Terryb

Thanks guys. I have yet to visit enough boats to realise all the options. But the reality dawned on me a while back that while a cruiser deck is wasted space inside. I at least have somewhere to enjoy the outside without standing, giving me the option of mooring in inaccessible locations from tera firma, if you see what I mean. I didn't know that the engine position was anywhere but the back! so that has come as a surprise though, not wishing to sound facetious what are the engine layout options. As for the 57 foot ( argument/Myth) and I'm not talking from experience here, but I have heard that 60` will go anywhere if you are not square in the tightest of locks. ( I am ready and prepared to be shot down) thats how I learn stuff. Besides that I am pretty certain I will aim for something closer to 50` anyway.

The subject of boat size is another question I would like suggestions for as well. So please feel free to add that to the conundrum. I had been thinking of the typical below 60` but having been on a 50` just recently, I think that would be near minimum.

As a soon to be CCer, I have been weighing up all my options for keeping unnecessary costs down. It occurred to me that while the gold licence may a good option, the facts are that I am unlikely to be able to visit the whole system in the one year. Does anyone have some experience of this problem? And if so, how do suggest I work it.?

Anyway, I am up there again on Saturday the 18th ( just double check that Tree Monkey LOL) yep its the 18th. BTW, I met a fantastic mine of information and ideas while there on Wednesday, called Peter. Builds a bit, mainly electrics. Lives with Dawn on a beat up seventy footer. What a great guy, anyone know him. He seems to know so much about it all and was so helpful to me. Just thought I would give him a plug and a round of applause while I'm here.

OMG I thought it was going to be tough finding a nice boat for circa £30,000. Now I could buy all these for that http://loot.com/leisure-and-lifestyle/boats-and-watersports?doSearch=2&viewby=&sortby=new&location=Post+code&distance=50&pfrom=%C2%A3min&pto=%C2%A3max&user_type=&ad_type=1&price-types=&skeyword=narrowboat&keyword=&refine=Refine&date=0 No wonder this thread is on-going Has anyone at LOOT got any idea that this is going on. I must admit, I have never thought to look there for a boat, its a good job I came across this page first. Thank you guys for all the tips. Mind you, I have looked up the location of some of the boats, and they are nowhere near a canal system. Barnstable in Devon, some road bridge in Sussex. I dont think so !

Some great replies chaps, thanks. I have since researched and found that 95 must have been either mis heard or mistakenly told. I did look around the outer joint and noticed that there seemed to be some very minor joint failure. Though no ingress was apparent. Kind of put me off an otherwise lovely start out boat. Never mind, I'll keep looking around.

Looked at a lovely little 50 footer yesterday, beautiful Lister LR3 starts on the button doesn't smoke (unlike me) just had the full epoxy done to its bum. Fit out includes new tankless water heater system. I could have moved straight on-board. All in all for a 1995 I was impressed too, with the 25k asking price until I noticed that it was a fibreglass topped vessel. Question, should I be concerned? Is this a bit of a problem later? As I really do not have a clue as to the implications. Not even sure whether I like the look of it either, but its different.

Ah AH yeah Matlad, you are right. Silly old me it was the 15th of course. But since nobody responded I guess its pretty irrelevant now isnt it. Oh and Tree Monkey, please dont be offended, of course I didnt mean to dismiss non CCers. Its just difficult to narrow down the Hire boaters from owner pilots, if you know what I mean. Either way, I shall be at MK marina tomorrow lunch time so will have to play it by ear. Thanks for the replies.

Hi all, I am in Milton Keynes on Wednesday the 14th (Tomorrow ) and wondered if there are any CCers in the area that wouldn't mind me dropping in. As I have already mentioned in other posts, I dont have a boat yet, but am now on the very last leg of buying one. There are so many questions I have its impossible to ask them. Most of them I guess I will answer the hard way. But if by meeting other CCers saves me from some terrible mistakes, then its all gotta be worth it.

Sorry to everyone except one. (you know who you are ) Thank you to the rest. I think maybe I should have explained, that I read a lot of members worrying about Noise and/or the power consumption of their fridges. And as I have not bought my boat yet, I am trying to get all the little niggles out of the way first. I know to some the answer may be simple, but while I am going to be CCing I need to know the answer to these silly and obvious questions. ( if certain people can not offer anything but sarcasm maybe they should just S T F U ) After all, when I am in the middle of the canal miles from anywhere, I dont want to run out of fresh milk. Call me old fashioned.

On the same subject, does anyone run a larger tv than the typical 21 flat screen I keep seeing. And what size can we go up to regarding power usage etc.

Thanks John and Tim. regarding income from rent. I only have one house with a projected income of around £600 per month.I wont have any other bills so just running the boat and living costs. I know it'll be tight, but I do have a simple life.

What about land lords ?? I plan to live on the rent from a small house. Anyone got any experience with that or paying tax on "unearned income"

The question really is in the title. So can anyone give me their experiences in storing food and milk etc

This is a great thread on power useage guys. Keep all the ideas coming.I will need all the help I can get. Anyone got experience with sine wave inverters. What are they ?Also 240v generators.

This has been, ( still is maybe ) a very interesting discussion. I have not got a boat yet. But when ( in the very near future ) I do, I will CC up and down the whole system. As someone that knows absolutely NOTHING about the canal licensing system. Could someone please try to educate me regarding what licence I will need to visit EVERYWHERE. I have seen something regarding the Gold Licence, Is that all I will need? Or is it advisable to buy a licence for one network before moving on the next. To clarify, I fully intend to see absolutely everywhere that a 58` boat will go. As a nod to this thread, I am not surprised at all,that an ex government controlled department can make such a cock up,and still not even notice it while they are trying to prosecute. Which typifies why I want to live off grid in the first place. IS THERE ANYWHERE I CAN ESCAPE THIS BLOODY MADNESS.

Me Too. Ha Ha Ha. Goodbye to the wicked world of work, I'm off to retirement on the ocean waves ( well, the ripple of the cut) House just sold too, so I am actively searching out a 50 footer or so to spend my next few years in. I would want to have as much space as poss, but at the same time keep costs down. I am of the assumption that the difference in costs between a 45` versus 60` is not really that much, please correct me if you know different. I will only have around £500 per month to live on, is this being silly or is it acceptable. Just me and my pooch, I know my food ( and Drink ) costs are only around £150 per month, so that leaves me with £350 to run the boat on. I will be CCing so will not need a permanent mooring. Hopefully I can survive on that. Any suggestions, recommendations ??

Hi guys, as a side issue, I am weighing up all the information I will need to ( within reason ) come to terms with a reasonable cost per week of running ( say ) a 50' NB. Its 10 years to go before the UK Gov decide I need to work till. I say,stuff you I'm off. So with early retirement in mind and an income of around £100 per week ( excluding emergency fund of £xxxxx ) what do you Liveaboards think ? Tying this in to this topic, one of my quandaries is, what I can and can't do, with regards to battery life. Are solar panels worth the expense etc. Any, and all info will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Terry