[What sort of boat do I need?]

Hi Arthur,

 

That might work too.

THANK YOU!

xXx

[What sort of boat do I need?]

Thank You everyone.

 

I'll come along to a Banter. That sounds great.

The sinking Dutch Barge is a terrible story. Oh dear. Luckily my off season is actually in summer (Children don't have birthday parties in summer - it's true!).

 

I might be a bit vauge on here for a month as I'm submitting to a book thats being published with end of Feb deadline, but if you think of anything else do add it on. I'll be back to check this site and say hello.

 

Many Thanks

xXx

[What sort of boat do I need?]

This is all very interesting. Is there anyone here living on the canals and moving about a bit who would like to adopt a nice red haired Faery for a few days? I can make a good cup of tea, sleep in a small space on the floor and listen to all your stories with admiration and pricked up ears while learning how to use those lock key things in the snow.

 

 

And yes, will check the Wey regs tomorrow, ring British Waterways, and practise on making that cup of tea.

 

Thanks for all your advice on Sea Faring Roger. It's huge plan, I think I'll go slowly but not give up. (looks like I need to find someone who knows what they are doing to come out with me; and even then do some serious training first).

 

Tam... Thank You... Yes I'm lucky so many people have replied to my thread. It's amazing. THANKS EVERYONE!!!!

[What sort of boat do I need?]

This is all very interesting. Is there anyone here living on the canals and moving about a bit who would like to adopt a nice red haired Faery for a few days? I can make a good cup of tea, sleep in a small space on the floor and listen to all your stories with admiration and pricked up ears while learning how to use those lock key things in the snow.

[What sort of boat do I need?]

Is that is in Rick Mayall Chris??? Ha ha ha!!

 

Yes, I meant to ring them today (national Trust re: the Way) but doing too many things at the same time as usual.

(Damn being a woman and multi-tasking. Never actually get One thing finished!)

[What sort of boat do I need?]

Boating isn't a hippy thing. People choose to live on their boats for the life style and to escape the pressures of suburbia, the rat race, life in the fast lane, etc. It's a tongue in cheek joke about boaters being hippies, they come from all walks of life.

Neither is it the cheaper living option and most serious boaters don't take this view either. They just love the life and enjoy being close to nature.

 

I wouldn't say boaters are hippies. There isn't enough popcorn to go around.

 

That's OK Nina, I'm not meaning to label anyone which is why I said 'hippy' with comas. I use it to mean those who want to escape from the rat race and be closer to nature as you said. I hope that's OK!

 

Yes you are right. I need months more research. This is my second day! And thank you so much for your help.

[What sort of boat do I need?]

I see....

 

You you can have a cheap mooring up north and then 'bridge hop' as long as you move around a decent amount. But then you are the vermin of the canal system?

[What sort of boat do I need?]

Yes, I'm defo in the not so sane (mad kiwi faery category) can't live in anything unless it moves category.

I know many of you have said the lifestyle can be difficult though and not always romantic. I think I have some understanding of that after living in a van with my ex husband for a year and a half. Finding gas bottles in foreign countries, stupid insurance laws, van breaking down in rural France, sleeping in 7 degrees, and police either telling you to move on or asking for bribes... ermmmm so I hope boating is a bit more relaxing?

 

But as it is such a 'hippy' thing I'm surprised the week to week costs are so high. I mean I could move back into my van for £15 a week park up fee in a nice feild (with no toilet or electric admittedly). Or pay a campsite £75 - 150 a week.

Do we have a 'field' version of canal boating? Does this go back to what someone was saying about the rare chance a farm mooring comes up????

[What sort of boat do I need?]

Thank You NINA!

I'm trying to work out if I can afford it, and make a living to cover the expenses.

I love the idea of owning my own home (on the water) but it seems frustrating that after the initial outlay of my savings it would continue to cost more than I currently pay in rent, which is £87 per week and includes my electricity.

 

 

Unless I CCed in for forever, which might drive me insane and is certainly no good for children's party bookings.

 

Right.

I'll keep thinking.

 

So if you have a cheap mooring up north you still couldn't cruise the same say 20 km in Surrey... would that make you a bridge hopper?

 

And going back to sea boats, Roger was saying you can moor off bays in the med for free sometimes.

Can anyone tell me more about that?

[What sort of boat do I need?]

And if you have a 'home mooring' can you then go where you like, or do you have to follow the CC rules of 14 days max at moorings and a good distance between each one?

[What sort of boat do I need?]

Thanks Martin and Alan.

