samuelthomson

Hi, thanks for all the thoughts on this! Listening to other peoples' experience/reckoning is very helpful, especially FadeToScralet, fittie et al. I'm most convinced by the added-stress argument that it wouldn't be a good idea. It sounds like permanent mooring probably wouldn't be cheaper, and if CCing, I'd likely be spending a day a week moving/getting gas/changing batteries/retrieving post etc for a saving equivalent to working in a bar every Thursday (which might admittedly be less spiritually fortifying). My college hasn't been able to offer anything affordable, but I've seen a few rooms on Gumtree that would cost less than a permanent-mooring. For some reason, the University under-supplies on accommodation while requiring students to have a permanent address in the local area. Now you know where our housing policy comes from.

Thanks for such a quick response! I see what you mean about not saving much when mooring costs are considered. As always, I'd hoped to find something out of the ordinary, eg, someone able to rent half a double mooring or similar. The thread you suggested was good reading, I would be skirting the limits of acceptability during term-time, although I'd venture further whenever possible and might only be in the area for 10 months total. People I've spoken to in London seem to find CCing relatively easy and I'm surprised it gets harder in Oxford but Hey ho, as the saying goes. Is there a map of visitor moorings available from the CRT or similar, and is it really that hard to moor for 7+ days at a time? @Lmcgrath87, So then the shorter staying-times are due to Environment Agency rules? @Mike, Yes, I make no claims for originality and I've no doubt that the area suffers enough inexperienced boaters even with the few that make it onto the water @youthoftoday If anything, this article suggests there's plenty of potential for mooring space @John6767 Here's an advert for a boat with a "transferable" Agenda 21 mooring, I don't know if this helps: http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=419758 I've actually been looking at boats all over the country (which I'd then bring to Oxford) because they do seem to get both more expensive and more dilapidated in the south.

Hello! I'm moving to Oxford in September to start an MA and I've been thinking about getting a narrowboat to live on whilst I'm there. A room in a house would be £400/month minimum and I'd much rather put the £5000 living costs for the year towards a boat instead (I realise some of that would go on various licences, fuel and fees, but I'd imagine less than half). I've started to research boats and their costs, and I've spent a day travelling through London with friends on their narrowboat, I want to illustrate that this isn't an idle fantasy but something that I'm considering carefully. However, from my research it seems that Oxford is a difficult place to find a mooring. I called up Osney Mill and was surprised that they have no residential moorings and weren't able to suggest anywhere else I might call. I asked about continuous cruising, and was told there wasn't anywhere I'd be able to stay near Oxford for more than a night or two at a time (whereas most of London seemed to work on a 14 day basis). At this point, I'd be open to either a permanent mooring or cruising and I wondered if anyone had any recommendations for either. Apparently its possible to apply for an Agenda 21 mooring, so advice on this would also be well received. I'm planning on visiting Oxford in the next week to do some ground work, so please let me know if you'd like to meet Sam P.S. I'd also be interested if anyone was looking to rent space on a boat that they used lightly.