Reply to: What's the appeal of living in a canal boat?

[badgerbarratt]

Hi all.

I have read this thread with interest, i run Boats and Canals Forum, i can asure you all this and more has been discussed on there.

[RichardCranium]

what do boaters do for transport away from the canal? Having a car doesn't really work.

Bicycles, mopeds (both can go on the roof of the boat or in the engine room) or park near the moorings.

Must admit the idea does appeal to me as a retirement plan.

You might change your mind when the arthritis or rheumatism start to kick in. I makes winter cruising less attractive. But plenty do.

Not sure how feasible that is, or how kosher.

There are very few restrictions on mooring. You can moor against the towpath almost anywhere. Yes, you should ask the landowner if you want to moor on the other, safer, less accessible, more secure, quieter, privately-owned side.

[doodab]

I know that some people keep boats (not just barges) in central-London, as a cheaper way to live in the very midst of it all. With the right kind of sea-going boat, you can move it around the country as needed... although "I can't get there for next week due to a bit of a blow in Dogger" might not go down to well.

I bought my keyboard off a guy who lived on one in Little Venice. I've never fancied it myself, although I wouldn't mind spending a bit of time touring the historic sites of the med on a sailing yacht one day.

[shaunbhoy]

i dont know. think about it.

you decide to change location, its half a day away on the boat. the missus jumps in the car

half an hour later she has arrived , organised a berth, got the shopping in, got the barby on and located all the nearest pubs

meanwhile, you pootle along at 3mph.

im starting to like the sound of this

Must admit the idea does appeal to me as a retirement plan. Pity Mrs SB is having none of it.
Mate of mine was telling me that in terms of mooring fees you simply liaise with some local farmer to "moor" adjacent to his land, and bung him a few quid. Not sure how feasible that is, or how kosher.
Quite like the idea of just pootling from one canalside pub to the next all year round. And I am sure that a well-insulated boat is just as warm as a draughty old house with less in the way of running costs.

[EternalOptimist]

And what do boaters do for transport away from the canal? Having a car doesn't really work.

i dont know. think about it.

you decide to change location, its half a day away on the boat. the missus jumps in the car

half an hour later she has arrived , organised a berth, got the shopping in, got the barby on and located all the nearest pubs

meanwhile, you pootle along at 3mph.

im starting to like the sound of this

[VectraMan]

In the winter, you moor up near a boatyard / long term moorings / permanent moorings so you can access the pumpout.

There's one about 100 yards from here, and there always seemed to be a load of boats semi-permanently moored. In North Oxford you'll see hundreds of narrow boats.

I imagine getting a place might be a bit of a challenge. You can't just turn up anywhere and expect to get a decent spot.

And what do boaters do for transport away from the canal? Having a car doesn't really work.

[gingerjedi]

A few years back a mate of mine landed a job in Solihull, not wanting to buy property or rent he bought a a small narrow boat for £20k and moored it outside a pub in a little village just outside the town.

He stayed on it for a year then got a job in London, he sold it for the same £20k he paid 12 months previous which made perfect sense to me.

[NickFitz]

It depends. Do we have a proper connected network of inland waterways?

There's a few gaps but you probably won't want to go there anyway.

[EternalOptimist]

It depends. Do we have a proper connected network of inland waterways?

Yeah, im pretty sure we do.

there was a load of money pumped in, from about 15 years ago iirc, its recently been scaled back, but (again iirc) the people in charge reckon they are self sustaining now.
rc will correct me if im wrong

[d000hg]

No, im pretty sure you could do it inland, on the rivers and canals

It depends. Do we have a proper connected network of inland waterways?

[RichardCranium]

like the idea, wonder how it ties in with contracting? maybe you could use it to get to interviews. Like 'oh I have an interview in four days, we had better set off this afternoon

That conversation, and similar, have occurred many times.

[EternalOptimist]

I know that some people keep boats (not just barges) in central-London, as a cheaper way to live in the very midst of it all. With the right kind of sea-going boat, you can move it around the country as needed... although "I can't get there for next week due to a bit of a blow in Dogger" might not go down to well.

No, im pretty sure you could do it inland, on the rivers and canals

[d000hg]

Sounds very liberating. I like the idea, wonder how it ties in with contracting? maybe you could use it to get to interviews. Like 'oh I have an interview in four days, we had better set off this afternoon

I know that some people keep boats (not just barges) in central-London, as a cheaper way to live in the very midst of it all. With the right kind of sea-going boat, you can move it around the country as needed... although "I can't get there for next week due to a bit of a blow in Dogger" might not go down to well.

[EternalOptimist]

The like-minded neighbours, the atmosphere, the potential to move, privacy, the pubs and small businesses that are glad to see you, the community.

Having a real coal/wood/any-old-tulip-that-burns-actually stove helps. As does good insulation and central heating. And liveaboards are warmer and dryer than rental boats.

(We owned a share in a 62' narrowboat for a few years. We did quite a lot of time on board in winter, sometimes for months at a time. I was talked out of buying a 70' narrowboat when I left school - that advice was wrong.)

Some councils charge council tax on moorings and the water rates are usually included in the permanent mooring fees and boat licence (indirectly).

In the winter, you moor up near a boatyard / long term moorings / permanent moorings so you can access the pumpout. More usually, you use the toilets in the pub / supermarket when out and about.

Getting gas, diesel, coal, water and pumpouts in the winter is really not a problem.

Sounds very liberating. I like the idea, wonder how it ties in with contracting? maybe you could use it to get to interviews. Like 'oh I have an interview in four days, we had better set off this afternoon

[Troll]

The Revenue / Authorities cannot track you down so easily?