I've never done it in Europe (or anywhere else for that matter) but I had friends who rented one of those canal boat/barges on the Erie canal a few years ago and had a blast.

Sounds like a great idea to me!

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)