Triumph-Rat

Me neither, but if I end up on the water I damn sure want to know what is acceptable and what isn't before I get off the dock. This is a big thing for me, a potential complete life change at 52yo and I want it to go right!! I don't listen to music in my house and haven' done for years because my neighbors are so uptight that if they get a whiff of tunes they are banging on the door. I am looking for somewhere to fit in, because I sure don't where I am. Not looking to rock boats, just have a bit of peace.

Really??? I am just trying to understand why it is such a bad thing. I have stated that I like my music but would level it down as I would here if I thought it would offend, to get people telling me that I said I would play it as loud as I want when I want. That is not what I said, read the post before attacking your keyboard. Is the sound of an engine very loud? I do not know, this is why I ask questions. And to offer me an impromptu swim without even knowing me, I think some of community are showing their true colors with that one and if do get a boat you are welcome to try 😄. Fair enough, sentence one was not what I actually said (and therefore within my remit) but sentence two explained the issue, thankyou. Thankyou, a well thought out and articulated answer.

OK, read this whole thread and have a couple of questions. I don't have a boat at the moment, but when (if) I manage to get one this will be an issue I need to pay attention to. There is a definite negativity to running engines after hours because 'it is the rules' but to get better clarification are the complainants liveaboards (which would be fair enough in permanent moorings) or hirers (who just want a peaceful week on the canal). Similarly are the offenders liveaboards (who would have to make their batteries work around their working day, not always easy) or hirers (who are probably oblivious to the rules or don't care anyway cos they are just having a laugh on the water with their mates for a week). Does this also apply to any other noise, such as dogs barking as mentioned above? I like my tunes (not just tuning a banjo) and I will be living aboard and will play music whenever I want and within reasonable noise limits as I would in a residential situation What I have read so far is a whole lot of 'tut tutting' and 'banging on the roof' (you didn't though did you, you just put up with it and dreamt you did?). I am assuming this happens in mooring stations given the 'nose to tail' comments and it begs the question why it is even a thing. Moor up to get water/diesel etc as you need but why, when you have (pretty much) the whole waterways to moor up in and have total silence do you feel the need to cram yourselves into a marina where people are likely to piss you off?

I'm sure, just on a fact finding mission but as usual with forums there are 'go for it' and 'doooomed for failure' posts. Just have to sort wheat from chaff 🙂 Talking boats and beer would be good, fishing talk also welcome. Trying to decide when my initial thread is done and I need to go pissing other members off with questions that are needed for me but old hat for them.

I am miserable, depressed and failing already, but I can't go fishing in my garden LOL

Hi Ewan, thanks for that but I did the big consultancies (URS, WYG) and their regime is the reason I went solo. Business is picking up now so not worried at the moment. Couldn't go back to an office job with managers looking over my shoulder LOL

Thankyou

To all who have taken any amount of umbrage to my 'putting people off comment' it was intended to be very tongue in cheek. I am just here to find out as much as I can before potentially taking the plunge. I can live with an internal doer-upper as long as I can cook, sleep comfortably, go to the toilet comfortably and have enough 240v for the tv, laptop and Playstation. Like I say, I have become totally disillusioned with the brick and mortar life and haven't been able to go on holiday for the past 6 years due to work and the daily cash grind. If nothing else owning a boat would mean I could go on holiday anytime I have a full tank of diesel, even if just a short jolly. Also de-cluttering my life would be VERY therapeutic!! I have all the rammel from 15 years of marriage in this house (including a solid wood blanket box that I have no idea where it came from but has nothing to do with me and a 6' kitchen table and chairs when there is only me and the dog here) and this would be a great cleansing ritual given that I assume storage is limited on boats. I have started making inroads now just because of the idea so if no more comes of it at least I will have got rid of all the clutter LOL Lots of good points made so far (thankyou) and sure it will be a big learning curve. Is it worth doing a boat engine maintenance course or will that just give the basics that should be common sense for any engine.

Thanks, I can turn my hand to many things and am also a (partially) carpenter trained and my eldest son works multi-trade for a company and does everything from kitchens, boarding, plumbing, cabinet building etc so got a pretty good base of friends/family to call on for things.

Whut? Have I missed something or are boat electrics completely different? He does domestic as well so not a problem.

Blimey, for a canal boat forum you lot aren't half keen on putting people off 😝 I have a couple of people who can come to look at prospective purchases. One is an auto electrician (assume fault finding would be the same) and the other a mechanic who grew up on boats as a member of a family of 'water gypsies' (his words not mine).

With the obvious exception of the past 18 months, my business has a relatively good annual turnover so while I don't have much money under the mattress there is usually something in or coming in that can ward off unexpected costs. The prime thing I am worried about is buying a lemon. Being new to this I don't really know enough yet to commit. That said, a musician friend of mine I haven't seen for a while lives on a narrowboat fairly locally, may have to track him down and do a Q and A session.

Will do. Thanks for the reply.

I don't want another house/flat to be honest. I can do my work anywhere and with wi-fi can do my surveys and then go elsewhere to write the reports. I have been tied to brick and mortar for too long with no joy had from it, its time to take another path.

Seems he was in a raw place and didn't like it in the first place. I weighed up my options and never realized that a narrowboat would be affordable. I was going to live in the van but huge lack of space. This is a great option for my preferred way of life (although as said will need to be researched thoroughly before committing to a boat). Have around a years grace so time to learn.