Leaderboard

Hi Prue Wide beams are more stable than narrowboats, and you would most likely get used to the minimal amount of motion involved pretty quickly. But rent a boat beforehand to see. (Rent a wide beam. You can even do this on the highly discussed K&A Canal, much of which is insanely beautiful and remote.) I think you are discovering from this thread that there are MANY MANY different ways to live on a boat. And there are many different types of boats out there -- each with their own peculiar living and navigating characteristics. I say this fairly often, but here it is again: Live on a boat only if you really want to live on a BOAT. Really, the beauty of them is that they are designed to move (they have an engine and pointy end). The other fantastic thing is the live aboard community. As demonstrated here, mostly an independent and opinionated and highly self-sufficient bunch from almost every walk of society. Partly, I think, because that's what it takes to live aboard a small floating off-grid space where the collection of medium sized consumer goods usually takes a back seat to quality and experience of life. Many people new to boats are bowled over by the fact that a good second-hand boat can cost one-tenth the price of a second-hand flat. As a result it seems emminently affordable and very enticing. If you view a boat as an inexpensive flat, though, you'll soon discover that it isn't a flat in any ordinary sense. And no matter how luxurious the builder/fitter makes it, there will almost always be an extra amount of predominantly physical work involved (compared to living on land) of servicing the boat and supporting the live aboard lifestyle. Such as some of the stuff others have mentioned here regarding the replenishing water and power, removing rubbish, servicing the engine, ensuring your various on-board systems keep running across the seasons (water, heating, electrics, batteries, pump-outs, etc), preventing your investment from rusting away beneath you, and so on. All this, of course, IMHO.

The short answer is: nowhere. Not along the public towpath, anyway; they can control and condition their own off-side moorings on any terms they please, as can any private riparian owner. It is sensible to think things through very carefully though, as to the ramifications of insisting on a particular position. One historical reason for there being no rights to charge for mooring to the towpath is most likely to be because there was never any right for anybody to moor to it in the first place. Given that the towpath was provided as a means of towing boats, any moored boat would prove an obstruction to such use – and both ancient and modern legislation provides remedies for dealing with that. Only the 1995 Act provides specific rights of mooring for up to 14 days at a time for boaters applying under s.17(3)( c )(ii) only – if one was to get very pedantic and legalistic about it. Again, looking at legislation in the strictest terms, CaRT do not even have to enable ANY narrowboat to have sufficient water depth to reach the bank in the first place – in any legislation ancient or modern – especially since the Transport Act 1968. They need only dredge a channel sufficient to allow such boats passage from one destination to another, along the centre of the waterway [on my understanding of ‘main navigable channel’ anyway]. Come to that, no legislation I know of has ever abolished provisions in original enabling Acts that banned private pleasure boats from using the canal towpath AT ALL, even for towing. So should CaRT decide to cut the Gordion knot of control of towpath mooring, they would be entitled to tow away any pleasure boat [other than a CC’er, and perhaps even then] using the towpath anywhere along, for example, the Grand Union Canal. It would be foolish, probably impractical, and certainly counter-productive, but I simply point out a purely legal position. In fact, any pleasure boat using the GUC [that part at least, that constituted the original Grand Junction Canal] is moored to the towpath unlawfully, hence subject to s.8! Even the 14 days mooring is only valid where otherwise lawful. Something to think about.

We have seen a fair few come and go. The saddest was a couple on a brand new huge widebeam, designed for them by a family member who was a designer (with zero experience of boats). Husband went out to work every day. Wife did not work but went out somewhere, anywhere, everyday because she hated been on the boat. Actually I only assume they have gone, maybe they are in a marina and never come out? Maybe they are cruising in France? When we go to a pub we often meet other boaters (like lurchers we instantly recognise our own breed). We spend the evening talking about boats and canals, not much else. Are you going to fit in with this community? Go and hire a narrowboat, learn to drive it (its not "mens work"). You might be hooked and if you are then buy a boat and live on it. ............Dave

Is he bragging.....

I hope I can give the OP some good advice. Like any purchase decision it's all about what you get and at what cost. What you get, boating. Boats are mankind's oldest mode of transport after their feets. They are not given names and attributed with identity and soul for nothing. Feeling the vibration of the engine through the deck, the thrust of water on the rudder through the tiller and yes the motion underfoot. A motion that becomes predictable and comforting ridden like a motorcyclist leaning into a curve as an instinctive flexure of the legs as you and the boat learn how to work together. As you practice you take pride in being able to place her alongside like kiss my hand and sliding her into a lock without touching at just the right place to step off. Working the lock itself in a safe, confident boatmanlike manner. Peace and quiet. The vee shaped ripple that points to the little whiskered nose of a water vole, the electric blue flash of a kingfisher, the wading menace of a heron. What it costs. You need to be self contained. Power. You have to generate your own. Remaining on a shoreline means you lose all of the above. Water. Easy, plenty of places to fill and a tank could last a long time, like until you are back on your mooring. Gas. You need to be able to transport and fit gas cylinders, like you said, you have a man for that. Not running out can be managed. Toilet. Pump out every five days sound irksome to me. You will get into the habit of using facilities ashore as much as possible to conserve your toilet capacity. In winter you want to pump out more frequently to have as much space as possible if you get iced in. A spare porta potti for emergencies is a good idea because your man can trundle off with the same sack truck he uses for gas bottles. Notice I don't mention £s. Now how experienced is your man? Does he have the required level of boatmanship? Is he used to steering, ropework, lock operation? Without these skills all you have is an inadequate flat. My best advice is to hire a narrowboat, about this time of year would be good. go and look for yourself at the country park that could be your home, and talk to boaters on the towpath. You may well fall in love with it, then you can think about living that life.

