[Blog Update]

 

Hi, I am trying to update my Blog with a new entry but some reason it does not appear on my blog. Please can someone advise. Thanks

 

 

Please ignore the above, after more investigation and practice I have now managed to update the blog.

[Irons]

Thanks for the input, I think perhaps a travel iron is the best option as I don't intend do this task on a regular basis, only when it is absolutley necessary.

[Irons]

As some point later this year I am going to become one of the lucky one who continously cruise the network. Over the last couple of months I have been going through the wardrobes and sorting out what to take and what to leave behind. The captain has informed me that an iron is out of the question unless I can get something that is not going to use too much power. Now I know that a few creases won't hurt but there are some clothes that will need an iron occassionally. My question is what is the soloution, how do those of you that live permanently on board deal with this.

[Bathroom Location]

We have decided on the following layout which we feel suits us as continuous cruisers and will also accomodate the occasional guest.

 

You walk in the back to the utility room then through to the bedroom. From there into a walkthrough bathroom, which will have doors both sides. Next comes the kitchen and at the front the lounge area.

 

This layout will allow for privacy when guests are on board.

 

Maybe not to everyone taste but we feel after a lot of research it is ideal for us.

[Waterways Art]

There are a great many artists who use the waterways as their inspiration for their work. Would "waterways art" be a great topic for the forum.

 

It could be used to exchange ideas, techniques, problem solving and a host of other valuable art related services.

 

The forum could encompass the whole waterways art scene from painting to photography to sculpture in fact anything form related to waterways art.

 

Any comments???

 

Ta

 

Boater

 

 

I think it is a great idea, my partner and I are planning on continuous cruising - starting later this year and I thought it would be a good idea to take up a hobby. When we went to the IWA last year I took a painting class in 'Painting Rose' and really enjoyed it. I have now purchased the book and the paints and have started practising, Paul has said if I get good enough I can paint the inside of the doors on the boat, I have got a long way to go before this though. Having a topic on the forum to cover technique, problem solving and advise would be invaluable to a novice like me.

[Living aboard - what's your top benefit]

This is not an attempt to pry into anyone else's motives, but I am interested to know what fellow boaters would consider the number one benefit of living on board was. I know about all the financial things but if you did free up some cash, what was the best thing you did with it. If you did it for the lifestyle, what have you gained.

 

Mine was freeing up the funding to put my daughter through her PhD. This way she can support me when she graduates

 

My partner and I are not actually living on board at the moment as the boat is currently in the garden to be fitted out. Hopefully this will change come June/July when the boat will be launched and we will move on to the to continuously cruise the network. I think the number one benefit of living on board for us is simply the change in life style. We are now in a position where we can give up work and enjoy life with the little money that we will have left after purchasing and fitting out the boat, but the simple life awaits (water filling, loo emptying, wood scrounging, etc. etc.) Hopefully we will gain peace and tranquility and longer life.

[Why do you do it?]

In the 'i wonder' thread I contended that the majority of people who liveaboard do so for their love of boating and being on the water, rather than purely financial reasons. Chris W took me to task on my statement and said, "There are a number of liveaboards in my marina and they all seem have done it to release capital by selling their house and living a relatively financially stress-free life." So - if the liveaboards on Chris's marina are a typical cross section, then this blasts my rose tinted view into smithereens!

 

So, my question to all you liveaboards is why do you do it. Are you living on a boat just because you've sold your house and you can live a relatively financially stress free life. Or is the financial aspect secondary.

 

For those who don't have a lump of dosh in the bank, would you rather just get by on the water, or just get by on land?

 

We are just about to start ftting out our new boat and will hopefully be on the water end of June early July 08.

 

We are doing this purely for the lifestyle, we love the water, the scenery, the people, the boats and no work unless we feel like it. We both enjoy walking and are are really looking forward to the change. We are lucky in the respect that we will own the boat outright and we do not need to sell the house which we will be renting out - to provide an income. We will also be continuously cruising so will not incure marina fees etc.

