Living on the waterways - Where did this idea come from?

[maser_spyder]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14690157

BBC said:

Shapps urges councils to increase houseboat moorings

The government is offering councils financial incentives to allow more moorings for houseboats on waterways.

Housing Minister Grant Shapps says new moorings could be eligible for the New Homes Bonus, which sees the government match council tax from new-build homes.

He says houseboats could allow people to live in areas that otherwise might be out of their financial reach.

"Landlords, councils and communities all have a clear incentive to get more mooring sites in their areas," he said.

"Around 15,000 people live on our waterways and many more would like to do so. The government's commitment to localism could be an opportunity for living on boats to be given a new lease of life."

Mr Shapps said creating more residential long-term moorings could also reduce the number of boats overstaying on the towpaths of canals and waterways.

Sally Ash of British Waterways said the organisation hoped Mr Shapps's call for more moorings would "alleviate localised congestion along the towpaths".

"We are also pleased to note the reassurance from Mr Shapps' department that people can qualify for housing benefit for help with mooring fees," she said.

I've lived on a boat for about six months, it was wonderful, a sense of freedom, pleasant surroundings, perfect.

However, this was in the summer. And in the Med.

A winter anything like the last two on board a canal boat in Birmingham would surely have to be a miserable experience....

[Simpo Two]

I guess we are running out of land...

As far as inland waterways go there are quite enough narrowboats already, taking up imited mooring space. The live-aboards are often scruffy and messy, not much better than a traveller's site with rubbish everywhere. But I do believe they have to pay council tax now.

[Rower]

A friend of mine lives on a Dutch Barge moored on the Thames near Kingston , great all the year round !

[GWC]

I was in Limehouse, London on Wednesday and there was a planning notice on a lamppost relating to turning a quarter of the berths in the basin to residential boat use.

[Happy82]

maser_spyder said:

A winter anything like the last two on board a canal boat in Birmingham would surely have to be a miserable experience....

A work colleague gave up living on a narrow boat in Birmingham after the last winter, even with the woodburner going they were freezing to death and they were sick of trying to clear out the cassette by trundling over the snow, trying to stop pipes from freezing, were trapped by ice

[SNAFU]

Maybe it's 'Daves' bright idea to lock in the floating voter.

Already putting coat on and going thro' door!

[sawman]

I quite liked the idea of living on a boat when I got a job in Norwich, after university, but never got round to it

[hidetheelephants]

Happy82 said:

A work colleague gave up living on a narrow boat in Birmingham after the last winter, even with the woodburner going they were freezing to death

Their boat is badly/not insulated; I like the saying 'there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing', enough insulation would allow you to use your narrowboat to live in the Artic Circle

Happy82 said:

and they were sick of trying to clear out the cassette by trundling over the snow,

A necessary compromise as a result of living on a boat

Happy82 said:

trying to stop pipes from freezing,

Insulation again

Happy82 said:

were trapped by ice

I'm making an assumption, but residential houseboats tend not to move around very much?

I think I'd like to try living aboard at some point, it might encourage me to stop buying stuff I don't need.

[DamienB]

Happy82 said:

A work colleague gave up living on a narrow boat in Birmingham after the last winter, even with the woodburner going they were freezing to death and they were sick of trying to clear out the cassette by trundling over the snow

I could solve that problem. Simply drill a large hole in the bottom of the boat, mount a toilet seat over it and hey presto, a natural and self-cleaning lavatory. Admittedly there may be a detail or two I have not considered.

[Oily Nails]

DamienB said:

I could solve that problem. Simply drill a large hole in the bottom of the boat, mount a toilet seat over it and hey presto, a natural and self-cleaning lavatory. Admittedly there may be a detail or two I have not considered.

Aye you've over looked the possibility of otter nose to twitching rabbit nose occurances

[hidetheelephants]

DamienB said:

Happy82 said:

A work colleague gave up living on a narrow boat in Birmingham after the last winter, even with the woodburner going they were freezing to death and they were sick of trying to clear out the cassette by trundling over the snow

I could solve that problem. Simply drill a large hole in the bottom of the boat, mount a toilet seat over it and hey presto, a natural and self-cleaning lavatory. Admittedly there may be a detail or two I have not considered.

That's more of a bidet you have devised than a toilet.

[Simpo Two]

DamienB said:

Simply drill a large hole in the bottom of the boat, mount a toilet seat over it and hey presto, a natural and self-cleaning lavatory. Admittedly there may be a detail or two I have not considered.

You'd need to add a cylinder to get the hole above the waterline, but it's basically a sound idea. However the only part of the inland waterways that allows 'sea toilets' is the Fenland Waterways which is administered by the Environment Agency. They are barely competent of course but they do at least allow you to dump in the river

As for heating, live-aboards would normally have gas air/water heaters (Propex, Truma etc) and the small space means they heat up very rapidly. When cooking you'll probably need the doors open!