A little ink and watercolor doodle of the inside of my little boat, School Days. Painted from inside said craft.

Saturday (28th Oct '17) was the day for installing the second battery. It'll probably never get used just now, with it getting into winter time, but I'd rather get it wired up and ready for early next year. This locker is where the current single battery is housed. I've moved the current battery to the far right to make space for the second battery. The little plastic box at the top is the fuse box. Yes, I have a tiny boat. The two bolts at the bottom are the inside of the isolation switch. I'm going to use a Durite Voltage Sensitive Relay (VSR) to connect the two batteries. The idea being that the first battery (only for starting the engine), when full, will automatically pass the charge across to the second battery (only for lights) using the VSR. In other words: the first battery always gets charging priority. First, I had to drill a 25mm hole for the isolation switch to poke through. Then, take the wire from the fuse box and put that on the second battery isolation switch. The isolation switch then goes to the battery itself. The Durite goes between the two battery positive terminals. I was relieved when I flicked the lights on and they worked, and that the engine started. Confirmation that the two batteries are working as they should. I forgot to take a photo of the end result, but it's probably for the best, as it's a bit of a dog's dinner. I don't want to properly plumb in the second battery as I know I'll need to take both of them out for charging at home over the winter. I do still need to tie both batteries down. Later in the afternoon, I decided to go for a wander down to the Dug Cafe for a coffee. Just managed to make it before it closed. On the way back I decided to make a detour and see what was up a dirt ramp at the side. Turns out it's a nature path that takes you between the canal and the River Clyde. I even spotted two deer! As a prize for reading this far, here's a photo of an orange ladybird I saw on my hood ceiling. I had no idea such a thing existed! And, way off in the distance, this is me.

Nice to know they consider the engine on the front left of the L to W book to be vintage. JP

Prue a genuine word of advice from someone who has seen people come and go and mostly go for a very long time. DONT DO IT you will not last, its not for you and its NOT a cheap way to live far from it. Just sayin like and being friendly your posts say it all honestly its not for you.

As Tim naws propa boats is abat 12 foots wide and very long cos deys is da moost comfy and suuted to propa watat ways

Just get the correct size allen key

I moored for lunch opposite the pub garden in Ansty a few weeks ago. I try to be a considerate boater so I pulled my stern close to the stern of the boat we'd just passed in to maximise the space to the next boat along. The bloke on the boat then came out, in his dressing gown at 1pm, and asked me to move. When I explained why I moored so close (just for 1 hour!) be said no other boats would moor there until after 5pm (no idea how he knew this) and reckoned I was ignorant. Mrs LR suggested I just move a bit but, being ignorant, I refused. In fact, I was tempted to stay for the night, as he had given me such a friendly welcome, but didn't as I wanted off the Oxford and onto the Ashby asap. When we came by again almost 2 weeks later he was still there. Strange place to moor if you don't want other boats nearby. I'd love to name and shame the dark (black?) boat but I couldn't see a name. I thought walking along to check his licence might be pushing my luck.

It would not be a free phone line as it would have to be charged up.

PU foam can be made either closed or open cell dependent on the application. You do this by altering the formulation so that as the foaming reaction takes place, ie formation of gas bubbles, the bubbles either break or they do not. I havent a clue whether it is open or closed without looking at it - in the application shown. The advantage of open cell is that you can get a much bigger expansion so a much lower density foam (ie sg's of 0.05).. so a litre of liquid fills a much bigger hole. Why the interest in whether it is closed cell or open cell? Not trying to be argumentative...just interested.

You could try these for winter hiring, they are all well respected and all have nicely turned out boats. :- listed from south to north on the Shroppie. http://www.napton-marina.co.uk/bases/autherley/ http://www.countrywide-cruisers.co.uk/ http://www.norburywharfltd.co.uk/narrow-boat-hire/ https://www.chashardern.co.uk/

No need - Just buy new batteries

Well bugger me, I thought it was something more technical than that. I had started to think it may be a geopolymer cement based grout. Begs the question as to why this technique hasn't been used before if it actually works. I have previously had accountability for managing earthworks and this wasn't a technique we used at that time. I have a feeling it may still not be! There is a bit of a smokescreen in that trade literature as to what their product really is. JP

Or perhaps they were moored next to boats who subsequently moved away, or perhaps the boat at the end left the space? Or perhaps you know them?

Some would say you don't need to continuously monitor any batteries. Ian.

It's so good to hear people are winterising their boats already with October nearly out and November just around the corner! This, of coarse, is welcomed by the proper boaters, I mean those who cruise all year round, who value the peace and solitude that comes when the warm weather boaters hang up their windlasses. Oh for the miles of boat free water and empty moorings, locks with no ques and kingfishers escorting you along the cut entertaining you with their speedy flight. No, you winterise your boats and moor em up tightly, for us that will be cruising, may not notice you as we glide on by. And at the end of the day, oh the welcome warmth as you kick your boots off and sup tea and cake! Roll on winter! Nipper

Nope. sorry, you've got me there. PLEEEEAAASE, don't do it. (Stunningly fugly and inappropriate for our canal system you mean, hopefully....)

Jeeeeesus.

Looks like their is a incident at Knostrop weir where they are still doing work on the non-working one. Involves a capsized working boat and sadly they may have been a fatality with one of the workers. I think knostrop lock may be been closed off in the meantime as it's just next to the weir.