Do you permanently live on a narrow boat .......?

Question

Thinking of going in this direction myself and would like any input for you on costs, mooring fees etc. ... many thanks

Answer 1

Try the web site of the Residential Boat Owners Association - they have also published a small book just for RBO's.

Residential moorings are a bit in short supply although some Marinas will turn a blind eye to you being on board more than the allotted number of weeks providing you aren't a nuisance.

Also check out British Waterways who have some permanent moorings and point you in the direction of farmers who let out the bottoms of fields adjacent to the canal for moorings.

I have a small 30' boat in a Marina on the Trent & Mersey and I reckon that my annual running costs are around £1,750 p.a. which includes British Waterways Licence, Mooring, Insurance, engine servicing and fuel.

Remember that everything is "by the foot" all your costs increase according to footage so the smaller a boat on which you can manage, the smaller your annual costs will be.

I could cope living alone on my 30'; I couldn't live permanently with husband on that - we would need some more personal (get away from each other) room!

Another good person to talk to is "Happy Murcia" who is second on the Leaderboard - he is open to receiving e-mails if he hasn't picked you up here.  He has been a live-aboard.

Answer 2

Hi there,

I live on a 50ft narrowboat and have a continuous cruising license.

I cannot recommend the lifestyle enough.  It allows you to slow down, be more in tune with nature and yourself and is ultimately a very rewarding experience.

I will warn you though - it is a very steep learning curve in the first 6 months, and your always learning after that (i've been on mine just over a year).

What you've really got to ask yourself is why do you want to live aboad?  If it's to save money, then thats not a good reason although it is very possible to do so.

If you want to appreciate the country more, meet relaxed, friendly and helpful people, then that's a good reason.

Above all, its a lot of fun.

IM/mail me and i'll answer any more specific questions if i can about moorings/boat types etc.

Answer 3

Yes!  Most narrowboat owners do.  

Many people live on their narrowboats in the UK canal system, and most people (as in the case with most all live a-boards everywhere) do it because they love the life-style. It is not "cheap" in either the UK or the US.  In my case, my vessel is paid for... and thus, I could not possibly live "on land" as cheaply as I do on the water... but I do it simply because I love it so... and my fellow live a-board boaters... So, if you do it as a choice of "life-style" rather than for economic reasons... you will have the time of your life!

Living on a canal boat is a very pleasant existence when you conjure up images of brightly painted cosy craft tied up in alongside sunny country fields or in handy, friendly, economic city marinas.  And you are able to move on whenever the mood takes you.  However the reality of being a 'liveaboard' (no matter where - USA, UK, etc.) is not quite so straightforward.   In the UK especially, there are a multitude of rules and regulations that you have to be aware of and a range of things to consider that you would not have to bother about if you were 'ashore'.

Above all, for the last several years there is a huge shortage of residential moorings - and of course, when things are in high demand and have short supply, the costs go up...

Now, I live a-board my vessel and cruise around the Great Loop in the US, and about every other year I have a "summer (boat) exchange" with a "life-long friend" of mine who does the same in the UK... What a wonderful experience we both always have... I just love those narrowboats... wish they were more practical for long voyaging in the US..  

If you want you can visit my website at: >  www.boatwrights.org <

But... be sure to visit the link below...

It has wonderful information on living and cruising in the UK,  this is one of the most informative and helpful links I have ever come across: It has good links to people that are doing it now... as well as links to best sites, rules, regulations, and of course - you can link to sites that have good and current costs, and fees... Apparently now, a lot of narrowboats are just cruising... and mooring where and when ever they find a good spot...

Be sure to check out this link...

> www.canaljunction.com/boat/liveaboard1.h...  <

Happy & Safe Boating!

Answer 4

Well, the others say its great so let me add in a few words of caution

1) BW are clamping down on "continous cruisers" who are actually not continuously crusing. they are aslo thinking of upping the daily mileage to make it impossible to "pretend" you are CC, and increasing the licence for CCers as in theory they use the network more.

2) councils are clamping down on boats at permanent moorings that do not have residential status. We live canalside with a narrow boat end-of-garden. And I've see letters issues to the boat residence from the council this week to tell them to either (A) apply for planning consent ( which the council have told the villlage will be rejected ) or (B)move.

So, if you can live the with idea of suddenly beng homeless, its a good life and cheaper than living in a house.

But, without an official residential mooring ( of which there are virtually NONE - EG last yaer BW had ONE ( yes, ONLY ONE )  residential mooring - in LEEDS, and even they said "you wouldn't want to live there really" ) I think you need to be very careful, things will only tighten up over the planning laws.

as for costs, you need to include

depreciation - £2-10K per year ( depend on age/condition etc )( people alwasy neglect to include this in thier annual costs - its a real cost, you should take it into account )( despite the housing market, narrowboats will fall much faster than any house/flat you buy )

licence fee £500

insurance - £150

mooring - £1,000 - £3,000

maint - £250

fuel etc

Answer 5

I don't but maybe this page will help.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=l...