EasyToAssemble

I've had a look on the Canal and River Trust Waterside Mooring search, which shows residential moorings in various marinas around the UK. Do these listings not reflect actual availability? Financially, I've added up the overheads WITH potential loan repayments, and it's doable. Aside from how the mooring situation affects my ability to work (the deciding factor), I'm not sure how any borrowing differs from taking out a mortgage; something the vast majority of homeowners do. Borrowing that sum doesn't exclude them from paying to maintain (or even improve on) their purchase.

Hello All. I'm a complete beginner, looking for guidance on starting out in narrowboating. I don't yet own a narrowboat, but am considering one as a permanent residence. I realise this is a question often asked, but I thought I'd create a new post, as I potentially have some questions specific to my circumstances. Preamble I've started thinking about a narrowboat, as I'm on the cusp of being a first time buyer, but have recently started having doubts about shelling out for bricks and mortar: A) shelling out for a 10% mortgage whilst prices are the highest they've ever been. They say property is an investment, but the idea of possibly overpaying, and owing the bank that much for decades doesn't sound as wise as it should do. B ) the appeal of owning my own home will be limited, if I can't afford to live in an area I'll actually like. Costs? Via blogs and Youtubers, I've started to get an idea of the true costs of owning a narrowboat, so I'm hopefully coming into this armed with a realistic outlook. I realise it's "how long is a piece of string", but what would be a good estimate of A) the cost of a used 36ft in decent condition, and B ) the annual costs of 1 person on that boat, with permanent residency moorings in the West Midlands?. The figures I've seen banded about are anywhere between £2.5k to £6k (though the latter was a 55ft owner with other vehicles). Boat Loans (mortgages)? As I'm expecting the cost of narrowboats to exceed my saved amount, I'd be looking at borrowing the rest. Obviously, a life without credit is ideal. But, has anyone used finance to help them purchase a narrowboat? Apart from the obvious one of borrowing money (and interest rates), what things should I consider if going this route? Permanent Residency (West Midlands)? The one essential criteria - at least for now - is being able to get a residential mooring, due to working full time. I realise these are in limited supply, and I have checked the Canal and River Trust site for mooring listings to get a rough idea. My nearest ideal would be Wyken Basin on the Coventry canal, but also have family / contacts around Leamington Spa (Grand Union). Is the West Midlands a decent spot to be looking for residential moorings, and marinas in general? Working a full-time job with a boat? Does anyone here manage to juggle a full time job (as an employee) and boat commitments, with a residential mooring? Is it doable? Do you find boat maintenance or mooring arrangements are an interruption to that? Are there many marinas in the West Mids near to rail routes? Practical handywork experience? I don't have any experience with engines or electricals, though I'll be willing to learn. Would this be a barrier to starting out or checking boats when buying? I know there's a few narrowboating courses (Leicester being the nearest), which may give me some experience. Conclusion Overall, I'm not expecting narrowboating to be a cheap, easy way to live. But, provided it's affordable and possible with a full-time job, I would be willing to take the adjustment in lifestyle, increase in self reliance, to reap the rewards of seeing some fantastic scenery, at least some option of changing my environment / my neighbours when it suits, and actually owning my own home within a much shorter timeframe than if I bought a house. Hopefully, I'm adopting the right attitude here. Any advice and information (and encouragement) on the above would be gratefully received!