[Living afloat - CHEAPLY.]

Something else to consider:

Mortgage on house all paid up? Enjoy the cut? Houses of similar size to mine in my area are let out at around £875 per calendar month, Let your property live on your boat until you get too old to cope with it. Do your sums. Also to consider, when you do get "a bit past it" what about living in your home and letting out your boat!

Don't do this myself, I enjoy the comfort of home, and the freedom to visit my boat just to potter around or go off on a cruise whenever I wish to.

 

Edited to correct typo. One day I will be typo free!!!

 

This is what my partner and I are going to do next year, we are currently sorting out the boat and once that is done will sort the house out for renting. We are not doing this as a cheap option but as a means to have an easier way of life.

[LOCK No. 1,000]

Have a look in this thread for some ideas.

 

I use an A4 cash book. There is a left-hand column about an inch wide, in which I write the essential times (start time, time of passing junctions, stopping time, etc) and on the right are 3 narrow columns in which I note the number of hours, miles, and locks. The rest of the space is written up, at 1 page per day, with anything at all no matter how sensible or silly (but always recording where we stop for the night).

 

The totals of hours miles and locks are useful for estimating future jouneys, and also remind me when to change the oil and so on.

 

 

A big thank you to everyone for your advise, I will definetly be keeping a log of our travels and by the look of it, it will become a daily task and one which I will enjoy.

[LOCK No. 1,000]

I've just looked at my master log; I've taken Keeping Up through 8722 locks (since 1991). Add in the 4 years with our previous boat and it comes to 11152 locks (and 17552 miles)

 

I find it interesting to note that in every one of those years, overall we've averaged between 2.1mph and 2.3mph

 

Slightly off topic - but I was wondering what log books you use to record your journeys, my partner and I are going to be continuously cruising - starting July 08 - and I want to keep a detailed record of these trips. All advise very welcome.

[Continuous Cruising]

We continuously cruise in that we do not have a home mooring and we never stay on the towpath for very long.

My advice to you is to read as many of these forums as possible as there is a wealth of accumulated experience

in them. Also, you might like to also read the blogs of NB No Problem, Honey Ryder and Carries boat Blackbird.

 

Consider the fitout of your boat very carefully. A boat designed for continuous cruising is very different to one used

for highdays and holidays. I don't mean that in a disparaging way.

 

Things like auxiliary power, heating, toilets, water and black tank capacity need to be carefully matched to your

expectations concerning living standards.

 

Finally, make sure you have a very good idea how much storage space is available on the average liveaboard narrowboat.

You need to be very ingenious about stowage, hard nosed about throwing things out or a bit of both.

 

Thanks for the info, we have spent many hours looking at boats, magazines, surfing the internet and poured over ideas. After many hours listing likes, dislikes and practicality we hope we have designed the layout to fit us. as you rightly say storage is a major issue on a boat and we are going to be very ruthless when it comes to emptying the house. I have already started on the wardrobes and drawers and when the skip turns up I will attack the attic.

 

The other half is sorting out all the technical stuff and looking at wind generators, solar panels and a genny. he has a very long list of things to buy. I am concentrating on the furnishings etc - and trying to keep the list short.

 

I have started to read some of the blogs and find them very interesting.and informative.

[Continuous Cruising]

Bottle - Thanks, the other half is planning to work on the boat full time, and currently ordering the stuff required. I can only hope that it is completed enough to put on the water by the end of June as I really want to give up work.

[Continuous Cruising]

Hi everyone, I am new to the forum and have had a lot of fun reading the numerous topics, my partner and I will be taking possesion of a sailaway in the next few weeks and then fitting it out with a view to launching end of June 08. My question is how many of the live aboards continuously cruise the network. I would love to hear about some of the experiences (good and bad) and aso any advise would be greatly recieved.