Narrowboat: live aboard

[JumboBeef]

I did do a search but limited results...

Anyone here live in one full time? The idea appeals to me.

Yes I know about mooring fees (or keep moving), and the maintenance costs. The thing I'm really interested in is, you do enjoy it? Was it a good decision? I like the idea of taking my 'house' a few miles down the 'road' to a country pub and then bring it back again the next day

Thanks

[NeilB12]

Lots of articles and a forum about living on a boat here - https://livingonanarrowboat.co.uk/

You would need a residential mooring or you have to continuous cruise, you cannot just move back and forth between 2 points as the CRT are starting to crack down on this practice.

[Turn7]

Best mate lives on a wide body on the Thames. Only him, the other half and two dogs, so it suits them perfectly.
Has a certain charm and the community seem pretty good people.

Id miss not having a garden too much though.

[Simpo Two]

Hire one for a week and see if you like it. Even then, remember that a holiday is not the same as 365 days a year. I love boats and have my own, but wouldn't want to live on one.

[alfie2244]

Simpo Two said:

Hire one for a week and see if you like it. Even then, remember that a holiday is not the same as 365 days a year. I love boats and have my own, but wouldn't want to live on one.

This ^^^^^

The odd week and weekends are fine but I don't think we would live on our boat full time but I know plenty that do and enjoy it..........some do have their own little bit of garden / decking and shed for storage.

[baldy1926]

A lot of it will depend where you want live as well.
If you want to be in London the amount of boats has increased 10 fold its getting hard to find moorings now if you are continuous cruising. Around Kings Cross and Paddington triple mooring is not un common.
Some of the permanent moorings are getting a bit pricey as well.
Some of dutch style barges are nice as are the big wide beems but you need to check the height width etc for the locks and low bridges.

[Chrisgr31]

The station master from our station sold up and went to live on a narrowboat at least 20 years ago. I came across him on Twitter recently, and he has travelled around the country although is fixed now. He did say he is thinking about giving it up, no idea of his domestic arrangements though

[paintman]

Simpo Two said:

Hire one for a week in winter and see if you like it. Even then, remember that a holiday is not the same as 365 days a year. I love boats and have my own, but wouldn't want to live on one.

Preferably during a period when there's snow & ice all over the marina or towpath.

[Turn7]

Having visited my mate many times over the years, I would suggest winter is the easiest - nice log burner keeps the boat easily wanr dry and comfy.

Roasting hot summer nights - not quite so easy to sleep with a window open, and as they both work, the place heats up big time during the day.

[JumboBeef]

Thanks.

Yes I will look to rent one mid winter for a week and see where we go from there.

Anyone got a boat in the SW? I'd love to swing by and say hello and ask some more questions.

[Simpo Two]

JumboBeef said:

Yes I will look to rent one mid winter for a week and see where we go from there.

Some boatyards close down for winter - but if you find one that's hiring, winter is about half the price of summer.

[bloomen]

A friend lived on one for seven years in the Midlands. It nearly broke him. I think it was the constant upkeep of the little stuff - fuel, toilet emptying, heating, water, maintenance. It didn't take much for smooth running to grind to a halt. He was constantly cruising so I suppose it would be more civilised at a proper marina type thing.

[Ms R.Saucy]

bloomen said:

A friend lived on one for seven years in the Midlands. It nearly broke him. I think it was the constant upkeep of the little stuff - fuel, toilet emptying, heating, water, maintenance. It didn't take much for smooth running to grind to a halt. He was constantly cruising so I suppose it would be more civilised at a proper marina type thing.

if you have a mooring you can have mains electricity and water , landline and so on ... and depending on the moorings you can minimise the need for pumpouts etc by using toilet / shower / laundry ashore

[Wozy68]

My bro absolutely loves it. The knack is to have a permanent mooring and it somewhere near or even better within a town or city.

My brothers is in Worcester within a marina/basin and within a five minute walk of the city centre, and a lot of the boats have owners that live on them 24/7.. in a very socialable environment. When he fancies trip on the canals he just sets off for a few days. I'm dead jealous of him.

Buy one and moor it in either dumpsville or middle of nowhere and I'd say then it could be pretty awful though.