StuartHannam

Agreed, I am just making the effort to respond to anyone who has taken the trouble to comment. Thanks everyone for further information in case you read this later on.

Due to work commitment I need to be around Colchester Essex area and I don’t think there is anything canal wise nearby enough. We are narrowing down the boats we are looking for to be a Dutch barge type. It’s new to us completely and the internet will only tell you so much which is why I am on here gaining from actual peoples experience.

A fair comment but it’s the freedom to move onwards at some stage and having more of an outside/indoor living environment that is our long term wish. The noisy neighbours is just one element of wanting to move out of the terraced housing life, the advantages of boating far outweigh anything that permanent house home offers.

Thanks, great advice very welcome.

I will investigate. Thanks

Thanks everyone for your insight. Very useful and helpful. Best wishes.

Thank you for all the comments and guidance, it’s a learning curve for us. I only use terms I have read and it’s something written regarding the continuous cruising on EA waterways in relation to the equivalent on a canal, so am happy to be corrected. I have trawled numerous websites and information for the last several weeks and I have gained a lot from everyone’s experience on here this evening. Remember, there was a time that everyone was a beginning in their first boat. Kind regards and keep the advice coming. If anyone knows of a residential mooring other than canals, please let me know. The search continues!

Thanks Peanut, wise advise which I am grateful for. Lots to consider. Exciting and daunting!

Yes I will be off to work each morning and back in afternoon while my wife will be online working from the boat. Not our first option being honest but we want to leave our terraced home/noisy neighbourhood and enjoy a boating lifestyle as soon as we sell our house so it’s an extremely difficult situation but I won’t stop trying. It won’t be a sail up and anchor thing though as I intend to get permission from the marina boatyard in order to use their facility and expect to pay for whatever type of mooring we can get.

Thanks for the comments it’s appreciated. We are watching two boats so it’s a bit of a juggling act as we won’t be in a position to purchase until house is sold and then depends if still available, but am doing the legwork now to find a mooring. i have approached in person a few surrounding places and joined a few waiting lists but realistically it’s going to be a wait or fortune. in the meantime any advice on a swinging mooring as I am willing to go to those if it they are a next best alternative to a mooring? Are they all generally live aboard as long as you are self sufficient etc?

Looking for advice and guidance as will be purchasing a used boat in few months likely size/make will be 68ft tug or 52 ft Dutch barge type. Live in Essex/Suffolk border but so far just about every marina and boatyard can’t accommodate us as residential liveaboard. Need to remain in Brightlingsea area due to work for next few years but then will consider options to move boat north. Is continuous cruising an option if can remain in one place (not on canals due to size etc) and be on the fringe of a marina? Obviously it’s the inconvenience of small boat commute to the shore/harbour until a residential berth becomes available somewhere, but I just can’t get a direct answer from same marina boatyards, it’s just a straight’we don’t do residential or nothing available’ Help and advise welcome.