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Hi there If anyone has any advice on how to transport a 24 m steel Dutch barge from Netherlands to London, I would appreciate it. I am a UK citizen and I’m bringing it back to live. I have a mooring, but I’m wondering what is the best way to transport it. I have a quote by road. It is 42tonnes. The engine is not working at the moment. And it is in a state of repair which I plan to work on . So by water would be tricky. Also does anyone know if I need to pay tax as I have had it for quite some years and am a Uk tax payer , would it be exempt ? any advice (or links) is greatly appreciated as HMRC is not offering any, only helpline that don’t give any solid advice

Hello everyone, my name is Patrick Dowse, I am starting a Documentary photo story on the canal boat culture in London over the next two months. I am looking to meet people and get to know them and find out why they choose to live on the boats. I find this lifestyle fascinating. I am based in London and can meet up with people at anytime. My website can be found at : patricklewisdowse.tumblr.com My contact email address is as follows : patricklewisdowse@live.co.uk Thank you Kindly, Patrick Lewis Dowse

Did anyone witness this flood on The Grand Union and why did it flood and not go over gates or down bywashes? http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/environment/grand_union_canal_floods_on_to_streets_in_stonebridge_and_harlesden_1_4117813

Morning Boaters, I landed up in bit of a situation, CART halved my license, even though I've been moving quite a bit. I wasn't really overstaying (I overstayed couple of days, few times but nothing major). So I was thinking about "selling" the boat to my mum to get the enforcement of my back. My question is will CART hold the past records of the boat movement against the new owner? Thanks Mig

Hi, So I'm considering buying a cheap grp cruiser to liveaboard. I have a lot of questions and a lot of research to do but I will start with just one: I have a preference for a narrowbeam cruiser so that I'm free to travel across the country in my boat, I especially like the idea of going up to Birmingham for curry. I don't drive so it would be a big asset to me to have a boat that is also one of my main modes of transport. Anyway, as I peruse ebay all misty-eyed, it's becoming apparent to me that the boats that look feasable as a liveaboard (they have showers) are also wide beams. Should I give up on this idea of getting a narrow beam cruiser if I want to practically live on it? Or should I get used to washing in a sink? Or are there in fact plenty of examples of narrow beam cruisers with showers? ___________ Context: I am a poor boy with fairly humble needs for living, so I'm looking for a boat I can get for <£10, 000 under 30'. I intend to (genuinely) continuously cruise around the London loop.

Angry Boater Live - Penultimate London show this Tuesday night (May 12th). 11 tickets remain atm. The final show will be a fundraiser in conjunction with C&RT for their 'Stratford 2 Stratford' project on Thurs, May 28th. Full details at http://www.angryboater.com I'll be taking the show up the GU & into the nether from June.....

Before I first came to London by boat, I heard all kinds of stories from boaters about why they would never come here. I remember one experienced boater warning me, "London is full of desperate people. Half the boaters there will cut your ropes to take your mooring." Ridiculous! It's at least 70 percent. What horror stories about boating in London have you heard?

Hi there, Does anyone have any knowledge about CaRT's illusive neighbourhoods? I can't find any specifics online. Ideally a map, but I am aware that CaRT are still only discussing a map being produced. So if you definitely know of even just one or two, that knowledge would be greatly appreciated. Just so I am clear on their specifications when it comes to moving. I also am aware that moving places is defined by CaRT by neighbourhoods as opposed to miles/km. Thanks in advance! I think I have accidentally posted this twice... sorry!

Hello : ) I'm trying to find some information about this old boat and carrying company but keep running into dead ends and I hate unsolved mysteries! I know there was a Whitehouse and co in West Bromwich but I'm guessing that that's a different company, or maybe related. I think this one must have been based around the London area, and it's from a postcard published in London. The only two leads I've found are a steam boat registered at Brentford by Whitehouse and son, and a photo in the British waterways archive, Gloucester (I can't see the photo but it sounds similar), captioned: Barge 'Perseverance' loaded with reeds on the River Wey Black and white photograph showing the stern of the barge which is moored at a wharf, "W. Whitehouse & Son Brentford Carriers London No 132..." is written on the stern. There is a woman on the boat and men beside it, including a man stood on a wooden plank carrying reeds to the barge and a man sat on a horse. There are reeds piled on the barge and several visible near the canal. From the Kodak museum, Lieutenant Colonel Gale. It may even be the same photo without the oval crop. Any ideas or information gratefully recieved - especially since Whitehouse is my family name, so I'd like to adopt some boating ancestors! Being in France, it's internet or nothing for research. Edited to add that it looks quite similar to a Wey style stern.

