fennylock

Many years since the op made this post about my darling and now late husband. You are wrong to call him/us unpleasant, we moved to that cottage because we loved, loved the canal and our dream was to be on a canal boat in the next couple years on retirement. Did we bore of people shouting at six am on the weekend outside our bedroom? Sure. Wouldn’t you?! Did we tire of people leaning up against our house, peering through our windows? Sure. Does that mean we didn’t deserve to live where we did or had something against boaters?! Get an actual grip. We were more than patient with every and all boater who left the swing bridge open every time they went through the lock; even if they saw old ladies, people with dogs and bikes waiting to cross. How do you know one or both of us didn’t have a condition which made traversing an open wet lock with shopping dangerous. You don’t own the canal just as we didn’t. Have you never lost your temper after a bad day? Of course you have. As I say, get an actual grip. You posted this in 2013 and I’m raging reading it now in 2020!!!! Shame on you for calling out my wonderful husband who absolutely adored where we lived and was loved by many locals, pub goers and canal folk alike. P.S. And yes. You should have bloody shut the bridge.

Appreciate the suggestion, Google doesn’t seem to bring up too much!? I’m trying not to get toooo carried away yet as still deciding on which yog pot I want and need to save up a tad more, so I will definitely be back on asking for any recommendations once this bloody lock down has lifted, stopping me working thus earning ?

Thanks guys!

That boat you linked to Dora is lovely, I’m very encouraged of the seeming options in budget, reckon there will even be more choice in winter?? For a weekend boat: is an outboard engine risky by the sounds of it re theft? I would sooner go for safest option even if I have to wait longer, mooring is on a public footpath and though semi private/quiet certainly not entirely so! A lot of the ones I’m seeing are Petrol outboards so is this a no no or is there a way to secure? I know dsl is preferred but if all I see quality/aesthetics wise in budget is Petrol would it be a massive issue? Definitely keen for one that’s been well looked after and thoughtfully kitted out as I’m not a roughing it camper by nature ? and though boating appeals I can’t do the sitting in someone else’s stains thing; but saying that there seem to be a lot of beautifully maintained boats so I’m quite excited that it could be a reality by Christmas, hopefully sooner!

Thanks, this one is a smart little boat to be fair and a decent price. It’s encouraging to know there are options. I’m going to get the mooring now because they are so rare around here and at an affordable price and then hopefully buy in the winter. I shall carry on reading all the posts and if you don’t mind ask again for boat recommendations (sites etc) nearer the time...

Thanks for all your help, I sort of see it now. This type of boat I can see myself using for years and years, looking after it well etc. I just can’t do the dark, dirty, dingy thing! Will save longer and buy in winter when I guess the market is better anyhow!

Ooh this one I like, need to get saving ? https://motorboats.apolloduck.co.uk/boat/shetland-saxon/632630

Ooh will take a look, thanks, like the look of the narrow boat. I mean it’s all a moot point at the moment but the more research I do the more prepared I’ll be when we can leave our houses again! Am am I missing any other ‘small’ basic boats that might do the trick for weekends and odd four day trips? Doesn’t need to be massive inside, we would mainly be cruising, walking or reading. Main sticking points therefore just about quality and value for money more so than space.

Thanks for all the feedback guys, it’s given me food for thought. I am not moving from the area or house so when I buy a boat it will be for foreseeable future...I already know it fits our lifestyle, I just don’t want to rush and get a pile of shit. I would want to maintain it so that it lasts years as even £4000-£6000 is a lot of money...sure nothing compared to real boats and expensive beautiful things but I wouldn’t want to toss it about regardless as I haven’t won the lottery yet ? So I think I might need to save up a bit further still and get some sort of row boat in the meantime! More madness I’m sure but why not. Would people think it ludicrous to leave such a boat chained up to said mooring? Would obviously need a fully waterproof cover and decent width chain. It is a small mooring plenty of narrowboats about as live-ins but (and a big but) it’s not private so anyone can pass by using the circular walking route... am being an idiot to think it will be safe enough there if chained to the side appropriately? Blow ups I suppose are an option but then I loose the mooring and how easy are these really to manage on own with gear and cheeky dog? Sorry for the the daft questions, I just really want to get out on the water regularly!

