launch it, you can also have a crane brought to the desired location. However, you should be aware that the cost of such handling is often higher than the price charged for this service in a marina. Also, you won’t be able to take advantage of the facilities offered by the harbour infrastructures, or the proximity of professionals and specialist shops.
Our solution for boat handling in Gironde
Are you looking for an easy, practical place to take a boat out in the Gironde?
At our marina in Port Médoc, at the mouth of the Gironde and close to some of the most beautiful destinations in Charente-Maritime, we can carry out your boat lifts all year round!
Our boat lifting and craning services in Gironde
If Port Médoc is a renowned location for boat lifting in the Gironde, it’s first and foremost for the quality spaces on offer: our port at Verdon-sur-Mer has a careening area and a storage zone, which are particularly popular with boaters.
High-pressure cleaning, painting, upholstery, mechanical, electrical or electronic repairs… thanks to the high-quality facilities, nautical professionals and specialist shops, all maintenance, overhaul and repair operations can be carried out on site.
Access to the port is easy, both by water and by land:
- The wide, deep harbour areas can accommodate a very large number of boats: up to 30 metres long, with a draught of up to 3 metres.
- The location makes it easy to reach Port Médoc by road.
In terms of equipment, the Port Médoc travelift is a modern, high-performance machine. It can handle boats weighing up to 45 tonnes.
Did you know? The Port Médoc teams offer several All Inclusive packages for boat wintering and careening in Gironde. Carénage Express – with 2 days dry and 2 handling operations, Carénage Confort – with 1 month dry and 2 handling operations, Carénage Hivernal – with 4 months dry and 2 handling operations… We’ve thought of the boat lift package that’s right for you!
Would you like more information about the solutions we offer for lifting boats in Port Médoc, Gironde?
