airborne

Hello All , Looking into the possibility of purchasing a second hand 50ft narrowboat for leisure / holidays next year . I have a flexible budget and would like some advice on the right type of dependable equipment / systems which it should have to make life pleasurable whilst cruising and sleeping overnight at moorings . The advice I am looking for would be mainly regarding the following systems : Electrical systems , lighting , inverters etc Engine , size . power , any makes recomended etc Heating , what type , makes etc Cooking ranges ? Shower units ? Toilet systems Any other advice would be appreciated , also any information on average permanent mooring fees for the year. thanks and kind regards Mike

Hi Paranga , can you give me any further information on your heating system (bubble boiler), and do you or can you run any radiators off this ? Cheers Mike

Hi All of your answers to this query are interesting and gives me much food for thought, but after anylising the pros and cons I am leaning towards what Mike C has installed , a gas / oilpowered domestic house boiler obviously , if you had the room .A bit confusion here , is that the same or similar to the bubble boiler from Harworth Heating Ltd ? And if anyone has one of these installed can you give me some facts and figures feedback please or alternatively regarding the domestic house boiler , any recomendations which make or model ? thanks for all of your help Mike

Hi All , Once again many thanks for all your replies and advice , and I must admit it seems the general consensus to have two heating systems for back up purposes ! Can I just pick your brains again as I have read on the forums regarding the ALDE 3010 powered by electric or gas (propane), are you allowed this on a boat ? But the ALDE is supposed to be a really good / efficient system .It states that a 6kg bottle should last all weekend in a normal British climate (is this economical) ? Then the PJ-230VAC bubble boiler (Paringa has one )from Harworth Heating Ltd, which runs on red diesel or kerosene Any ideas which of these is best regarding quality,price, how meconomical ot run etc Thanks All Mike

Hi All , I know there are many threads regarding the heating systems on boats , and everyone seems to have their own preferences and ideas . The question I would like to ask is this with the price of red diesel rising , I think will make certain boat owners possibly look at other forms of heating !I seem to remember reading somewhere of more fuel / economically efficient stoves / boilers coming onto the market . Can any member advise me what would be a good , reiable and efficient system to use on a Dutch Barge approx , length 16m x beam 3.5m . I would only be using it for semi livaboard / cruising for holidays and weekends ? All advice appreciated. ATB Mike

Youve got it Alan de Enfield ATB Mike

I have a cunning plan atb Mike

Hi All , As I would like to combine owning a small Dutch Barge with owning a Static caravan holiday home does any member know of any nice holiday home parks that sit on a canal/river side .I would appreciate your help with this one . thanks Mike

Hi All , Heard there might be some nice / reasonably priced moorings in Norwich ? ( Any Ideas ), or indeed anywhere in the Norfolk / Suffolk Areas ? With Thanks. Mike

THANKS FOR ALL THOSE USEFULL COMMENTS GUYS , MAYBE CHOOSE SOME OTHER ROUTE SOMEWHERE ELSE LIKE GU TO THE ANGLIAN FENS WHEN THE BEDFORD AND MILTON KEYNES WATERWAY FINALLY OPENS , ( DOES ANY MEMBER KNOW WHEN THAT WILL BE ? )

Hi All , I am new to the boating / canals game ,but already have had some good advice from this forum , so my question is this .I plan to hopefully purchase a traditional Dutch Barge in the not too distant future , dimensions approximately 15m to 16m in length , 3m to 3.5m in Beam , and 0.5m to 1m Draft . Ideally I would like to use the Waterways system to cruise all of the Grand Union Canal and then up towards Birmingham , and then hopefully onto the River Avon down to Tewksbury . Can this be achieved on the above barge , by-passing the Narrow beam system ?

