Beki Turner

Thanks so much David. Really interesting, they seemed to go to a lot of trouble to get the planning so I wonder why nothing came of it. I will have a good look through.

Thanks Adam - I have tried them and they have said no. Not sure what 'Trade Boats' are - maybe a cafe boat like the lovely one just outside Braunston or Rentals. We would like to buy a shell and fit it ourselves ideally as my personal Mr Grumpy is very handy and also a perfectionist... The initial outlay is not a problem but we are looking at ways of making it less of an ongoing expense and as it will be a very modern style and beautifully appointed we were hoping to attract "the chiswick lot" as my husband calls those discerning people who like something quality and a bit different and are prepared to pay a premium.

Can you stop assuming I know nothing. I haven't owned a canal boat before - no - but I have had a family catalac and I have spent years holidaying on the canals and incidentally won a trophy as 'canal boat handler of the year' many moons ago after handling a boat with 3 others around a difficult course at the launch of a newly renovated canal in Northern Ireland... and before your purists start yelling, yes the locks in Ireland are push button operated but I have done many that aren't.... as I have stated - its not necessarily a marina I'm looking for...

I'm going to do pre checks before every rental and turn up every time to greet - make sure they are clear on everything - talk through the rules and hand over the key personally - if I think the people are legitimate and responsible. I will also clean and check and restock after every rental and be on the end of a phone 24/7 in fact I will deal with it just like I do with my current Airbnb. We will use the boat too. Hence why I need a mooring near where I live....

it was a joke

Blimey and I thought a widebeam was a step too far. Couldn't my horses just tow? Badger (below) would be great but Joker probably too posh to pull

Thanks Tumshie - great idea. I have also contacted Beds on Boats to see if they can help.

We are not hand-to-mouth, I just don't feel its fair to my horses to kill 'em off just because they are no longer rideable and are still enjoying life. We rent our land - it's not expensive. I do just want to off-set some of the costs of a canal boat by letting it out when we can't use it. My experience with Airbnb has been overwhelmingly positive. I have not had a single person who didn't respect our space/posessions and my rules. Don't you every find yourself moored up against some complete f*ckwits that own their boat/mooring but behave appallingly?

OK - Could I ask that unless you are going to be able to make a positive suggestion to my initial query - any thoughts on where I CAN obtain a mooring - you refrain from answering or commenting please. I am very aware of the potential pitfalls of Airbnb - I run one - I suspect that many of the people commenting have no experience of it other than what they read in the press and I'm sure we all know just how representative and accurate that can be. I would like to add that CRT are set up for the concept and seem supportive, possibly because they realise it is a great way of getting new people onto the canals. Thank you Hi David - was this a residential mooring owned by CRT do you know? That sounds interesting although we would want to take the boat out ourselves so it wouldn't be totally static

Thanks all. I have a lot of experience with grumpies as I've been married to a Class A one for more than 20 years. I know they are helping really. Hi David - was this a residential mooring owned by CRT do you know? That sounds interesting although we would want to take the boat out ourselves so it wouldn't be totally static

Thanks Richard - yes I have boats in my blood - as does my husband. He would sell up and live on a boat in a heartbeat but I am a gardener and I love my houses and gardens and I have retired horses, dogs, cats and hens so not possible (at the moment) We have been thinking about a boat for years but my husband works abroad for up to 7 months a year so it hasn't seemed sensible. He is now home a lot more but we wanted a way of making a decent boat work for a living (as we have to pay for the upkeep of retired horses, dogs, cats etc....)

Hi David - was this a residential mooring owned by CRT do you know? That sounds interesting although we would want to take the boat out ourselves so it wouldn't be totally static

I have had very few positive suggestions as to where it may be possible, instead people have assumed I know nothing, have not done any research, have probably never been on a boat and that I think its connected to the sewage system...LOL People are doing Airbnb with their boats so I just wanted to know how they achieved it - probably by going under the radar would seem to be the answer and that isn't how I would want to operate. I am trying to do it properly.

