Founded in 1986 at Cholet in the Loire valley. It specialises in licence-free canal cruisers in glass-reinforced plastic, which it both builds and charters itself on French and European waterways. Every Nicols on Adriavela is a motor boat.
Adriavela lists 297 Nicols boats. They cover 27 separate models, the largest groups being Nicols Estivale Quattro B (28), Nicols Estivale Octo (25) and Nicols Estivale Duo (24). Lengths run from 7.9 to 15 metres. Accommodation runs to 1 to 5 cabins and 2 to 12 berths. Build years run from 1988 to 2024.
They are spread across 7 countries, the largest group of them - 231 boats - in France. Prices start at €38 a day on a 7-day charter, across the 288 boats that carry a published rate; the rest are quoted on request. Under power the day is planned by distance rather than by wind, which suits a group working through a lot of coast in a week.