SELF DRIVE RIVER BOAT RENTALS FROM Saint-Martin/Oust
Saint Martin sur Oust is a small rural village, with little trade. Remember to visit Castellan Castle before going on a cruise. This base is the starting point for one-way river cruises on the Nantes-Brest Canal / Vilaine to Melesse.
The locks are electric and manned by lock keepers. They are always open.
In Britanny, river cruises are mainly done on canals (except between Redon and Rennes). Easy on the whole, little current, few dangers - this region is perfectly suited for a first river cruise experience.
In 2024 and 2025: following long maintenance work, navigation will be interrupted on the Vilaine at the Moulin de Boël, between Messac and Rennes. You will therefore not be able to navigate as far as Rennes for the whole of the 2025 season.
Update of 18/04/25: Due to work to replace the Boël valve, navigation is only possible as far as Pierchatel until further notice. This means that you can only cruise north from Messac for 1.5 hours as far as the Molière lock. If you wish to visit Rennes from Messac, it is advisable to take the train - the station is just opposite the Messac base.
Update 18/04/25: Due to heavy flooding in January, mooring on the pontoons at La Gacilly is not possible until further notice, as the pontoons are not secure. Navigation on the Aff river is possible, but mooring is not.
Whether on the Nantes-Brest Canal or on the Vilaine River, mooring is only permitted in designated places and not along the banks.
- Car: From the north: E50 (A81 + N157 + N136), Rennes take D177 towards Saint Nazaire / Redon then D777 direction Gacilly then D777 to St Martin sur Oust. From the south: From Redon, D764 then D14 then D149 then D777.
- Train: Redon TGV station (20 km)
- Air: Rennes-Saint-Jacques airport (63 km), Nantes-Atlantique airport (110 km)
- in La Gacilly (8 km) every Saturday morning, in Malansac (8 km) every Tuesday morning.
- Carte de pêche obligatoire: on sale at Le Marteens Bar, Rue du Commerce, 56200 Saint-Martin-sur-Oust - Eels, Tench, Bream, Carp, Roach, Bleak, Trout, Perch, Pikeperch, Pike, Black- Bass
- Canal from Nantes to Brest, Pontivy direction: the locks are open every day from 9h to 12h30 and from 13h30 to 18h45 or 19h15, lock keepers are present at most locks; direction Nantes: the locks are open from 9:15 am to 7:00 pm, lock keepers are present except for four locks that are self-service.
- Vilaine, Canal d'Ille-et-Rance: the locks are open every day from 9:30 to 12:30, 13:30 to 18:45 or 19:15. It happens that a lock keeper accompanies the same boat on several locks.All locks are open on May 1 and July 14.
Possible cruises
Saint-Martin/Oust
round trip
Saint-Martin/Oust
round trip
Saint-Martin/Oust
round trip
Saint-Martin/Oust
round trip
Saint-Martin/Oust
round trip
Best current offers for the destination Saint-Martin/Oust
From €514 / pers
Week of the 6/14/25 to 6/21/25
- Max. people : 4
- Cabins : 1
- Bathroom & Toilet : 1
Two steering positions
Bow and Stern Thruster
Continuous 220V electricity
Bimini Top
Microwave
Electric toilets
From €466 / pers
Week of the 6/14/25 to 6/21/25
- Max. people : 5
- Cabins : 2
- Bathroom & Toilet : 2
Two steering positions
Bow thruster
Bimini Top
220V socket
Electric toilets
Customer testimonials
5/5
(based on 5 opinion)
"Très agréable et disponible avec conseils touristiques."
"Excellent accueil à Bouzies."
"L'accueil était sympathique et la prise en charge rapide, pas d'attente. En fait, bien mieux que pour mes expériences précédentes sur le Canal du Midi ou en Bretagne"
"Très bon accueil et personnel serviable"
Travelling with CrisBoat
Crisboat has more than 90% of the French fleet of self drive river boats. Entrust us with your desires and your availabilities and we will shape your holidays on the water. Located in the heart of the Vienne, Crisboat is the leader in self driver river boat rental in France. Discover our team, made up of 6 experts ready to take up the challenge to design the cruise that will meet your expectations.
Satisfaction: 4,5 / 5
Cris Boat Blog
Slow travel: the license-free houseboat is the ideal way to travel differently
Navigate in May: the 5 main benefits of a spring cruise
"Aimable et à l'écoute."