Agree, good point. I’ve spent a few too many hours on this already but it passes the time! And thank you for reply re how often it needs to come out of water..i truly was intending to leave it there all winter, aware it will be cold but wouldn’t put me off using and just wrapping up; probably not when it was dreadful dreadful wet as who likes that...but dry bright and cold yes pls. A lot of it is for the benefits I get in my mind from being in nature and by the water...so if I can make it work in monthly budget I definitely will as you only live once and all that!

Ah I get you! Do these boats ‘have’ to come out each winter or could I manage every other year? That’s something I hadn’t considered. I am prepared to learn most things though to be honest I would get brother in laws who are local to assist or ‘Wol’ (the lovely owner of said boat in fenny who I know well) is prepared to show me the ropes and I’m thinking for the sort of small man jobs a combination of paying him or getting family to assist...and then doing the rest myself, hard dirty work im not afraid of, I just worry about safety related repairs and wouldn’t do or try to learn that. I still think it could work, I’m fortunately earning well with low home costs and am not a party goer or shopper, seems to me a matter of priority and what a person chooses to spend their money on... I’ll re do my sums, bit less for insurance, add £50 or so in for ongoing repairs and see the damage

Oh also meant to say, I’ve seen quite a few decent (looking) boats in the region of £3000-£4500 so if an experienced boater checked it thoroughly and was sound...what would I expect to pay in maintenance costs per month (put aside £50 or more...?)

Thanks all for the contributions! I know £8000 is a more reasonable sum to have, I’m just not sure it’s wise as a ‘first time boat’ if that makes sense? The link someone posted does look up my alley in terms of finish and general state of it though I know aesthetics have nothing truly to do about it. If hubby were here we could tackle a project but I know I couldn’t on my own and if it were a hassle in any great way I wouldn’t end up keeping it. Lack of cooker is a small concern, would like a cuppa and to warm through some food brought with so I guess I need to budget more or do people use camp stoves on canal side for such things or would it be a pain in shit weather (the norm) such as to make me regret my decision??! Most important question to me is for a boat that size/type what maintenance budget should I be factoring in? Think this is the make or break element; I can justify £250 a month for my weekend and holiday enjoyment, but if it goes up much more it’s not truly viable long term (since it’s not my home just a get away boat).

Good Morning Experienced Canal Folk … trust you are well. I've been fortunate to live on the canal for many a year, some of you may have been so lucky as to meet my husband when passing through Fenny Lock (Red Lion on one side, our white cottage on the opposite) - he was a stickler for the bridge being shut, which it never was … but I digress. Unfortunately he sadly passed away last October and I've had to move from the area and off the canal but the water still calls and I am looking for a way to continue to enjoy it as we previously did. Once upon a time I had a little cruiser Puglett but mooring was an issue and we sold it on; however I am seriously toying with the idea of purchasing another one since I've found mooring near me circa £95 a month (seems ok price?), license for a boat up to 23ft is approx £50 ish a month, insurance no doubt in the region of £30 .. misc fuel, gas, etc etc another £50. Holidaying in the UK 'single' is dead expensive, so thinking that this could be not only weekend enjoyment but also a way to holiday in the UK with my pets without breaking the bank. I know I know that boats are not cheap but a week holiday on your own in a not so shabby cottage will set you back £300 + so it's all relative at the end of the day? The boats I'm thinking of are Norman, Freeman that sort of ilk .. but suggestions very much welcome as to which is the best boat to buy for my buck, thinking no more than £4000, is this do-able? I don't have the skill set to fix up so needs to come in a good way as I don't do absolute filth and mire either :) So my question to all of you is as follows: 1) with practice, would I comfortably be able to steer said 20-23ft boat on my own (will have dog and cat on board just to keep distraction levels high ..). I know this is all relative to the person, etc but I trust that anyone, male or female, would be able to manage a boat of this size no? Being 'plastic' doesn't make a big difference assuming I don't take it out in crazy harsh gales? 2) is budgeting circa £200 - £250 max a month "realistic" (I would be taking it out probably 3 out of 4 weekends for the Saturday and Sunday, not a huge amount of cruising, say two hours or so and moor up / walk / enjoy nature, saying this for context re fuel costs, etc!!) 3) if I wait till I find the right boat, other than the mooring, insurance, license, running costs, are there any other expensive things I am missing which I need to factor in? Basically, it's a go-er for me if the monthly budget of £200 - £250 is actually realistic, if it's looking more like £300 to £400 then I'll have to face reality and dream on .. Thanks for reading and giving me some honest advice. Mary