newbie

What is the average cost of blacking if you have it done by a 'pro'? Thanks

Good luck.. I'm sure you will be able to get an amazing boat! ... Quite like the idea of the decked motorbike garage!..... could you get a side car for your mother?!

Thanks for the replies, interesting to hear some positive spins on it, as friends and family think I have really lost the plot. I’m sure it will be significantly cheaper than living in the cottage, as I sold my house and now rent, which is cheaper than the mortgage was but is still £950 a month, plus £2k a year council tax..... thats before the oil, electric, water, septic tank, wood etc etc... So I have worked it out and even on a residential mooring paying council tax and not really cruising very far, it wouldn’t be much more over a year than £600 - £700 a month? – Or am I missing something really important? As for choosing a boat, I gather its survey all the way. Albeit, I am still confused to the pricing structure, as age of a boat seems to have little reflection in the pricing, or is it due to the fact I am looking bottom end of the market? It is very exciting, but I do have to remember to look with my eyes not start planning where to put things....! I am also not the most mechanical of people, but given research I manage ok.... I can now service the tractor etc ....but on a weekly basis is there much maintenance of the engine etc? Also, is there anywhere on the net I can see what is the maximum lock length, as living in the midlands they certainly don’t look long enough to accommodate a 60 – 70 ft boat. Thanks for all your help..... Nic

Well here goes...first post... bear with me!...I have always wanted to live on a narrow boat for some reason and with a previous partner was always hitting a brick wall.... must invest in bricks and mortar etc etc However, now the previous partner is under the patio.. well not quite but metaphorically speaking. I have now sold my house and currently rent a tiny cottage. I still have the hankering to live afloat and following a week experiment I loved it. I have spoken to numerous people whilst walking the towpaths and have decided that it really is something I wish to go for. Now is the big but.... I have 3 great danes. The old one lives on her bed all the time and doesn’t move, and the other two are outside in a kennel and come in the cottage in the evening etc. I have seen moorings where people have got their own garden area, with patio sets, shed etc.. Would it be possible to extend that to a dog kennel? I am also very mindful of the fact most boaters do it to escape all noise etc and would be worried i might fall out immediately with people if I turned up with 3 big dogs. Also, I only have about 30k to spend if I bought outright, or could get additional finance to go higher. I am not bothered about it being all modern (the cottage I rent is 300 years old) but would I get a good enough boat for 30k or would be make more sense money wise to increase my budget? One of the reasons I also like the idea to live on a boat apart from always wanting to, is that it will give me the ability financially to study for a phd, so I didn’t really want to be getting a huge amount of finance. I would remain working full time thus would need a residential mooring. The cost of boats seems to vary so much? The internal condition doesn't bother me too much as I have a relative who is a carpetener, but what gives the value to a narrowboat; as some which are 10 years older can be more expensive than the newer ones with only internal minor differences? Thanks..... Nic