Change of plan.... Residential mooring and widebeam?

[wiltshirewonderer]

Hi

 

Me and the missus have had a bit of a funny year (Or two) and we were planning on buggering off into the sunset on a NB. Still tempted . However, we have realised that maybe if I wasn't combining my job (Long hours just outside the city) with commute (Long again, 3 hours a day currently, sometimes 4. Realised that we can add and extra hour if we were to buy a shoe box without the comedy London mark up) and were back living in something mobile (When we met in she had an ambulance and I had a caravan, my job wasn't in the city and she picked apples) we wouldn't feel the need to run away.

 

That being said, I'm lucky enough to work for a firm where I'm getting a good/silly wage (In my eyes) and they are going to try to start making things better once they discovered I was going to walk out.

 

We are now wondering whether we go for a WB and deal with an expensive residential mooring (Brentford where I work. Idea of walking to work makes me smile, time for DIY!!!) on the basis that I am lucky enough that we can still save a decent amount until the day arrives that we do a runner or that they fire me .

 

Based on the fact that even if we did a runner on the above plan, would a WB give us that many pains & sorrows? We thought we may as well discover the South first anyway? We have talked to a few people that bought 57ft boats at what we thought was a premium but then never got off the K&A.

 

On the flip side, how the hell do we buy a boat without the London premium even if we can sort a Brentford mooring, I don't want to be working for two years just to pay the premium off!?

 

Anyway, rant/q's over. Anybody have any thoughts?

 

[The Bagdad Boatman (waits)]

anywhere south of Watford Gap you can sail a wideboat into Brentford. if you have a mooring you can get a boat mortgage. Cheap and nasty sell and expensive and smart sell it is the ones in the middle that struggle. With a boat of 60ft x13.6 you could do all the south and be lifted out to do the north.

[Lady Muck]

Brentford moorings aren't transferable so I guess you would have to try and win one at auction. It does mean that there would't be a premium, though. not all London moorings attract premiums, ours didn't - it's mostly the few in town that do. Yes you could get a marine mortgage. The advantage of a widebeam at Brentford would be all that lovely Thames cruising in easy reach.

Edited May 6, 2013 by Lady Muck

[Dekazer]

You might get a resi mooring at Willow Wren atm. Not ideal but it'll get you afloat until one comes up at Brentford. Some lovely friends of ours moor there so I know you'd get a friendly welcome! It's a short and easy bike ride down the towpath to Brentford

[Wanted]

Funny enough, there is just about to be a widebeam birth free in Brentford, also a mahoosive widebeam is coming up for sale. The moorings don't come up often so if you're keen I can give you the heads up when it becomes available.

[blackrose]

With a boat of 60ft x13.6 you could do all the south and be lifted out to do the north.

I don't think your recommendation of 13ft 6in beam is a wise one. Other boaters think that moving my 12ft beam boat must be tricky. It's ok, but I wouldn't want to go any wider.

Edited May 8, 2013 by blackrose

[Grace and Favour]

Funny enough, there is just about to be a widebeam birth free in Brentford, also a mahoosive widebeam is coming up for sale. The moorings don't come up often so if you're keen I can give you the heads up when it becomes available.

And I always thought they were built - - not born!

[DeanS]

A 10ft widebeam allows you to fit a full size bed across the boat, and enough space for a passage.

A 12ft widebeam allows you to fit a full size bed across the boat, and enough space for a thin clothes cupboard, and a passage.

 

[Wanted]

And I always thought they were built - - not born!

Oh, so these little pink fenders I knitted won't be needed then

[Grace and Favour]

Oh, so these little pink fenders I knitted won't be needed then

Well - if they're for a little girl - - would they be gender fenders?

 

A 10ft widebeam allows you to fit a full size bed across the boat, and enough space for a passage.

A 12ft widebeam allows you to fit a full size bed across the boat, and enough space for a thin clothes cupboard, and a passage.

 

Our 12' accomodates a super king-size bed,and a passage round three sides

[wiltshirewonderer]

Brentford moorings aren't transferable so I guess you would have to try and win one at auction. It does mean that there would't be a premium, though. not all London moorings attract premiums, ours didn't - it's mostly the few in town that do. Yes you could get a marine mortgage. The advantage of a widebeam at Brentford would be all that lovely Thames cruising in easy reach.

 

Yep. For some reason people on these around London seem to price in a premium on the boat like it is a given....

 

A private firm has a number of spots around Brentford that I have made contact with. Not cheap and also mostly "Pied-a-terre" rather than residential. Even if the "Pied-a-terre" allows unlimited stopovers I'm guessing I will have issues? (e.g. no mailbox so can't sign up with local doctors, at risk of being forced to move on from complaints coming from nearby flats etc.)

 

The Thames cruising does appeal!

 

You might get a resi mooring at Willow Wren atm. Not ideal but it'll get you afloat until one comes up at Brentford. Some lovely friends of ours moor there so I know you'd get a friendly welcome! It's a short and easy bike ride down the towpath to Brentford

 

That distance is more than fine to me. (Short) Bike ride distance is more than acceptable. Spending time on public transport is what I am hoping to avoid. Willow Wren Wharf is CRT isn't it? Remember seeing them on the site at Christmas (This has been brewing for a while....)

 

A 10ft widebeam allows you to fit a full size bed across the boat, and enough space for a passage.

A 12ft widebeam allows you to fit a full size bed across the boat, and enough space for a thin clothes cupboard, and a passage.

 

 

 

Our 12' accomodates a super king-size bed,and a passage round three sides

 

The extra couple of feed does indeed seem to make all the difference. So what is the benefit of a 10ft wide one? Guessing slightly easier to maneuver? I haven't managed to get my head round why this seems to be the most popular (At least when looking at those for sale).

 

Funny enough, there is just about to be a widebeam birth free in Brentford, also a mahoosive widebeam is coming up for sale. The moorings don't come up often so if you're keen I can give you the heads up when it becomes available.

 

Any help with this would be appreciated! Will be getting clarity on a few things from work over the next few weeks. Once I have that I will be in a position to move quickly.

Edited May 9, 2013 by wiltshirewonderer