That is exactly why I am looking for somewhere within easy reach. I do know about boat toilets, unfortunately. My family owned a sea-going Catalac and I have been on holiday on a canal boat for many years. I would expect the customer to use the marina facilities in a total emergency as I would expect to use them myself for the same reason, however I would do my utmost to ensure the total emergency didn't happen. Gosh - you're a supportive bunch aren't you? I wasn't 'expecting' my local marina to do it - I was asking initially for positive suggestions as to where it may be possible. Instead I've been met with a barrage of reasons as to why it isn't possible...

Thank you. I do understand why you have this and I'm not questioning that a marina can make this choice, I just wondered if there was any way that I could find a mooring where security checked people could stay on my boat without starting the engine and heading off down the canal - I would obviously expect to pay a premium for a 'commercial' mooring but it would seem impossible. I would not expect the marina to answer any questions or take any responsibility and I would be on the end of the phone 24/7 as I need to be for the flat I let out. I leave full instructions with my flat and rarely get any questions but I would obviously meet personally anyone staying on my boat as I appreciate it's not a house.

Some hire boats are run out of marinas - so there must be some that do allow this. Some are more 'public' than others too with shops/ brokerage on site. I do have to trust Airbnb have done their security checks when I allow people to stay 'in my back garden' so I do understand the security risk and of course - marinas want to be sure that people aren't going to use the key code for nefarious purposes. It's a tricky one. I assumed that it would be an accepted way of running a boat as getting the license / insurance is relatively straightforward, in fact the insurance is easier than for my flat but the mooring is the sticking point.

I can see that you really don't like the idea Richard but I think it is a shame that non-residential boats sit empty at least 4 nights a week when they could be contributing to their keep and freeing up income that probably would go straight back into the canal boat industry with owners using the money to maintain, upgrade and refurbish their boats. Some marinas do allow business to be run from there too. Look at the Beds on a Boat deal with with MDL group and various small operators who have just one or two hire boats such as https://www.boutiquenarrowboats.co.uk/ Thanks for your interest.

I'm very happy for it not to be a Marina but then I could run into potential issues with power/water etc. Perhaps I should try a post asking a private mooring owner if they want to let me their mooring? This is not intended to make me a living or pay for the boat BTW, in fact it will probably make me a small fortune out of a large one as my Father-in-law would say but it would help us to afford a decent boat that we could use too.

I currently run a successful let and I have found that guests are very keen to obey the rules set by the owner because if they don't they aren't allowed to continue using Airbnb - I certainly haven't had any issues and I would make it very clear that any communication is with me and not the marina. but yes - we may have to look at a 'hire boat' or 'beds on boats'

Hi all and thanks for the responses. I have done considerable research and I am aware of safety/license/insurance issues. We don't want the visitors to move the boat but simply use it as an alternative to B&B or a hotel. It sounds mad to want to stay on a boat in a marina; but some of them are very attractive and in places where people want to stay for work or leisure. A really attractive canal boat in a nice marina would do very well I'm sure. We are really keen to own our own boat too and not a share. I have seen some narrow boats advertised on Airbnb but most seem to be constantly on the move (and possibly doing it under the radar) I want to do it all above board. I just wondered if anyone knew how a suitable mooring could be achieved. I have approached 3 marinas near to me and in an ideal spot for Airbnb but had a resounding 'no' (and I am happy that I will be charged extra for a 'commercial' mooring) Any suggestions gratefully received.

Hello. My husband and I love the canals and have wanted to buy a boat for a while. We run a successful Airbnb flat above our garage and thought that offering Airbnb stays on a narrowboat could mean that we could realise our boat owning dream before retirement. The boat would be static for guests (although we would use her for holidays) I can insure and license a boat for Airbnb but I cannot find a marina that will allow it. Can anyone help? The boat would need to be within easy distance of Milton Keynes or South Northamptonshire so I could clean/maintain and meet guests. Thanks very much.