Tradewind

Thanks understand that magic number and will look at above canals. Cheers

Thanks for your replies they are very welcome and knowledgeable.

Yes Alan I know you are perfectly correct, I'm not a hoarder but use to big houses so temptation is stay in the north and see some lovely countryside but in all honesty how far could I travel on my own in a fat boat is what I keep asking myself. So if I scale down to a narrow and give myself total canal freedom where would you given this choice (I have no geographical ties) choose to put as your base Marina, I would want to return to a Marina to safely tie up the boat.

My question is in what area of the UK and also any suggestions on nice marina's for me to make a base to travel from and explore. I live in Kent and in the US for periods at a time and I'm planning on buying a 50 to 60 ft narrowboat in the near future. I would be living on it on and off for periods of 3 or 4 weeks at a time over the year then away for similar periods. I will be on my own and am in my 60s so not looking for too many locks together if possible (perhaps in time they might not be so daunting). I would love the space of a widebeam and have considered Mercia Marina but not sure a novice would be up to a widebeam solo and where I could sensibly tour from that base. Any help will be most appreciated.