Although I am quite horrified to discover these mooring prices do not even include your electric! Ye gods it really is like caravanning.

 

It is more expensive to live in a canal boat than own your own home then?

(Say you had no mortgage on either).

[What sort of boat do I need?]

I am a boat manager for the K&A Trust, we have four passenger boats which run under MCA rules. Boatmasters is fairly straightforward, cost to obtain a licence about £800. If you are going to run a passenger boat with more than 12 passengers then the boat comes under MCA rules this is where it gets expensive. Out of water inspection each year, including removing the propellor and shaft, in water inspection each year as well and an intrim inspection mid year. You pay for the first two, the intrim one is free, call it between £1000 - £1500 for the inspections assuming they do not find any problems. You might get a dispensation for the inspections, then its only twice in five years for the out of water. You need search and rescue plans, passenger counting plans and approved training and safety manuals. I essence you are treated as though you are a passenger vessel on the sea.

 

 

Ken

 

Hi Ken. Thank You. Right. This is great info.

Can I ask a possibly silly question:

Say I wanted to start small and go with the 12 passenger situation - does 'passenger' include the crew members in the 12 maximum bodies?

[What sort of boat do I need?]

Looking like an expensive learning curve at the moment!

 

And what is the deal with a 'Home mooring' what does that mean as opposed to a 'leisure mooring' which I see auctioned on the site MJG linked to?

And if you are hiring your own mooring what are the rules in cruising around? Do you have to return every certain number of days then unless you are on a continuous journey as a CC type?

 

Thank You!

[What sort of boat do I need?]

Thanks Martin. That is a great site.

Yes I'd much prefer to moor in the middle of nowhere. Stunning!

Though I imagine most of these don't have electric hook up.

 

 

Wow. I had no idea the mooring fees were so high.

I was told £300 a month including saving for dry docking every three years.

Do all canal boats need to be dry docked BTW or just wooden ones?

[What sort of boat do I need?]

I have just been reading another thread about Moorings.

I am absolutely confused!

 

So there are marinas aprox £350 a month in the south am I right?

So basically the same price as paying rent in a flat for a bit of water and a post? OMG.

 

There are C'Cers which as has been said is unreliable for running a business with regards to weather conditions etc.

 

And then I found this:

"yes, you could pay for a mooring in the furthest reaches of the North, approx £600 p year, and moor round London for as long as you wanted without any issues, completely peeing off people like Higgs,CV32, SrNibble etc"

 

Can someone explain this to me?

Thank You!

[What sort of boat do I need?]

OK. So I would need to hire a private mooring then.

Any suggestions as to how to find one outside the area owned by the National Trust?

Or, on the other hand I could park my car in a new spot every week and sail up to where it is!

That might work, 14 days is reasonable mooring time in each spot!

Is there a certain distance you must move between each mooring?

 

I will look up the Bridge Hoppers!

[What sort of boat do I need?]

Thank You.

 

Is there anyone who can answer this question:

 

1. If after investigating licensing, regulations, mooring etc for the parties it just isn't worth the cost to run them on the canal (and I instead keep doing them on dry-land) is there a way I could live in my boat on the Surrey River System and return every weekend to the same spot to use my parked car? I have heard the waterways now chase you so you can't moor in the same areas without paying for a private mooring. Is this correct?

Is there a cheap way to live on the canals without Mooring fees?

Anywhere in Surrey but pref close to Guildford would be great. (And assuming here the boat is a broadbeam)

[What sort of boat do I need?]

Thank You so much everyone.

What an amazing outpouring of information. I really appreciate it.

There is so much going on here I think I'm going to slow down a bit, yes I am looking for too much in one boat;

and I need to relegate my sea-faring plan to several years time perhaps and a lot of study.

 

 

 

My suggestion for whats its worth is get a canal boat and do your parties in the UK and then hire a boat in France for your holidays.

Take your 'Day Skipper' and 'Coastal' Qualifications then maybe consider a multi-pupose boat in the future.

 

http://www.rya.org.uk/coursestraining/courses/navigation/Pages/Coastalskipper.aspx

 

Yes Alan, I think that's a good start. So with this in mind I'd like to change my line of questioning:

 

1. If after investigating licensing, regulations, mooring etc for the parties it just isn't worth the cost to run them on the canal (and I instead keep doing them on dry-land) is there a way I could live in my boat on the Surrey River System and return every weekend to the same spot to use my parked car? I have heard the waterways now chase you so you can't moor in the same areas without paying for a private mooring. Is this correct?

