Carlito

Thanks for the info! 20 metres, yea...that's huge. I wouldn't even want something that big as the extra room would just go to waste. Its only me and I have naff all possessions. My whole life fits easily into a motorhome ? I'm not sure when I'll be buying. It all depends what boat type and how much I can make in the next year or two (I can easily save 80% of my earnings).

I haven't considered much as I was just looking at narrowboats firstly. Then my friend recommended Widebeams then I found out Dutch barges, lagoon catamarans etc exist. So your example is another boat I had no idea existed. I'm not really fussed what boat I get, as long as it can handle European waterways and is safe in them. I'll definitely look into them though!

Oh boy, i don't think i'd ever sail across! Maybe if i had lots of experience, and if i did i'd still want the advice of experts/an escort. I was going to say it costs a couple of thousand, but i'd just have it shipped across and then just trucked to a suitable canal/river here and pay for mooring until i've got enough money to go off again! And then i saw your 6k?! I heard 2! Well i guess it's a good job i don't plan to do it often. I'd have to see if it'd be cheaper to leave it abroad or bring it back here and not have to rent/lodge as that'd cost a few thousand each year on its own. It definitely seems like Dutch barge is the most suitable boat, then the widebeam. And if they're a lot cheaper than a widebeam, even better!

I'm currently researching the differences between UK widebeam and Dutch barges and will be doing a lot more. And that's a heck of a difference in thickness between the two boats. I do see myself spending at least 2-3 years, and hopefully more, abroad. I would be bringing it back to the UK though when i need to work again to top up funds. Are knocks to the hull a lot more common in UK canals than they are abroad? I've seen a fair few YouTubers and read a lot of narrowboaters and it seems they do happen, especially with holiday boaters/newer pilots/captains. Even 10-12mm doesn't sound thick enough when another boat ploughs into you, as that's a lot of force hitting in a very small area.

Lovely boat you have there! And i think i'll dismiss cats then. And if it is a widebeam, then i think i'll have to push the 60k budget, although hopefully not too much. Though i shall also look into the Dutch Tjalk boats previously mentioned aswell!

Hello all! So i currently live in a converted Luton/box van and have done for 3 years now. The living space is about 2m wide, 2.5m high and 5m long. I don't have many possessions and it does me fine! :) I spent most of last year travelling in my van around Europe and loved seeing different countries/cultures/everything. I'm currently researching canal boats and i was set on a narrowboat when one friend suggested a widebeam as i can take it to Europe, and another suggested a lagoon Catermaran as they're roomy and hold value. So i'd like to travel around and see lots of countries, even if it is travelling very slowly! But now i don't know what type of boat to look for, so i thought i'd ask you lot. Lucky you! :) I want to: Easily/safely navigate European waterways and hopefully spend a few years travelling around Europe before i have to come back and work. Safely have a mixed fuel stove onboard as i've heard mixed feeling about GRP and mixed fuel stoves. I want as little electric reliance as possible as until yesterday i was getting 90-200w of solar a day for an entire week. This is with 810 watts of panels on my roof. It's just been very bad for solar, and winter can always be that way. So i want my heating solution to be foolproof and run all day and night if i want to! Have a suitable boat and not find out the boat i bought really struggles/is dangerous in some situations. Other questions which may factor into the boat type! Does the length of a narrowboat/widebeam affect its ability to navigate European waters, as in is a 30ft as stable as a 50ft? Headspace in the types of boats. I'm 6'5 but i'm fairly resigned to the fact that i'l have to duck slightly, is there a type of boat which is kinder to tall folks? Frozen waterways. Narrow and widebeam boats can tolerate being frozen in, but can GRP and any other types of boats you may think are suitable tolerate it easily and without damage? And i'd like to know the security value of each boat type. Narrow/widebeams look like they're somewhat secured when you lock the doors, but can a GRP and other types be secured as well (they look very open and unsecure)? Budget Hmm, well...I was set on spending 30k and getting a nice enough narrowboat as i was thinking i don't need a 60ft+ one. But if i need a widebeam, well the cheapest i've seen so far is 60k and there's not many at that price. I know GRP are cheaper than narrowboats. So budget is flexible, but the lower the better. 60k(ish) would hopefully be the maximum, but i want to weigh up the best boat type with budget and everything else and see what happens. So if you wish to offer some advice and boat type, you're more than welcome! Also does anyone have any links for UK and European waterway maps? I've tried but only found very vague UK ones and even worse ones for France. None for other countries.