[looking for a mentor]

Hi Everyone,

 

Thank you so much for your responses and for all the information, it's really helpful. I'm not too bothered about my parents healthy, they quite literally run up and down mountains in South Africa 2, 3 sometimes 4 times a week and when they go on holiday the consider electricity an unwelcome luxury. Not just for their age but in general they are unbelievably fit, we're the type of people that relish challenges.

 

In terms of why a boat the honest reason is because it seems like it could be a fun adventure that nobody in my family has ever tried before so why not?

 

I have looked at a widebeam and it is something I'm still looking at but the type of boat I buy them and myself will largely be decided on the level of access we're able to get with the boat and of course my budget if/when I pull the trigger on buying for them.

[looking for a mentor]

1 minute ago, PD1964 said:

Well maybe you should have a look for  residential mooring in the area you expect to take your parents, as I doubt they would want enforcement action at their age.

I have no expectations on location at the moment, so long as the mooring has decent facilities then it'll be fine but you're point is taken as they will need to know that they like where they might end up living

1 minute ago, PD1964 said:

No residential at Sheffield and few in that stretch. Tinsley is the best option as full official residential with all the benefits. 

good to know, thank you, I'll make a note of that

[looking for a mentor]

14 minutes ago, The Happy Nomad said:

 

You will be amazed by how much the price drops in September. Personally I wont contemplate hiring a boat over any bank holidays or school holidays.

good to know so we're looking at a September holiday then, thank you

[looking for a mentor]

9 minutes ago, The Happy Nomad said:

 

Ensure you have deep pockets. Hiring a boat in the August school holidays is stupidly expensive. And as pointed out already availbility will be limited.

We have all of September too, so I'm sure I'll be able to carve out a few days somewhere as I have a whole month and can get them pretty much anywhere in the UK or Ireland but thank you though, that's a good point, organise that early and I won't pay through the nose.

[looking for a mentor]

4 minutes ago, TheBiscuits said:

 

I suspect you'll already have very limited choices if there is anything available at all.  Don't leave it another month or you won't be hiring a boat.

good point, I'll keep an eye on that and get everyone to make a decision fast, thank you

[looking for a mentor]

Just now, TheBiscuits said:

 

Have you already booked?

not yet no but I probably will in the next month or so

[looking for a mentor]

Just now, booke23 said:

I'd certainly recommend you hire a narrowboat for a couple of weeks and you all spend time seeing how you like it before buying. Living on a narrowboat isn't for everyone, as they're pretty compact compared even to a small flat. 

agreed and that's exactly what we plan on doing when they come visit in August

[looking for a mentor]

4 minutes ago, Kendorr said:

You mentioned Sheffield, maybe worth getting on their list

 

https://www.watersidemooring.com/356-tinsley-marina-residential-l1

 

https://cvmarine.co.uk/victoria-quays/

 

and several others along the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

brilliant, thank you, I haven't settled on Sheffield yet, there's a boat festival in London this weekend so I'm going to go to that, talk with some people and see what I can organise, I'll probably make a final decision then as to where I'm going to moor my soon to buy boat , thank you though, I really do appreciate all the help I'm getting.

15 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

That would not happen very fast. You would be given plenty of opportunity to resolve the situation to CaRT's satisfaction.

 

I would also point out that I gave up boating at 76 because I was finding the maintenance and other work increasingly difficult. The age varies from person to person but it is something you need to consider carefully for your parents. Only a few weeks ago an elderly boater had his boat sink at Banbury because of a lack of funds and an inability to maintain it. Also consider what happens if one of your patents needs to undertake long term hospital treatment so  may have difficulty moving. If you tell CaRT they will normally help but I am not sure how long they would wave the mooring requirements.

This is a concern of mine to and exactly why I'll be making sure that wherever they end up we'll be together, so that if anything goes wrong or they need help with anything I'm right there. That's great of CaRT to be understanding about these things, it gives me some breathing room

[looking for a mentor]

4 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

Basically if you want to remain within the CaRT regulations the maximum time you can moor in one spot could be anything from 2 hours (rare) up to 14 days depending upon local notices if any. Then you need to move on in a continuous journey. Shuttling back and forth between two or three spots is unlikely to be acceptable by CaRT. CaRT also say registering as a continuous cruiser may not be compatible with working at a fixed place or having children in school. As MrSmelly says, once you grasp the rules many do manage a job and keeping within them but much depends upon where you locate yourself. Also be aware that CC type moorings in London are not plentiful. In the end ignoring the rules could get your boat confiscated and broken up or sold on.

 

Thank you, that's really helpful. For the moment I'm based in London but I'm fully remote and my parents are retired so location isn't really an issue, we can be pretty much anywhere in the UK and still be perfectly fine. I'm only based in London at the moment because pre-pandemic I had to be in an office. I will give the CaRT rules a careful read though and pass it on to my parents, you are correct though, I don't wanna put in all that hard work, only to have my boats taken off me so thank you

[looking for a mentor]

Quote

I don’t think it will be as easy with your second part, as few moorings available especially residential.

 

Nothing in life worth doing is easy, if it's possible I'll make it happen

[looking for a mentor]

Quote

I dont do Farcebook, but I understand there is a " London boaters" group or some such thing? That may be a good starting point?

Will add though that, boating other than London will be far easier and nicer these days.

 

Fantastic, thank you, I'll go find them and see if can meetup with anyone. Thank you so much

[looking for a mentor]

wow, Everyone has responded so fast

 

I'll admit that I've not read all of the rules, I didn't know they had been extensively codified, I'll look those up so thank you Tony.

 

Booke23, we haven't no but they are coming over for a holiday in August and the plan then is to take a holiday on a boat and see how we feel about it.

 

Mrsmelly that's an excellent idea and I was really hoping for that, I would love to meet up with someone in the London area for a few hours one weekend and learn as much as I can. Is there anyone in the London area? I'd love to buy you a drink/tea/coffee and absorb as much as I can one Saturday or Sunday

[looking for a mentor]

Yes it is but it's mine none the less :).

 

I'm not a worrier but I do like to know all of the details. Them sorting it out will be essentially impossible as they are currently living in South Africa so it's really up to me to sort out everything so that they can have a home when they move.

 

To answer your question though, yes we do plan to live aboard our boats.

[looking for a mentor]

Hi Everyone,

 

I'm looking to buy 2 boats, one for myself and later another for my parents. However I'm very new to all this and whilst it's totally okay for me to make a mistake my parents boat needs to go smoothly. It would be really helpful if I could find a mentor to guide me whilst I look at all the various options and try out different solutions. I'm doing a ton of my own research but there is no substitute for hearing and learning from some one who has been there already.

 

I'm based in London but in all probability I will end up leaving London and quite possibly moving to Sheffield because it's got great rock climbing :).

 

If anyone would like to be my mentor so that I can provide a great home for my parents please respond to this thread.

 

Have a great day

Aidan