Living on a boat!

Author
Discussion

klunkT5

Original Poster:

589 posts

117 months

Sunday 5th July 2020
quotequote all
Ok, Long to short, Had to sell my house after the 2009 financial crisis as i lost my job, Currently renting a flat, i hate it! Can't get back on the property ladder as i am 57 years old, Had a thought about buying a house/long boat, I've got 25K to spend if i need to, Mooring seem's pretty cheap here in North Devon (Barnstaple. Bideford), What i want to know from you expert's is the best type of hull to go for, I have no idea! I really don't have a clue but i am getting really exited about actually owning somewhere to live again, I don't want to be lifting it out of the water every like 2 year's so i would assume fibreglass? Any advice on buying and living on a boat would be very much appreciated, I look forward to reading over your input, Cheers.

Sonie

238 posts

107 months

Sunday 5th July 2020
quotequote all
Narrow boat, cruiser or yacht?

Turn7

23,502 posts

220 months

Evoluzione

10,345 posts

242 months

Sunday 5th July 2020
quotequote all

klunkT5

Original Poster:

589 posts

117 months

Sunday 5th July 2020
quotequote all
Sonie said:
Narrow boat, cruiser or yacht?
Advice on the best boat to live in would be much appreciated. I haven't a clue but i am getting a hard on at the thought of living in a place i actually own again!



Edited by klunkT5 on Sunday 5th July 21:03

klunkT5

Original Poster:

589 posts

117 months

Sunday 5th July 2020
quotequote all
Cheers for the links, Keep the info coming, Much appreciated.

Edited by klunkT5 on Sunday 5th July 21:13

pequod

8,956 posts

137 months

Sunday 5th July 2020
quotequote all
How about something like this as a nice project houseboat? I take it you aren't intending to go anywhere so the fact it has no propulsion shouldn't be a problem.

https://houseboats.apolloduck.co.uk/boat/motor-boa...

klunkT5

Original Poster:

589 posts

117 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
quotequote all
Ok, Chewing over a narrowboat, A 60 footer would be ideal, Tiled shower, Woodburner, How cozy is that! cloud9 Got stuff to investigate next week, Will get back with an update, Cheers.

ReverendCounter

6,087 posts

175 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
quotequote all
Is a dutch barge within budget? Would give you a lot more living space. Incidentally this guy: https://www.dutch-barges.net/steel_kits.html does CNC cut steel kits of his boat designs.


Incidentally one of the above designer's kits is £18.5k excl VAT - the Emily 49:




Edited by ReverendCounter on Sunday 12th July 16:26

pequod

8,956 posts

137 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
quotequote all
klunkT5 said:
Ok, Chewing over a narrowboat, A 60 footer would be ideal, Tiled shower, Woodburner, How cozy is that! cloud9 Got stuff to investigate next week, Will get back with an update, Cheers.
Good choice as a liveaboard boat but where are you intending to moor it? Living on the cut is not so easy, or cheap, these days as you can't just stay in one place for free and unless you are on a marina or private mooring you will be moved on.

Lot's of good advice here;

http://www.canaljunction.com/boat/liveaboard.htm

MB140

4,027 posts

102 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
quotequote all
If I was going to live on a boat it would be in the following order.

1) Yacht somewhere hot living on the anchor. This is quite a dedicated way of life. Moving a lot for weather. Taking dingoes to shore to get everything. Limited space and amenities.

But if you can live with the compromise then what a way of life. I’ve been following a young couple on you tube Channel called Sailing Kittiwake. There doing it on a shoe string budget.

1B) As above buy in a marina somewhere warm. But be prepared for the cost of marina fees in nice areas with good access to the ocean. Better standard of life as you have all amenities. Possibly gyms etc at the better marinas.

2) Dutch Barge. I live overlooking the River Trent. I frequently see a lovely Black and Cream Dutch barge going up and down the river. The extra width would give so much more room over a narrow boat but does limit which parts of the cut you can use.

2B) Narrowboat. As above but longer but narrower. More of the cut is availible to you though.

Reference Narrowboat or Dutch barge. Would you be residential (ie fixed abode, or continually moving max 2 weeks in one place I believe) it makes a drastic difference to the costs I believe.

3) Riverboat/ Dayboat - although I know somebody who lives in a marina in one it’s a triple decked 60ft thing. My dad had a 40ft princess and whilst comfortable for a week or 2 I’m not sure you could live on one. The 60ft one above is considerably out of the average persons budget.

Good luck to you. I imagine it’s a cracking way of life. If I can retire early I’m going for a nice 40ft yacht and off I go for 10 years until I’m too old to physically do it. It’s just a dream though. It’s an expensive way of life and whilst I will have my Military pension for I’m age about 45 onwards it’s going to be difficult to save the funds required.

