Boc11

I really want to experience a holiday or short break afloat, hiring a small boat and spending a few days messing about on the river or canal but I’m finding it virtually Hi there folks… I would very much like to hire a boat for a week or a few days or whatever and have a nice short break cruising the river or canal, however I have found it nigh on impossible to find any boat hire firms that are willing to let an individual person have a boat. Does anyone know of any boat hire firms (preferably down South, ie Reading/Thames/London area) that will hire to an individual? I don’t mind paying a large deposit if I have to if it is refundable but it seems nobody wants my money! I have Googled ‘boat hire’ and retired all the firms that come up, such as Hoseasons etc and they all state that a minimum of two people are required. I found a website yesterday (Blakes) that allowed you to specify ‘1’ as the number in your party and I placed a booking only to have an email back today saying that they wouldn’t accept it as they need at least two persons in the party. There was nothing at all on the website or their extensive Terms & Conditions page about this. Any help would be much appreciated but I have to go alone as my parents hate boats and I don’t know anybody else who would want to go on holiday with me.

Oh, OK. Anyone know of any firms that will hire to individuals as opposed to groups? Preferably Southern England, ie the Thames or Kennett and Avon etc. Ta.

Hmmn...thanks for your replies. It sounds as though the cost of morrings will be prohibitive, in which case, the only alternative would be to cruise around although there's not really anywhere to go round my way and I can't stray too far as I have to get to work. Buying a boat itself is not a problem as I have seen a few at a price I could afford (with a loan) but what type of boat would you reccomend for down this way? Perhaps a boating holilday might cheer me up a bit but I haven't found anyone that does hire boats for people on their own. It's all for families or couples it seems. Well, looks like it was just another dream that's out of reach but it was worth asking

Hi there, I'm new here...I've dreamed about living on a boat for years and only very recently started actually looking into doing something about it but I need some advice as I know very little about boats, I hope this is the right place to ask, please forgive me if not. I currently live in a city, in a flat and to be honest it's depressing. It's also very expensive. I'd love to give up all that for a nice cosy little boat but not sure whether I can even afford it. I live in Southampton and would ideally like a mooring on the River Itchen but I don't know if there is anything suitable. The River Hamble would be OK if not, I know there are houseboats there but not sure who owns the moorings or how expensive they are. Ideally, I'd like somewhere with a water supply and residential permission. I also have no idea how much it would cost to rent a mooring. I can't really stray too far from Southampton as that is where I work but it would be great to be able to cruise around at weekends or for holidays. As far as boats themselves go, a Durch Barge would be great although probably outside my budget...a narrowboat would probably be ideal as I live on my own and that would be plenty enough space but if I bought a narrowboat, would I be able to sail it around the coast? Southampton has no connection to the canal network as far as I know so it would be a bit restricted in that respect. I currently earn just under £1,100 a month and would be interested to know if anyone thinks I can afford it or not. At the moment, almost half of my wages go on the rent for my flat which I would give up if I could live afloat. I have about £1000 savings and no debts. From research I have done online so far, it appears that the best option for financing a boat is an unsecured personal loan but that depends on how much buying a boat would cost. I have had a look and seen boats costing everything from over a hundred thousand to £14,000 but I have no idea what is good value and what is expensive. My only other outgoings are necesarry things such as council tax, electricity etc. I don't want anything fancy, as long as she doesn't leak and is possible to live aboard, I don't care if she's tatty; I don't mind as I am happy to spend time doing her up. Where is the best place to buy a boat? My problem is the location. Is moving the boat by lorry possible or is that prohibitively expensive? I have seen this one on Ebay and the price is about right but I don't know if she's any good. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/36-Springer-Narrowbo...1QQcmdZViewItem Any advice you can give me would really be very much appreciated then I can decide whether living aboard is a dream I can pursue or just a pipe dream I can only afford if I win the Lottery.