Living on a boat?!
Discussion
Was having a conversation this afternoon with someone and the topic turned onto living on a boat (don't ask!!).
Anyway - does anyone here live on a boat? What's it like? Is it more/less expensive than a house (in terms of maintenance)? What sort of maintenance is required? etc Any other info??
Just pure curiosity!
Cheers
The Moose
Anyway - does anyone here live on a boat? What's it like? Is it more/less expensive than a house (in terms of maintenance)? What sort of maintenance is required? etc Any other info??
Just pure curiosity!
Cheers
The Moose
Cost depends on whether you do it legally or not. A residential mooring costs a lot, and is subject to band A council tax. If you join one of the slightly pikey groups that set up their own moorings, or claim to move the boat all the time whilst myteriously never shifting it it costs a lot less.
I know a few people who have lived/still live on narrowboats.
One friend is a continuous cruiser except for the real depths of winter. They must do between 500-1000 miles a year on various waterways. Not sure on the exact costs, but they do run a narrowboat and butty together so they have plenty of space for storage and have a separate area on the butty for shower/washing machine/lathe etc
Another family friend used to moor in a marina near Coventry and the costs were fairly decent. A good mooring is pretty costly though, but her marina had electric points and all the mod cons required. The other costs to factor in would be things like your licence, insurance, maintainence etc.
A fantastic way of life though and really enjoyable. I used to do a few weeks each summer cruising round the Midlands and South East. You can also get a very high spec second-hand boat nowadays with everything you'd get in a small flat (except maybe the space!)
One friend is a continuous cruiser except for the real depths of winter. They must do between 500-1000 miles a year on various waterways. Not sure on the exact costs, but they do run a narrowboat and butty together so they have plenty of space for storage and have a separate area on the butty for shower/washing machine/lathe etc
Another family friend used to moor in a marina near Coventry and the costs were fairly decent. A good mooring is pretty costly though, but her marina had electric points and all the mod cons required. The other costs to factor in would be things like your licence, insurance, maintainence etc.
A fantastic way of life though and really enjoyable. I used to do a few weeks each summer cruising round the Midlands and South East. You can also get a very high spec second-hand boat nowadays with everything you'd get in a small flat (except maybe the space!)
A friend of mine lives on a narrowboat on a residential mooring. He pays for mooring fees, plus there's the canal equivalent of road tax which is several hundred quid.
I've stayed there and there is a great small community spirit among the boat dwellers, and it helps if you like a drink. Each mooring has a bit of land with it, although no permanent buildings are allowed there are some very nice sheds! It gets quite grim in the winter, though the boat has diesel heating and log burners.
I've stayed there and there is a great small community spirit among the boat dwellers, and it helps if you like a drink. Each mooring has a bit of land with it, although no permanent buildings are allowed there are some very nice sheds! It gets quite grim in the winter, though the boat has diesel heating and log burners.
My grandparents have a 49ft narrow boat, and there is plenty of room on there to live on for 1 or 2 people permanently - It held 6 of us at one point for a week without any discomfort. A good boat will have all the mod cons of a house.
Fantastically peaceful and comfortable way of life, people are always willing to help you out and there is nothing quite like having a relaxing beer on a summers evening on a boat.
Fantastically peaceful and comfortable way of life, people are always willing to help you out and there is nothing quite like having a relaxing beer on a summers evening on a boat.
Kit80 said:
I really want a boat. 
And a plane.
And a tank, right? And a plane. My daughter tells me that there are loads of aquatic gypos in Lincoln and they murder joggers and bury them along the canal bank.
I may have embellished the story slightly. But she definitely said there were lots of random graves along by their boats
v15ben said:
I know a few people who have lived/still live on narrowboats.
One friend is a continuous cruiser except for the real depths of winter. They must do between 500-1000 miles a year on various waterways. Not sure on the exact costs, but they do run a narrowboat and butty together so they have plenty of space for storage and have a separate area on the butty for shower/washing machine/lathe etc
Another family friend used to moor in a marina near Coventry and the costs were fairly decent. A good mooring is pretty costly though, but her marina had electric points and all the mod cons required. The other costs to factor in would be things like your licence, insurance, maintainence etc.
A fantastic way of life though and really enjoyable. I used to do a few weeks each summer cruising round the Midlands and South East. You can also get a very high spec second-hand boat nowadays with everything you'd get in a small flat (except maybe the space!)
Erm, what is a "butty"?One friend is a continuous cruiser except for the real depths of winter. They must do between 500-1000 miles a year on various waterways. Not sure on the exact costs, but they do run a narrowboat and butty together so they have plenty of space for storage and have a separate area on the butty for shower/washing machine/lathe etc
Another family friend used to moor in a marina near Coventry and the costs were fairly decent. A good mooring is pretty costly though, but her marina had electric points and all the mod cons required. The other costs to factor in would be things like your licence, insurance, maintainence etc.
