ImmaDuckQuackQuack

Hi there, hope you dont mind me resurrecting an old thread, was just having a google on Brummagem boats and came across this thread, currently refitting out a 69 footer made by them, solid old girl!! ?

I believe its MK original poster is in MK it looks like, trying to contact him to confirm.

Just seen this on facebook, anyone know owner? is this your boat? didnt want to see her go down any further. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=724141117626605&set=gm.710589568981750&type=1&theater

I think spices taste better out of a pestle and mortar... or maybe that's just me lol Yes, simple living is a good way of putting it!

Fantastic post, have a greenie on me!!

Some fantastic tips so far, thanks everyone!! Keep going! Now that is just plain cheeky!!!

Brilliant idea for laundry! I think that would be ideal for us. we just shove a tarp over our wood piles, but im sure on the boat we would need to have some sort of solution to store a weeks worth of wood!

Thank you! and well said, I'm not adverse to hand washing, in fact its rather theraputic! I love to bake, create things from junk, make jam from foraged fruits, grow my own fruit and veg and raise meat, its the things I wish for my children to learn and their children's children too, there are people who cannot see the benefits of doing such things, and fair enough each to their own, but if we all believed in the same things and ideals the world would be a very monotonous, boring place!!! - You sir, have a greenie! Thank you so much, extremely helpful! that's made things clearer for me for our requirements Ooooh I am jealous! ... still looking for our boat, good luck!!! Thank you! I have managed to run our open fire on seasoned wood 24/7, but it takes a lot of wood to keep it going, I was hoping a stove would be more efficient to burn on. We have access to an orchard so can cut wood as and when we need to and create large piles to season, usually every 6 months we will make a pile and tarp it, its worked for us so far. I've taken a note of your log burner make, thanks! does it have a back boiler? Sounds idillic! I can see my boat covered in solar panels and planters when we finally get one! hahaha, I have always wanted t learn to crochet, I can knit but haven't since my daughter was a baby, I think I shall have to take it up again!

Fantastic thank you! Im still trying to get my head around all the electrical speak, like amp hour and watts and how much power they can actually create... mind boggling! must see if ebay do idiots guide to boat electrics!

Yep, I have no problem spending money on the boat, for maintenance, and other costs to keep it ship shape (excuse the pun). I was just asking for tips on ways of living frugally onboard if there was any, like free wood, solar panels, foraging. no matter where you live life costs money, and no where have I asked, 'Can I live on a boat and not spend any money' My uncle had goats when we were very young... I remember being chased by them to a fence which I managed to scramble up and over to safety.... or so I thought!!! Only to come face to face with Turkeys and geese running at me!!!! I dont think my legs have ever sprinted so fast in my life!! Ah now, Owls, that is one animal I adore! Ooooh I WISH!!!! Thank you!! very informative post, extremely helpful. Will check out that site for the solar, Never fancied eating one to be fair! no good? Is there nothing like a lockable fuel cap that you can fit to a boat to stop such things happening? on a more hilarious note... if only... http://www.snopes.com/autos/theft/siphon.asp

Haaa, trust you Mtb! My Bwain just not werkin today! Nah I guess that is a step too far, we tried her up the chimney before, her hair is just too soft to do much good with the soot!! Good thing about a boat is it floats on all this water thats falling from the sky... me tent don't.

I am searching in my area, and recently missed one which I've kicked myself over, After lots of research, I certainly don't think cc'ing will fit in with my lifestyle, so I may have to purchase the boat, moor it further away, visit onboard weekends and be ashore weekdays, till I can find a permanent mooring in my local area. I'm sure something shall work out Id rather be put straight if you feel that way? by all means pm me and let me know what your thought are, I'm a very open and straight talking person, by all means let rip, I can take it. Im trying to go into this with my eyes wide open.

Ah not being a goat owner, I had no idea they would dry up with a stranger! the rest of the menagerie is shared with other family members and friends so leaving them for holidays and weekends is no biggie, we all share in the hard work. The area I hope to find moorings is only within a couple of miles of the land and will in fact be closer than to my current abode, whether I find an available mooring in that area is another thing! I am planning with the future in mind not just the short term, ive managed the allotments and animals all of my life with no problem travelling to them, (I have to take my daughter to school anyway) or having them attended to while I am away. I can't see where I have been contradictory? I've asked for frugal living tips not frugal buying a boat or setting it up to live comfortably. I've also stated that I wish to have modern necessities.