Hi Blackrose and Robbo , Thanks for your valuable information regarding secure moorings , especially that site you downloaded for me Blackrose ATB Mike

Hi All , Quite new to this forum , so I might be asking a few questions . Next year I will be semi retiring and am looking at buying a traditional Dutch type Barge approximately 16m x 3.5m x 0.8m to use as a semi liveaboard and a bit of leisure cruising on the inland waterways . I have carried out quite a lot of research regarding Dutch barges , but am not sure how I stand regarding a residential mooring (I understand they are hard to find !) With this in mind , can any members here reccomend any well run , secure marina mooring sites , and how much they cost ? Anywhere in the South of England would be considered Thanks and all the best. Mike

Hi All, In reply to Laurie , I have carried out a lot of research regarding Dutch Barges , and can state that I have never come across the fact that the Dutch Government are going to ban the export of Dutch Barges . I dont know where you heard that from but it sounds pretty ludicrous to me , there would be no point financially or any other reason ! Lets hope not anyway ! Cheers All Mike

Hi MJG , jUST IN REPLY TO THE FACT THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT MOVING OVER TO THE CONTINENT WITHIN A COUPLE OF YEARS TO LIVE AND BOAT . AS ALREADY STATED ,I AM NOT ACTUALLY A BOAT OWNER AT THE MOMENT , BUT AS I WILL BE RETIRING NEXT YEAR , I AM INTERESTED IN PURCHASING A DUTCH TYPE BARGE AS A LEISURE / SEMI LIVEABOARD , BUT AM NOT SURE TO MOOR IT IN FRANCE / HOLLAND OR THE UK. BUT I HAVE CARRIED OUT A GREAT DEAL OF RESEARCH INTO THIS , ESPECIALLY LOOKING AT BOAT BROKERS IN HOLLAND , AND AFTER TALKING WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE BOUGHT BOATS OVER THERE AND ACTUALLY LIVE THERE , THERE DOES NOT SEEM ANY DOUBT AS LONG AS YOU ARE ARMED WITH THE RIGHT KNOWLEDGE , THAT HOLLAND IS THE PLACE TO BUY. IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE SITES BELOW YOU WILL SEE WHAT I MEAN ! HOLLAND. FRANCE Fikkers H2o Botentkoop Bourgogne Marine Overwijk Friese Boten Bateaux de Midi Botenbank Midi Broker.com Heech by De Mar De Jachtmakelaars nl Hope this might help you. Allthe Best Mike

Hi All , Thanks for the replies , and just to answer MJG , Its like what Chertsey said there is deffinately a much better choice over in Holland and also better value for money ! Although I would still look at whats on offer in the UK like you said , thats why I was trying to determine what the transport fees would be . I,LL KEEP LOOKING ANYWAY. Thanks Mike

Hi All , Next year I am looking at the possibility of taking a trip over to Holland and viewing some Dutch type barges with the idea of transporting it back to the UK subject to the availability of berthing it at a secure mooring site ! Is there any members here who have either done the same thing or can give me some good advice , for instance , is it easier / cheaper transporting it overland / ferry or hiring a skipper to sail it over ( any ideas on prices ).Set out below are the approximate sizes I am looking at.... Dutch Skutsje / Tjalk type barge Length Approx 13 meters Beam Approx 3.5 meters Draft approx 0.8 meters I would be very much obliged if anyone can help me with this query. Thanks Mike

Hi All , Thanks for your replies to my enquiry , just to answer Roger , yes I Willbe taking the ICC with CEVNI endorsement .And for Tam and Di thanks fo that usefull info , I intend , hopefully to visit Europe and do a bit barging with some one I am in contact with , but I will certainly take on board your advice . ATB Mike

Hi All , I am totally new to this forum , so hello everyone ! I will be retiring from the Fire Service next year , and if things go according to plan , I would like to purchase a small recreational / semi-liveaboard dutch type barge , moor it up in France or Holland and cruise the european waterways in my spare time . I intend to take a barge helmsmans course before then and get an ICC Certificate to help qualify me for this . I was all ready to book a two day course through ABC with Bob Strachan , but he has just informed me that due to ill health he will have to cancel his courses for next year (so I wish him a speedy recovery). With this in mind , can anyone recomend a good simmilar two day course preferably no further down the Country than the Midlands as I am from the North East !The good thing about Bobs course was that it was residential , allieviating the need to book accomodation . I would be gratefull for any help in this matter. with thanks Mike