A fantastic way of life though and really enjoyable. I used to do a few weeks each summer cruising round the Midlands and South East. You can also get a very high spec second-hand boat nowadays with everything you'd get in a small flat (except maybe the space!)
working class said:
v15ben said:
I know a few people who have lived/still live on narrowboats.
One friend is a continuous cruiser except for the real depths of winter. They must do between 500-1000 miles a year on various waterways. Not sure on the exact costs, but they do run a narrowboat and butty together so they have plenty of space for storage and have a separate area on the butty for shower/washing machine/lathe etc
Another family friend used to moor in a marina near Coventry and the costs were fairly decent. A good mooring is pretty costly though, but her marina had electric points and all the mod cons required. The other costs to factor in would be things like your licence, insurance, maintainence etc.
A fantastic way of life though and really enjoyable. I used to do a few weeks each summer cruising round the Midlands and South East. You can also get a very high spec second-hand boat nowadays with everything you'd get in a small flat (except maybe the space!)
Erm, what is a "butty"?One friend is a continuous cruiser except for the real depths of winter. They must do between 500-1000 miles a year on various waterways. Not sure on the exact costs, but they do run a narrowboat and butty together so they have plenty of space for storage and have a separate area on the butty for shower/washing machine/lathe etc
Another family friend used to moor in a marina near Coventry and the costs were fairly decent. A good mooring is pretty costly though, but her marina had electric points and all the mod cons required. The other costs to factor in would be things like your licence, insurance, maintainence etc.
A fantastic way of life though and really enjoyable. I used to do a few weeks each summer cruising round the Midlands and South East. You can also get a very high spec second-hand boat nowadays with everything you'd get in a small flat (except maybe the space!)
V8mate said:
working class said:
v15ben said:
I know a few people who have lived/still live on narrowboats.
One friend is a continuous cruiser except for the real depths of winter. They must do between 500-1000 miles a year on various waterways. Not sure on the exact costs, but they do run a narrowboat and butty together so they have plenty of space for storage and have a separate area on the butty for shower/washing machine/lathe etc
Another family friend used to moor in a marina near Coventry and the costs were fairly decent. A good mooring is pretty costly though, but her marina had electric points and all the mod cons required. The other costs to factor in would be things like your licence, insurance, maintainence etc.
A fantastic way of life though and really enjoyable. I used to do a few weeks each summer cruising round the Midlands and South East. You can also get a very high spec second-hand boat nowadays with everything you'd get in a small flat (except maybe the space!)
Erm, what is a "butty"?One friend is a continuous cruiser except for the real depths of winter. They must do between 500-1000 miles a year on various waterways. Not sure on the exact costs, but they do run a narrowboat and butty together so they have plenty of space for storage and have a separate area on the butty for shower/washing machine/lathe etc
Another family friend used to moor in a marina near Coventry and the costs were fairly decent. A good mooring is pretty costly though, but her marina had electric points and all the mod cons required. The other costs to factor in would be things like your licence, insurance, maintainence etc.
A fantastic way of life though and really enjoyable. I used to do a few weeks each summer cruising round the Midlands and South East. You can also get a very high spec second-hand boat nowadays with everything you'd get in a small flat (except maybe the space!)
working class said:
v15ben said:
I know a few people who have lived/still live on narrowboats.
One friend is a continuous cruiser except for the real depths of winter. They must do between 500-1000 miles a year on various waterways. Not sure on the exact costs, but they do run a narrowboat and butty together so they have plenty of space for storage and have a separate area on the butty for shower/washing machine/lathe etc
Another family friend used to moor in a marina near Coventry and the costs were fairly decent. A good mooring is pretty costly though, but her marina had electric points and all the mod cons required. The other costs to factor in would be things like your licence, insurance, maintainence etc.
A fantastic way of life though and really enjoyable. I used to do a few weeks each summer cruising round the Midlands and South East. You can also get a very high spec second-hand boat nowadays with everything you'd get in a small flat (except maybe the space!)
Erm, what is a "butty"?One friend is a continuous cruiser except for the real depths of winter. They must do between 500-1000 miles a year on various waterways. Not sure on the exact costs, but they do run a narrowboat and butty together so they have plenty of space for storage and have a separate area on the butty for shower/washing machine/lathe etc
Another family friend used to moor in a marina near Coventry and the costs were fairly decent. A good mooring is pretty costly though, but her marina had electric points and all the mod cons required. The other costs to factor in would be things like your licence, insurance, maintainence etc.
A fantastic way of life though and really enjoyable. I used to do a few weeks each summer cruising round the Midlands and South East. You can also get a very high spec second-hand boat nowadays with everything you'd get in a small flat (except maybe the space!)
Call yourself working class.
You can make living out of this.
Chap I used to know in the 1970’s had it sorted. He had a little land beside the house.
He bought a kit yacht for home construction and built it beside the house. This gave him a new yacht that owed him a lot less than the list price for a finished yacht.
