barmyfluid

Being finally in the position to buy my liveaboard, I'm going over to see Baildon this weekend, a 1936 converted Town class butty: http://www.aqueductbrokerage.co.uk/index.php/boats-for-sale/boat/baildon I know the general thought seems to be that buying an historic boat can (and usually is) a money pit experience, but bearing in mind Baildon has had fairly recent rebottoming/footing and has what should be a solid, desirable (if expensive to repair) engine, what general thoughts would be about historic boats/engines retaining long term value over a modern boat? I bought my Series III land rover with the idea that if I keep it in reasonable repair, it's never going to be worth less than I paid for it and a 'car for life' should I wish it. It's historic, iconic...errr...occasionally colonic when it jumps out of gear going round corners....but it's so far I've been correct in my thinking & it's actually gone up in resale value, all the while being an absolute joy to own and drive every day (it's my driveaboard). Yes, it's had loads of work already, but no more cost than many cars I've owned which are now scrap. However, do people think that rationale translates to an historic boat in generally solid condition to start with? Not that there'll be much rational thinking if I fall in love..... Andy

That's very interesting info, thank you. As I understood it, if you had a home mooring and didn't overstay on time restricted moorings you were pretty much allowed to keep within a small cruising area pretty much anywhere...I can understand just mooring up on a deserted bit of towpath for months on end without shifting wouldn't be 'right' in the CRT's eyes, but otherwise I thought you'd not really be doing anything against the license conditions...otherwise what's the difference between that and CCing conditions? CC-lite?

I don't much fancy it either to be honest, and I'd be generally mooring a bit away from there when I could, but I do need it nearby. Vic pit is nice in that there's a fair bit of space between the pontoons at least. I'll definitely move around a bit before I settle though, see if I can figure out a way that I can work with. Cheers for the input btw.

I go to sleep to the sound of sirens and people being sick over my front wall and wake to 4 lanes of traffic 10 feet from my head and an alleyway full of p**s. Geese honking? Bring it on. I don't have an overly romantic view on life aboard, I know there are hardships and tribulations. I did actually grow up living in a caravan for a bit, and my folks worked on sites for 20 odd years. They can be nice homes and some peoples idea of heaven, I'd never look down on them - but a boat is a boat (unless its a caravan on pontoons, have seen those!), there's some sort of special there.

That's really not what I want to do, or can do - I need to be fairly close to that area and have somewhere secure to moor (at quite short notice). I'm not going to lay out my life particulars in public so you'll believe me, but you should allow that people have different needs. I've been to both marinas and some of the farm moorings now and chatted with a fair few people, often with quite varying views about them. I'd certainly like to hear first hand reports of what range of CC'ing has been problematic or goes unchallenged along the stretch, especially over the last year or so. I suppose technically from Whaley to Congleton and back covers the CRT mileage ideal (if not the 'bona fide navigation' one). Exactly. Boats are just lovely.

Each to their own. Even just being at either of those marinas (Vic pit / Lyme view) gives you the 'back garden' of the Lyme park and the first hills of the Peak District, literally, not figuratively. Have you actually been there? As I originally posted, I'd also be meandering up and down the Macc, giving me 26 easy miles of that with a secure mooring and car transport not far away, and having a partner, friends and work nearby, that would suit me just fine.

Yep, was in there Sunday after looking at a boat, very nice place to have as your local (a truly British priority to sort out, definitely above schools, transport links, shops....) Really hoping that I can find something in time to get a mooring sorted there for winter.

Yay! Eeek! Accepted an offer on my house, fingers crossed it should go through pretty quickly too. Now looking for a boat on or not to far removed from the Macc/Peak forest in all the usual places, but if anyone knows a 50ish ft for £25-35k, possibly a bit more for the right boat, be much obliged to hear tell about it. Would have previously said just a trad or semi for the room, but looked at a 50ft cruiser and trad this weekend and the cruiser seemed to have much more usable internal space than the (gorgeous Braidbar) trad, had to go back and recheck the lengths, couldn't believe it!

...where there's a will there's a way

I've got Lancaster insurance on a 1977 Series III Land Rover, and it very specifically says no boats, mobile homes, caravans, yurts on a swamp-raft etc....it took me a good while to find cheap classic car insurance for her, she may have to go once I get the boat

Just wanted to say thanks for all the replies. Victoria Pit seems to have a really nice vibe and just the right amount of liveliness, I love the trading post. Lyme view looks a bit disconnected but very private. Only thing I don't like about that stretch is the high tension power lines - really feel zapped when I walk underneath them! Cheers Andy

Hello all So...house finally on the market and I'm planning to live on the Macclesfield canal later this year. The main marinas I'm interested in mooring are Victoria Pit and Lyme view. New Mills is too traffic towny and Furness vale...possible but a bit unappealing. I'd just be occasionally meandering the Macc and over to Whaley/Bugsworth, on board 4-5 nights a week. I wondered if anyone had experience of liveaboard life at the former 2 places, how you found it? Also if anyone had experience of any of the farm moorings along there and what the rough mooring costs & facilities (if any) were? Cheers Andy