Hi everyone. I hauling a boat from up near manchester to Central London. Our mooring is just west of Regent's Park. We would like to crane the boat in as near to the mooring as we can without dealing with road closers and that sort of complication. Does anyone know points on the canal that we could get a mobile crane to in order to get the boat in the water? Or how we can get a narrowboat into the canal in central London? Any suggestions would be really helpful! Thanks!

Dear all, I am a journalist and I am looking to speak with some London boaters for an article I am researching. I have heard from several people over the past few months that London's waterways are becoming more and more crowded. This was confirmed in a report published by the Greater London Assembly in November. From what I hear, it seems that a lot of people are taking to the waterways as a cheaper alternative to rented accommodation (in some instances) or to save for a deposit to buy a house, rather than paying 'dead money' to a landlord. In particular I am looking to speak with boaters: - Who have only recently taken to the waterways - whether they own their boat outright or are hiring from an owner - to find out why - Those who have bought a boat with the express intention of saving for a deposit for a house - Longer standing boaters: have you noticed an increase in traffic, crowded moorings and other related problems such as a strain on infrastructure like water supplies? I am keen to hear your thoughts on what issues are likely to arise on London's waterways in the next few years and what the authorities might do in response. FYI, I don't have a commission yet and I am in the process of doing some preliminary research before pitching to a publication. Thanks for your time. Michael

Hello hello all, I am bringing a slightly old, but good condition, 1983 Harborough Marine cruiser stern (with a nicely running BMC 1.8) from Shardlow Marina area down to London at the beginning of May. I am kind of hoping to do it in 11 days, although I can stretch to a couple of days longer, of driving basically every day. I've driven it and it handles nicely - much nicer than the other boats I have driven - but I am really an inexperienced boater. I've done locks, but never alone, for instance. Does anybody have any tips for long cruises, or recommended stopping places along that route (I've had a spy on CanalPlan and it looks like it's basically Grand Union all the way down) or words of warning for certain places? I'd really, really appreciate any advice and stories you might have. I hear the Trent, which I'll have to go on for a little bit, can be quite fast and difficult for new boaters - any thoughts? Also, I just want to say, yes, I anticipate the eye rolls and hostility when it becomes clear I am another CCer bringing a boat to London - I've read the threads and heard from London CCing friends, I know about the lack of facilities, the lack of space, the rookies bashing into things and tying up in terrible places and generally being dicks. Feel free to express more opinions like this, I'll listen to it, but I also would really like it if some people might be able to offer me some useful advice and past experiences.

Hello, we're planning on painting our boat this Summer (August/September). Can anyone recommend a suitable covered dry dock near London for the job? We started painting it last Summer, but being at the mercy of the elements proved very frustrating. Any help much appreciated.

planning to take my 56 ft narrowboat along the Regents Canal, join the Thames and then sail west thru London and then to Reading.. Are there any things I should be doing now such as pre booking mooring spots etc. Are there any streteches where I am going to struggle with mooring and all advice welcomed, new area for me.

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone is looking for a boatsitter in London? Perhaps over a holiday or similar? I am interested in moving into a houseboat, but wanted a bit more experience first. I'm conscientious and friendly, and would take good care of your boat! Best, Shez

Ahoy! If you have bought a Broads Boat to London, or bought it in London, there is a new Facebook group for you. Please join, share and use. Broads Boats of London https://www.facebook.com/groups/167153280475901/

