Bacchus

I am humbled by this thread. Sometimes I put off just cleaning my boat...

The Thames isn't 100% ideal for narrow-boats, this being one of the main reasons. Many moorings are aimed at providing a facility for half a dozen cruisers but can be completely taken by one or two narrow-boats. There isn't much of a culture of rafting on the inland waterways, and in any case I think most small cruisers would see rafting next to a 70' narrow-boat a bit like tying on to a train and having no clue how to get ashore even if they did.

The Thames is beautiful, lovely, one of the most beautiful places on Earth IMHO, but in winter it can be completely uninhabitable and extremely dangerous in any craft, let alone a 15' cruiser. As it happens @Hugh Dictyostelium, I did try to do something very similar - I studied for my PGCE at Oxford Uni and decided I would take my little Shetland 535 (a relatively massive 17') up to Port Meadow to stay on during the week. I think I made it to November before taking digs... Beautiful pontoon moorings outside a Staines pub in summer Not so inviting in winter (to be fair this was the infamous 2014 flood, but there is absolutely nothing to say that it won't happen again!)

Back on topic... bridgewater canal https://www.apolloduck.co.uk/boat/waterside-properties-residential-for-sale/700749 leasehold by the looks, but long lease and 130' frontage (plus a house) for 325k Rightmove link -- https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85719276 or a freehold neighbour -- https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85435854

Good place for a lock-in...

Currently flying the Q here in Bacchus Towers... (Covid 19 - just when you thought it was safe to go back into the supermarket) (I wonder if I've got a coffee pot anywhere...)

I didn't realise you were in IT...

LoL - you might be right. Or paint over the beautiful teak ceiling with "London white" and call it a live-aboard? 150 more views and seven more watchers since yesterday morning. Still no enquiries; nothing. Not even "wot's yorr lowest price mate?"

Yes

The market for cruisers has certainly peaked. I was thinking of selling my boat for various reasons this year; two brokers have told me that they didn't want the business, and that "larger" boats (it's 36') weren't selling so I popped an a up on the Duck - two enquiries in two months. Risked the eBay nutters - in ten days over 1400 views, 35 watchers, not a single enquiry. (And, no, it isn't up for "a strong price to take advantage of the current market", it's up at the same price it was three years ago when it needed painting and got a lot more interest, and compares favourably with all similar vessels.)

Cooking for one is tricky, but it's eating for two that's my downfall... (c:

No, it's just a towpath property really, but a very appealing one. Have a look on streetview, it's a lovely spot, access to the high street via an alleyway behind the cottage, little storage shed but no real land, and no mooring.

I have just been to view this one... https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/123638036 Stunning location, lovely town. Would make a perfect holiday home, but (sadly) I think it is just too small to be a home for me )c:

The superstructure is predominantly aluminium. I have been in touch with the seller and seen a couple of photos of the boat before her first(?) resto... Would certainly raise an eyebrow or two at the Henley Trad Boat Rally...

Would this be the thing -- https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/294978494647 I am hugely tempted - a lot of boat and history for really very little money picture for when the eBay ad ends...

Swans are complete bastards. We had a local one that was witnessed killing at least two "rivals". Dead of old age now, I have to confess I am pleased to say - the birdlife around here has increased dramatically since his demise! We don't get many eagles or ostriches on the Thames, so I can't comment on them. Believe me if one swims past I shall consider it worthy of a post... I have noticed this recently. I think it's something to do with deliveroo culture...

I was happy before... just a bit curious as to why you used (presumably) your full name as username, and put your boat name in your bio, then starred it out (presumably) for anonymity. Nothing complex, just idle curiosity

I was wondering that when it's in the bio and user-name?

well if we're going silly money... Someone I know is selling their Thames-side house for £1.5m https://www.watersideresidential.co.uk/property-for-sale/?id=10374 ( they only bought it as "somewhere to meet the children and have a bit of fun", but they don't use it as much as they thought they would...) actually they have done a very nice job with it, and it probably represents quite good value for that road. This one has just sold at an asking of £3.5m https://www.watersideresidential.co.uk/property-for-sale/?id=10366 and the house next door went in days at offers over £2m https://www.watersideresidential.co.uk/property-for-sale/?id=10258 - house is a bit of an acquired taste, but the garden forms a peninsular into a lake (which adjoins the Thames), forming a sort of private island (more of an isthmus than an island, but it looks like one). Quite stunning if you venture into the lake.

In the damb-squib camp I'm afraid. It has been a pretty much life-long dream to live aboard for me - never got round to it but the rising property market has left me fairly comfortable and (largely) grateful that I didn't How about selling up, using part of the proceeds for a second-hand boat, sticking part in the best interest account you can find as a slush-fund, and using part of it to fund a buy-to-let property with a commercial mortgage? No idea what your house is worth, but guessing at least in the £150-200k bracket if you're considering "a custom built boat with some left over" - £40-50k should get you a nice boat with £50k in the slush fund, and £100k still in the housing market. If you want to move back on land in 5-10 years, it should still be do-able, plus you'd get a bit of income to supplement the pensions (invest that wisely and you could pay off the BTL mortgage in ten years?) ETA - or just downsize and spend six months of the year on a proper cruise, and hole up in the little house for the winter...)

I am assuming it's an outboard - adding a vestigial rudder can help tremendously with slow speed manoeuvring and directional stability on a small GRP cruiser You can buy kits, but I can't think it would be that difficult to fabricate - search "add a rudder" and you'll find loads of images.

I love sports cruisers - this is what's great about them:- er... IMHO they are generally built "to a price" for people to impress their friends with their flash new boat. They are lightweight GRP layup with lightweight (generally petrol) engines, designed to blat out of a coastal marina, bump around for a while at high speed, and then go back to moor up and head off to do "something more interesting". Generally there would be the capacity to stay aboard, but "the wife" would probably prefer a hotel. The hulls are designed to plane and kick up a horrible wake at low speeds at which they have virtually zero directional stability; regardless of dimensions, they are completely unsuitable for any inland waterways. conversion to electric would be largely pointless with current tech, because this type of boat is designed for 20+ knots which you just won't get in any meaningful way from electric. Side decks are important when inland, but are virtually non-existent. They are the ultimate example of form over function on inland waterways, and even at sea they are mere toys - they will not look after you in any kind of bad weather, and they will not take you long distances like a sail-boat On the positive side, "there's one born every minute" so they seem to hold a reasonable value for when you come to sell them and get a proper boat. Also in fairness, as mentioned above, @Naughty Cal did seem to get an awful lot of use and pleasure out of hers, but now has a van instead.