newboater

Thanks for that , I am new to this but live not far away so I will go next year.

Hi Roger, it's great that you are enjoying the live aboard life, what made you take the plunge, and have you any kids with you?

Hi, yes I'm still following the thread. We are off at the moment for two weeks, but haven't been able to get a hire barge to try it out, so have been camping instead. We are looking to hire at the end of the season now, end of October, so it will give us a better idea with the weather and the nights closing in.

Hi, yes we are homeowners. It is a big decision to come out of the housing market, but it will have done us well, we will be able to buy what we want outright.Lots of others have done it, but I wonder how many have gone back to live in a house as boating didn't agree?

Hi Ellesina, wow you have a beautiful barge, I have read all about it. One day soon mabe,-In my dreams.....

Can anyone recommend anywhere selling widebeams, / dutch barges?

Thanks for the reply, we are looking into hiring in the next couple of weeks but the prices are very high, so we will have to put it off for a while unfortunately.

Thankyou to another forum user who pointed me towards this busy site. We are a family, in our forties, two boys, 7 and 13. We are very keen on the idea of living aboard, ( Lancs area). We have spoken to people along the canal, and read magazines, my sister and her family have hired twice.At present our monthly bills to run the house, ( not counting food, petrol, or leisure), tot up to £1300. We would be in a position to buy a barge outright, maybe wide beam or dutch for the sheer size, so not wanting to go far, just for the lifestyle.I suppose the obvious thing to do would be for us to hire ourselves, but would it be worth it, --very expensive!!! Please can you give any advice? Thankyou very much.