OK, hello to everyone I am looking for some advice. I am beginning to think that I will not be happy living on the cut around the Southeast and in London on anything other than a narrowboat, due to congestion. Of course, I would secretly really prefer the extra width of a widebeam, but I have lived on a narrowboat (and a short one at that), and I loved it at the time, and promised myself I would live on the water again if I got the chance. I was narrower myself in those days, admittedly. But I don't want to feel like a nuisance and I don't want to be a bigger than necessary contribution to making things worse in the waterways where I hope to make my home... I know that living on the waterways is sharing space with others, so the way I see it, what's good for everyone else will be good for me, in the bigger picture. A little info about me - the questions I've see asked of noobs to the forum like me: - Why do I want to continuous cruise? And why in London and the Southeast? I love London, but... More and more I feel like I would move away from London entirely now, whether a life afloat or on land, were it not for my mum being 80 and my dad died a couple of years back and I see her regularly and want to be within reach. No, it's not because I don't want to be too far away so I can save the batteries on my boat by doing the laundry at hers. That would just be a fringe benefit. Sorry. Pretend I didn't say that. Tragic. Having promised myself that one day I would live on a boat again, I now feel like a life on the cut could be great for me - I would not want to stay in London the whole time, I would really love going out on trips further afield. And I certainly would not be hoping to stay in very central and popular areas the whole time. I crave being able to be somewhere quieter and get away from everything... but I do need to be able to get back to everything, too! For now, I want to feel, broadly speaking, like I'm based in London (maybe it's because I'm a londoner...). As to why continuous cruising - well, two reasons really. I have always been a person with itchy feet, and the are itching quite a lot right now, but I don't want to go off far away (see above). The idea of a nomadic life appeals right now. That plus the money. I must confess. Even if I could find a residential mooring in London, I'd struggle to pay for it. But the more I look into CC'ing, the more I think I would really like to do it properly, and to cover some ground, and enjoy the life, not just the savings on the overpriced london moorings. I love boats and water and always have... I hope it's obvious that I do not intend - or even particularly want - to be in central and/or the most popular places all the time. I'd end up going through them, of course, and would enjoy that... If I found a place centrally to moor for a couple of weeks once in a blue moon, that would be nice, but it's not a requirement on my part. I work from home and with flexible hours, and would hope that would lessen the issues and pressures around the moving and mooring aspects. So - should I really be ruling widebeams out? I am kind of expecting the answer "yes" and I am persuading myself I will feel it's the right thing in the end. But, having said that, if I took the word "London" out of this, I would definitely prefer to live on a widebeam, I cannot deny it. Even though I do agree that, often, they can look a bit..... funny. I feel like asking this question as a first post I should be running for cover, but I hope I've explained myself enough to fill in the picture, and I have absolutely no doubt that you good folk will tell anything I missed out or stupid things I said (for which apologies in advance!)

Hi all, Help, please. I got my sailaway back to london last month and I'm desperate to get it all wired up. I had an electrician booked in but he let me down and now I'm struggling to find anyone. Any recommendations for someone trustworthy would be much appreciated, I'd like to get the work done asap so I can get everything else done before winter! Thank you Jess

Hi everyone, I have been lurking around the forum for a while now and I hope you all don't mind but we are in need of a bit of advice! Me and my partner are looking for our first boat and we plan to live aboard in London. I've read around about how difficult it is to find a residential mooring in London and that generally if you want one you buy a boat on the mooring already (we would prefer a residential mooring as I don't think we could CC and work in our jobs without quite a bit of stress). The dilemma we're having is that we've found a boat we like the look of in London but the family is concerned that it isn't good value for money as its a bit older etc (which really they're right but I assume thats the deal with getting a boat on a mooring in London). Would you say that this boat is worth it to buy or would it be worth hunting around London for a mooring and buying a boat without one? http://london.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=473888 We would like to be living on a boat in the next year (although sooner if possible!), so my concern is that waiting for a mooring in London could take several years! By London we mean anywhere as far out as Hampton Court ish area - beyond that the train gets so expensive to travel in plus the long journey just makes it not worth it for us. Thanks so much for reading and I hope you don't mind me asking! I hope to be joining you all on the water very soon

Hi everyone, We've just come off the Thames after a few months and spent a loooong day making the journey onto the canal system. Driving our extremely clumsy outboard powered widebeam (3.56m width I think) was a breeze on the Thames but I'm really not confident on the canal. We've stopped off at Greenford and would really like to venture up the Lea (we have jobs in London but they're quite flexible and we have no issues with a long commute when necessary) but I'm not sure I want to tackle central London quite yet. Is there anywhere else we can stop on the way before it gets really busy? I've read a lot of old posts about Alperton/Perivale etc but I'm not sure if this would constitute 'genuine navigation'? I'd like a couple more weeks of practice before we attempt central. Many thanks!

Hallo, We are renovating currently and in dire need of replacing the gas pipework. The current stuff has been removed but it was soldered together (!!). We have all the new pipework but just need someone qualified to fit it together, hook up our boiler and possibly convert our range to LPG (currently natural gas), although we could do this ourselves and can live without the oven for now if necessary. I'm aware there are a few threads on this topic but they're quite out of date. Cheers!

Hello, I am looking to paint my boat matte black and I was hoping for some recommendations. I would also need rust treatment, anticorrosion primer, undercoat and topcoat that works well with the matte black...I have heard some paints don't work well together. Thank you kindly in advance Stefan

Hello friends, Does anyone know a good outdoor spot in London where I can paint my boat? Also, does anyone have a recommendation for poly tunnel rental in London? Thank you ever so much Stefan