Mick in Bangkok

H Dave, I was of the understanding that such traditional boats would not have hydraulic drives as a norm. I am looking at buying such a boat but not doing any significant work so just trying to establish what is likely to be out there head room wise. Cheers Mick

Hi, Given that the head room is usually very low in engine rooms & back cabins for boats with vintage engines is there an average head room or does the head room in these areas fluctuate very much. As I am 5’10” would there be a boat out there with a tolerable head room in such a boat. Cheers Mick

Thank you I will look into this

this looks like an interesting option, might your friend have an e mail as we are overseas

I wonder on how the covid 19 will impact on boat sales

Hi to everyone, hope your all weathering the current crises well. I recently saw a link for a long term boat rental company “Escape the Rat Race” here on the form, has anyone any experience with this company or perhaps know of other companies who also give long term, 3-4 months rentals for cruising the network on an extensive basis. Cheers Mick

I've often wondered why narrow boats do not use springers for this purpose, my own experience is sailing boats and this is the way to go

Just food for thought but I am retiring this year as well and considering either an outright buy or share option. I am overseas and wish to use the boat in continues blocks of time i.e. 3monthe to 6 months and staying overseas in winter therefore share options with weekly allotments are not for me and outright ownership means paying for storage for long periods. I am also considering joint ownership with 1 or two other parties and splitting all purchase, maintenance and wintering costs and having use of the boat for some agreed periods.

Just throwing out questions to get an idea of what to look for when buying a boat, I can imagine cruising for 4 to 8 hours some days and days moored up without moving in-between but with solar as you say an electric fridge might be my best option.

Are gas fridges very cost affective? I do not hear so much of these but sound like a good idea

Yes CCing the rest of the time, only have a mooring for winter months as I may be overseas for this period A lot depends on the type of toilet and persons onboard plus if you are out a lot...when we both had full time jobs our pump out lasted a month....now we are on the boat a lot more it’s more like 2/3 weeks for two of us...you only rent beer! I have assumed for two on board full time and guests some weeks or week ends

never thought of that, I will give that a go

It is noteworthy that months the boat would be stored in a marina are virtually the same cost as months ccing for the remaining months of the year.

My plan is to have boat on a mooring for 6 months not necessary for good facilities as I will not live on board. Remaining months will be CCing, items in red are static mooring costs and blue are cruising and black font all year round expenses.. Until a few weeks ago I was budgeting 1 hr per L and recent threads on the form have made me rethink this, however I would rather be over in budget and save on the day than underestimate before taking the leap and buying a boat. Glad to see this may be the reality of cruising costs

I have included a budget for upgrades in the purchase budget so only considering actual running and maintenance costs

I know this question may invoke many questions itself such as preferred living eating standards etc. but please humor us, we are a married couple who eat regular 2-3 meals per day meat & veg, chicken, pork with occasional steak etc, do not overspend but also not on a tight budget. As we have been for many years overseas and never canal based can some experienced couples give some ball park figures of monthly living budgets more over summer than winter months as I am now refining my overall budget for retirement on a canal boat in the coming year. Cheers Mick

Just updated my estimated budget based upon research over the past year. Am I in the right ball park for a reasonably well kept boat 60-70ft boat of around late 90’s leaning towards a vintage engine with reasonably available engine parts for cruising 6 months of the year and stored over winter months in a low cost marina with minimal facilities as will not be living onboard during these months. I’m hoping these figures are somewhat pessimistic and actual costs may be closer to GBP6K per year without any surprises Cheers Mick Updated Aug. 2019 Months on mooring 6 65 to 70ft months on board 6 Annual maintenance & upkeep Wgt. Lifting out of water plus pressure wash x 1 £ 150 2% Anodes & blacking GBP500 x 2 years £ 250 4% Boat safety certificate GBP140/4 years £ 35 1% Mooring GBP230 per month £ 1,560 23% Dry storage G300 (Aqua Marina, Dabdale Wharf) £ - 0% Canal & river license 12m 1020/ 6m 612 £ 1,100 16% River only license 12m 522/6m313 £ - 0% Pump out GBP20 x 2 per month £ 240 4% Water £ - 0% Tools £ 100 1% Boat upper maintenance GBP8K/15 years £ 667 10% Boat electrical maintenance £ 200 3% Boat engine maintenance £ 200 3% River canal rescue membership (optional) £ 150 2% Diesel 1.5L per hr. x GBP1.50 (80hr/M) £ 1,080 16% Cooking gas GBP26/btl., 1 per month £ 156 2% Electricity / generator petrol £ 180 3% Coal GBP11/25kg summer 1 bags month £ 66 1% Additional clothing (wet gear etc.) £ 100 1% Maps, books etc. £ 50 1% Phone & internet GBP40/month £ - 0% Insurance, theft, fire & flood per year £ 250 4% Misalliance £ 250 4% Total cost per annum £ 6,784 100% per month £ 565

Hope this is clear on your screens, white pins on North canals may be hard to see

My only experience to date is on a hire boat in 2018 so glade for your feed back. Would running for a couple of hours a day when non cruising add up to much fuel consumption?

I am planning on CC'ing for 6 months of the year as a retirement plan starting in 2020 and having no experience was estimating 4 hrs. per day cruising say 25 days per month = 100 hrs. per month, would this seem excessive or normal practice to experienced boaters in similar ci8rcumstances. We plan to move around the system and enjoy the canals as opposed to stay in the same place for any period of time and use the engine for heating water and generating electricity as we go.

I did not consider the current 60/40 rule, actually the increase will only be around 50% of the increased cost as boaters are already using some white fuel, is this correct? Why would canal side sellers stop selling as there will still be the same supply and demand for boats in any case?

Ok thanks for the advice, I will adjust the budget accordingly, Cheers Mick

As I am not budgeting to return to UK and start continues cruising next year for retirement can anyone clarify the impact of changing from red to white diesel. My prior cost estimate was “Red diesel fuel x GBP0.9 per L x 1L per hr. x 100hrs per month” (100hr x GBP0.9) = GBP90 per month. Any advice from experienced boaters appreciated. Cheers Mick

Ok thank you for the confirmation, I was aware of income and capital gains but not having lived in UK for a while was not up to date on council tax etc.

Prompted by another members post on a similar topic but not wanting to hijack the thread I was hoping to get some clarification on the following; Myself and my wife live overseas and are gearing up to return to UK to retire on a canal boat for CCing. We may only live in UK for 6 to 9 months of the year and will place our boat in storage at a marina while overseas during the winter. Would we be subject to any council tax or other tax apart from income tax from property rental income? Thanks for any advice Mick