Emmyjoy

Hi Jak, thanks so much for your response! Very reassuring! Over the last few years i’ve felt more drawn to boatlife and spend a lot of my time around castlefield and new islington admiring the boats. I’m really not a fan of city living and, since I privately rent rather than have student accommodation, hate the prospect of paying off someone else’s mortgage each month when I could be investing the money onto a boat I own and love. I don’t really mind the hassle around emptying toilets, bins etc. I’m also very aware of the costs and added costs with this lifestyle. As I mentioned in my original post, this has always been something that i’ve wanted to do, so a lot of research has gone in before this post. I wouldn’t be looking to purchase for a few months. But, if i haven’t found one i’ll get back in touch. Thanks!

I’m originally from that area so will hopefully end up back there in the future. Very beautiful area!

Hi, I know New Islington quite well as I frequently go for walks around there. Last I heard it was around 150-200 per month so quite a lot.

Hi, i’d be looking for a permanent mooring. I wouldn’t cc for a few years.

Thanks! I landed a pretty good Job a few years back that pays £30 per hour so working two/three full days is more than enough to cover my bills. Hi, thanks for the advice! unfortunately there’s no mum or dad to help so it’s just me supporting myself! Hi, thanks so much for your post! It’s reassured me that this option isn’t a silly idea!

Hi, yes, I do have the time. I'm only in uni one day as I'm part-time and I only teach 2 days per week. I am aware of the necessary jobs. I have researched this for a while and lived near canals when I was younger. This isn't just a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Hi All, Thanks for your reply! I'm currently in Manchester, so I'd like to moor around here - Maybe in Ancoats or Castlefield. I'd have a permanent mooring for a year from this June. Then, I'd continuously cruise. If I were to get a loan to cover some of the purchase cost of the boat, my budget would then increase to around 30/40,000. If I wanted to purchase outright without a loan, my budget is 15-25,000. I'm also a lover of DIY, so would be more than happy to renovate the boat.

Hi all, I've come here for some advice. I'm a 24-year-old student and currently, I live in a flat in the city centre. My tenancy runs out in June, and I expect it to increase (with bills included, I currently pay around £800). I also don't want to work as much during my final year to meet the rising costs of living in the flat. Also, my flatmate has just informed me that she wants to move out and for us to go our separate ways, meaning, as of June, I have nowhere to live and no one to live with. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to live on a narrowboat as I think it's such a wonderful way of life and, having grown up in the countryside, I'd love to be closer to nature. I also think it's such a wonderful community to be part of. I also don't want to live in a fixed location as I don't know where I'll be located after uni and don't want to purchase a house if I'm not set on staying in the city I currently live in. Because of this, I'm considering buying a narrowboat. A few years ago, I inherited money from my dad, so I have some money that I could use to purchase a boat. My current budget to buy a boat outright is around £15,000, but I could push it to £25,000 if I found the right boat. Is it possible to buy a decent boat for this price? Or, would it be better to put a deposit of around £15,000 down on a boat and get a boat mortgage/loan to cover the rest? If I did this, my budget would increase to 30/40,000. Is it possible to get a loan at the age of 24/25 (I'm also self-employed, but do earn a decent amount from my job and have done so for around 3 years. My monthly income is around £1000-£1200 ) Would it be cheaper than renting in the city centre? Also, Is it safe to live on a boat as a single woman and how easy is it to manage locks etc alone? Thanks so much for taking the time to read!