He then rented out the house for 6 months and sailed around to the Greek Islands. Greece wasn’t in the EU back then and had a 100% import duty on yachts.
He would cruse the Greek Islands for 6 months, he and his wife could live for about £1 per day each, eating at the same taverna’s the locals used and staying away from tourist areas.
He found someone who wanted to buy the yacht. He had a local official ‘on the take’ who would come up with papers to show the boat was Greek. This avoided paying the 100% import duty. He could sell it substantially under the price a Greek would have had to pay for it legitimately. So, he sold them for about 150% cash of list price when it stood him in less than list.
So he came home with a big bag of cash and moved back into his own home. Then he bought a bigger yacht kit and did it all again. For years he lived half the time in the Med and half the time building a yacht at home.
Then Greece spoiled it by joining the EU, but he made a killing while it lasted and had a great life. I dare say you could find somewhere else to run boats to.
Edited by Uncle Fester on Monday 3rd May 22:11
eharding said:
V8mate said:
working class said:
v15ben said:
I know a few people who have lived/still live on narrowboats.
One friend is a continuous cruiser except for the real depths of winter. They must do between 500-1000 miles a year on various waterways. Not sure on the exact costs, but they do run a narrowboat and butty together so they have plenty of space for storage and have a separate area on the butty for shower/washing machine/lathe etc
Another family friend used to moor in a marina near Coventry and the costs were fairly decent. A good mooring is pretty costly though, but her marina had electric points and all the mod cons required. The other costs to factor in would be things like your licence, insurance, maintainence etc.
A fantastic way of life though and really enjoyable. I used to do a few weeks each summer cruising round the Midlands and South East. You can also get a very high spec second-hand boat nowadays with everything you'd get in a small flat (except maybe the space!)
Erm, what is a "butty"?One friend is a continuous cruiser except for the real depths of winter. They must do between 500-1000 miles a year on various waterways. Not sure on the exact costs, but they do run a narrowboat and butty together so they have plenty of space for storage and have a separate area on the butty for shower/washing machine/lathe etc
Another family friend used to moor in a marina near Coventry and the costs were fairly decent. A good mooring is pretty costly though, but her marina had electric points and all the mod cons required. The other costs to factor in would be things like your licence, insurance, maintainence etc.
A fantastic way of life though and really enjoyable. I used to do a few weeks each summer cruising round the Midlands and South East. You can also get a very high spec second-hand boat nowadays with everything you'd get in a small flat (except maybe the space!)
Somebody asked this on another thread a couple of days ago, so, similar reply;
I lived on my yacht for six months, coming up to four years ago.
Moved out of my apartment, put a load of junk in storage, and moved on to the yacht with summer clothes, oilies, and a huge stack of books.
I lived in a marina for a few weeks, and then headed out to the Med for the season.
There were quite a few live-aboards in the marina, quite a community spirit going on, everybody knew everybody sort of thing.
In fact, a chap I know bought an old yacht (complete with leaks) in around October and was settling in for the winter. Very brave. No heating, just a twin stove and small oven. Saw it out though, no worries.
In a good marina, you'll get a decent shower block so you can get a hot shower (I'll mention East Cowes marina just once here....), there's normally a couple of shops around, and definitely a pub or two.
Living canal-side is quite a bit different to a yachtie marina. A lot more rules and regs for yourself and the boat, and a different thing entirely in terms of what goes on.
We met quite a few Brits in Barcelona who live aboard for the whole summer, work out there, etc. but the rest of Spain was mostly holidaymakers. France tends to be mostly tourists too.
If you go to almost any marina you'll see at least a few live-aboards there, you can normally spot them as they have pot plants on the pathway and bicycles strapped to the coachroof!
What sort of boat were you thinking? Inland waterways or coastal?
I lived on my yacht for six months, coming up to four years ago.
Moved out of my apartment, put a load of junk in storage, and moved on to the yacht with summer clothes, oilies, and a huge stack of books.
I lived in a marina for a few weeks, and then headed out to the Med for the season.
There were quite a few live-aboards in the marina, quite a community spirit going on, everybody knew everybody sort of thing.
In fact, a chap I know bought an old yacht (complete with leaks) in around October and was settling in for the winter. Very brave. No heating, just a twin stove and small oven. Saw it out though, no worries.
In a good marina, you'll get a decent shower block so you can get a hot shower (I'll mention East Cowes marina just once here....), there's normally a couple of shops around, and definitely a pub or two.
Living canal-side is quite a bit different to a yachtie marina. A lot more rules and regs for yourself and the boat, and a different thing entirely in terms of what goes on.
We met quite a few Brits in Barcelona who live aboard for the whole summer, work out there, etc. but the rest of Spain was mostly holidaymakers. France tends to be mostly tourists too.
If you go to almost any marina you'll see at least a few live-aboards there, you can normally spot them as they have pot plants on the pathway and bicycles strapped to the coachroof!
What sort of boat were you thinking? Inland waterways or coastal?
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