wow 8 months? I was only expecting the 2 weeks of 'summer' that we get to produce anything decent then if anything for the rest of the summer months, fab! how much energy do you find they return? woweee!!! thats 1/4 of our monthly outgoings in this house, LIVING FRUGALLY, Im going to be minted, sod the frugal living I can live like a queen!! Holiday in barbados here we come!!! I never do! rabbit & deer especially, Yum! I will definitely be giving you a shout Caprifool, Ive toyed with keeping bunnies but to be fair usually end up with enough wild rabbit to do us nicely! Have definite plans for goats i the future so will be Pm'ing you! Ooohh errr, I dont fancy shimmying up a streetlamp haha! I wont have the finances for a widebeam, plus I wish to be able to travel what I can of the system without the trouble of craning in and out of the water, Im quite happy to pay out for energy saving, space saving 12v gear if its viable for my way of living. I already have the allotments and land, animals to tend daily including horses near where my daughter attends school, travelling about does not bother me, as I do it on a daily basis anyway. Any clues as to what you found you could save money on in a house compared to life aboard? Im trying to check that the information ive gathered over the last year is as accurate as I believe it to be Thats my thoughts too... I wish to cruise weekends and school holidays, and stay in places and possibly even moor where there is no civillisation, I wish to be as self sufficient as possible on board

Currently living in a house, frugally to the point i grow most of my fruit and veg, (During summer I even give it away or swap with other people for skills or otherwise), I do my own DIY, I have access to an orchard and can have as much wood as I like as well as kindling from a builders yard, used to having an open fire which I keep in overnight with coal. As we are currently going through house sale and finding a liveaboard, I need tips on what we can feasibly do frugally on board, from saving money on the unnecessary, e.g. using a woodburner with back boiler for water and heating rather than paying out for gas/electric, solar panels for electric in summer, As a complete newbie to it all (other than holidays aboard) I'm also a bit stumped at what I could purchase and install at the time of boat purchase, that will over time save money for the next couple of decades (or more) that I hope to live aboard.

Wow! fantastic advice so far! just what i've been looking for! we have an allotment and chickens ashore anyway so we grow all the fruit and veg we need, as well as eggs, just setting up to breed the chickens for meat requirements too, and considering a larger plot to raise other animals for food purposes, we are usually supplied with game from farmers for free, along with wood etc, and regularly go foraging. Quite right Caprifool, I am indeed not foolish enough to go to the extremes of losing out on home comforts, The TV, laptop, smartphone and washing machine will be coming with me haha!! Hiya, can you explain offline moorings to me please? never heard of it??? wouldnt dream of stealing from farmers!! they have shotguns!! haha Now there's a suggestion! I do have a 5 year old child I could hoist into a supermarket bin to search for all the edibles! plug into street lamps??? who? what? where? how? Im afraid im not a keen fisherman, ill do most things but maggots...eeeek!!

Hi all, I wanted to pick your brains for frugal living tips on board, what do you do to keep living costs down? I like to live frugally but with the exception of some modern necessities that come with having a young child, I can get free wood, so firewood is sorted. Using the woodburner to boil kettles and make one pot meals on, I've been recommended solar panels, but how effective are they? are there recommended makes and styles for boats? Any tips for energy saving technology? Please share anything and everything that a boat newbie like me, may find useful!

Thanks very much for the recommendations for brokerages! I shall go have a gander this weekend. Also big thanks for the recommendations for the housing ideas, will check those websites out!

Thank you all for your sound advice! I'm afraid we do not have the luxury of being able to rent out the house hence why it was put up for sale. I did come to the conclusion renting a small place might be our best option, but thought I would ask to see what responses I would get, im always open to brilliant ideas!! haha. Now I'm off this weekend to look around some more boats, (we've looked at hundreds!!! to get an idea of size, layout, prices, etc etc) Any recommendations as to brokerages etc that's worth having a trip to? We have been to Wilton Marina, seen a couple at MK marina, are there any other places I haven't found, thats worth looking round? I am Located near Bulbourne, Tring, Happy to travel a couple of hours by car to go have a look around some.

Afternoon all! Just an enquiry into what people do as the 'inbetween' of Selling bricks and mortar to fund the new life onboard! I know it will hugely vary for everyone as everyone has different living arrangements, size of family, income etc, but for those of you who had to sell your home to buy your dream boat, what did you do in the interim of completion on house sale and finding, surveying and purchase of boat? Im afraid ive got completely caught up in the 'Selling house and drooling over boats that were just a dream until the house sells' but now we have accepted an offer and house is SSTC, and have just had the survey done, thing have now gone pretty fast and we will be agreeing the completion date soon I should imagine!..... Im a bit lost as to what I should do next!! HELP!!!!

That one looks perfect, Thanks Jamborock!

Ive been trying to get on RYA's website for about a week now, but it keeps coming up website is busy! lol, Thank you, will keep trying

Thanks Alan! that's perfect will take a look

Does anyone know of companies running boat handling and maintenance courses around the GU - Pitstone, Leighton buzzard, MK...could travel northampton way? please let me know...google seems to be letting me down! Thanks in advance!