BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide
Boat Rental in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, Vendée
A working Vendée fishing port and the gateway to Île d'Yeu: renting a boat in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, on France's Atlantic coast.
Between Noirmoutier and Les Sables-d'Olonne, already covered in our guide to the Atlantic coast from La Rochelle to Île de Ré, Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie adds another Vendée base to the list.
Two villages joined by a river
Born from the administrative merger of Saint-Gilles-sur-Vie and Croix-de-Vie, facing each other across the mouth of the Vie river, the town still runs a working fishing harbour alongside its marina — an auction hall still landing some of the fresh fish sold locally.
The gateway to Île d'Yeu
The town is also the main departure point for Île d'Yeu, about twenty kilometres offshore — a crossing best left to experienced boats and crews used to open water.
Beaches stretching north
North of the harbour, a long stretch of sandy beaches and dunes runs on toward Saint-Jean-de-Monts, offering plenty of day-anchorage spots for an easy coastal cruise.
Tides worth watching
As along the rest of the Atlantic coast, tidal range can be significant: our guide to Atlantic tides covers the precautions to take for anchoring and returning to port.
Budget and comparison
License-free €100-250 a day, RIB €200-600, sailboat €300-700 — the same ranges as the rest of the Vendée coast. Boat-Comparator compares platforms for Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie in one search.
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