Is there a cheap way to live on the canals without Mooring fees?

Anywhere in Surrey but pref close to Guildford would be great. (And assuming here the boat is a broadbeam)

 

 

2. If I buy my canal boat and rental licensing and can find a private mooring from which to hire it out over summer - are there any more concerns associated with hiring out your own boat? It needs to be a special design to be hire-worthy and have a different safety certificate - is that right?

 

3. If during this time I learn enough, and find an enthusiastic friend to take to the sea with, how easy will it be to sell my canal boat? Which types of boat are the easiest to re-sell? How fast does a second hand boat depreciate in value?

Is it sensible to buy a boat if you are considering re-sale in 3 or 4 years?

I can see my Russian Barge might not be so great (I love how spacious it is though!)

 

Thank You all again,

Much appreciated

Flame**)

[What sort of boat do I need?]

Thank You everyone. This is awesome. Though I feel like my brain is doing laps with all the information.

Volunteering as an unpaid crew member is a great idea.

 

I can see I'm going to have to put in some serious research before even deciding what sort of boat I want. It feels a bit like I have two different plans going at once, though I can only afford one boat!

I'm quite confused about the business & leisure balance, yes I need to clarify that first, I think researching both options together will reveal the best pathway.

 

Very interesting notes on space, feet, motorboat verses sailing vessel, GRP verses steel Roger.

Thank You so so much. DO the GRP's have much storage space? I had my gear in a locker when I lived in a van. It cost £500 a year which was annoying.

 

I'm assuming with a sailing boat you can't man that by yourself but with a motorboat you can?

I really want a plan that means I can adventure by myself. Or is this crazy with regards to international boating?

 

Thank You

Flame**)

[What sort of boat do I need?]

Hi Arthur,

 

Thank You I will look up those links tomorrow. Fantastic.

 

 

Hi Roger,

Great advice. Can you give me a little advice on what sort of seaboat I should be looking at?

I have a maximum budget of £70,000 and was under the impression sea boats were more pricey.

Someone earlier suggested GRP boats... is that along your lines of thinking?

It would be amazing if there was a boat that could both get into the wider canals and the Med Sea.

 

The course sounds wonderful. Even if I start will a canal boat I'd like a sea-boat eventually so I will check that out.

 

Much thanks to you both!!!

 

Hi to Albion Roger,

 

I'm getting excited again!

After all if I can scrounge £70,000 for a boat I can surely afford a good boating course and qualification.

Brilliant! Thank You

[What sort of boat do I need?]

Hi Martin it was:

What are the regulations you need to take a van to Morocco compared to taking a boat to France?? I suspect you are not being serious in your quest so I will bow out here and leave you to it...

 

Sorry Matt but if any body really has to ask if a boat can sink on a canal is intending embarking on a cross channel voyage I think they should really be cautioned against it rather than encouraged....

 

......

 

Morocco is absolute hell!

And the sinking bit (with reference to icebergs in canals) was a joke.

Anyway, thank you for your input.

[What sort of boat do I need?]

Right I'll call them in the morning.

 

Thank You!!!!!!!

[What sort of boat do I need?]

I see. Thank You both. Is there not a system like leasing your house when a private rental company sorts all of that out for you?

 

Gosh. There really are so many rules about everything!!! ARgGGGgGgGGggggGGGgggggh!!!

 

Tawny Owl is a lovely name for a boat.

[What sort of boat do I need?]

Thanks Richard.

 

Good to know. Is it the waterboard I contact to find out about the different licences?

[What sort of boat do I need?]

Yes, it looks to me like there are several different things going on here:

 

1. Negotiating with local county/insurers/governing bodies etc to safely set up a party business that meets Elf & safety requirements

 

2. The type of boat that would be good for both that and permanently living aboard

 

3. The type of boat that would be good for canals but also be able to cross the English Channel

(with life boats, navigation equipment etc)

 

4. Collection of credentials needed to boat in France

 

The most daunting thing so far seems to be the boatmasters licence needed to carry over 12 passengers. I'm intending on hiring someone to drive while I do the parties... but I didn't realise I needed such a specialist... are they rare? Of course we could just have 8 kids, 2 parents, 2 crew at each party but that might be a bit limiting.

 

Can anyone tell me about the expense and time behind the French requirements?

 

I am now thinking the best thing to do would be focus on a nice house/party boat; not worry about the French crossing and consider hiring it out to families over the summer instead (while I fly away as opposed to sail!). Does anyone here do that with their own boat?