Having said that sailing kittiwake are doing it on about £12-15k a year.

pequod

8,956 posts

137 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
quotequote all
MB140 said:
If I was going to live on a boat it would be in the following order.

1) Yacht somewhere hot living on the anchor. This is quite a dedicated way of life. Moving a lot for weather. Taking dingoes to shore to get everything. Limited space and amenities.

But if you can live with the compromise then what a way of life. I’ve been following a young couple on you tube Channel called Sailing Kittiwake. There doing it on a shoe string budget.

1B) As above buy in a marina somewhere warm. But be prepared for the cost of marina fees in nice areas with good access to the ocean. Better standard of life as you have all amenities. Possibly gyms etc at the better marinas.

2) Dutch Barge. I live overlooking the River Trent. I frequently see a lovely Black and Cream Dutch barge going up and down the river. The extra width would give so much more room over a narrow boat but does limit which parts of the cut you can use.

2B) Narrowboat. As above but longer but narrower. More of the cut is availible to you though.

Reference Narrowboat or Dutch barge. Would you be residential (ie fixed abode, or continually moving max 2 weeks in one place I believe) it makes a drastic difference to the costs I believe.

3) Riverboat/ Dayboat - although I know somebody who lives in a marina in one it’s a triple decked 60ft thing. My dad had a 40ft princess and whilst comfortable for a week or 2 I’m not sure you could live on one. The 60ft one above is considerably out of the average persons budget.

Good luck to you. I imagine it’s a cracking way of life. If I can retire early I’m going for a nice 40ft yacht and off I go for 10 years until I’m too old to physically do it. It’s just a dream though. It’s an expensive way of life and whilst I will have my Military pension for I’m age about 45 onwards it’s going to be difficult to save the funds required.

Having said that sailing kittiwake are doing it on about £12-15k a year.
Do it whilst you are fit and young enough not when you aren't but can (maybe) afford it in retirement. Best to have a trade to make it affordable and, frankly, more enjoyable as you will get more from the experience working in foreign countries to fund your lifestyle.

Don't get too hung up on what boat at 40' as there are many shorter yachts that are just as seaworthy and comfortable, and most of the time you will be anchored or alongside somewhere very pleasant ... if not, move your new home to somewhere that is!!

red_slr

17,122 posts

188 months

Monday 13th July 2020
quotequote all
OP would you consider a motorhome? Possibly cheaper to run and much easier to move from A to B and also keeping yourself mobile should the need arise might be better before you commit to perhaps a boat for longer term?


klunkT5

Original Poster:

589 posts

117 months

Wednesday 15th July 2020
quotequote all
I'm planning on getting a permanent mooring so i will feel at homeish! Cheers for the advice guy's, I'm still working on it.

pequod

8,956 posts

137 months

Wednesday 15th July 2020
quotequote all
Great. Looking forward to seeing what you settle on and where you are parking it!

All on a budget of £25k?

Manners79

168 posts

58 months

Friday 17th July 2020
quotequote all
Have a watch of this YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6SNxiLzSlh8e0yjn...

Chap moves onto a narrowboat and chronicles, in frankly OCD like detail, pretty much everything. It is bizarrely compelling in an odd way. In the early ones he talks about the buying process, finding a mooring etc. There are also really good bits on the costs, the pros and cons and what you get for your money at the initial purchase.

For the UK I'd pretty much rule out anything fibreglass as a permanent liveaboard. People can and do live on them of course but there is naff all heat retention and you'll spend a fortune on heating it (or have to buy a very very expensive one to get the necessary insulation).

Best compromise (cost, access, size, ease of maintenance, etc) usually points to a narrowboat but of course everyone's circumstances (and needs) are different. Big cost driver is whether you'll be a continuous cruiser or need a home mooring. Oh and a decent level of DIY competence can save you £thousands (and get you out of a tight spot). It is always dangerous to give figures etc but for a narrowboat I'd feel your budget is a bit tight, another £5k-£10k would make quite a difference (but isn't that always the case...). Certainly the principle of swapping a rented flat for an owned boat is sound - you will likely adapt well to the lack of space and actually a bit of de-cluttering is good for all of us now and then!

There are lots of youtube channels of people who live on boats in the UK ('boatubers' they call themselves!) but Cruising the Cut is my favourite - and he links to a lot of the others anyway. Time spent in research is never wasted and if research means watching youTube day dreaming about a nicer life with a glass of wine in hand it's not a bad way to do that research! Good luck and keep us informed as you make your decisions. Oh and about now is a good time of year to do it - get a few months on board learning the ropes (literally and figuratively) before the harsh reality of winter hits!


Edited by Manners79 on Friday 17th July 10:20

klunkT5

Original Poster:

589 posts

117 months

Wednesday 22nd July 2020
quotequote all
Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply, All points duly noted, I'll be back if it's a goer! Cheers.