29 minutes ago, blackrose said:

 

You're not comparing like for like. If you compare in terms of cubic area heated I think you'll probably find boats are more expensive to heat than houses or flats.

That's the point, I'm sat in my kitchen (at home), it's about the same dimensions as my GRP boat but with twice the headroom so in air volume terms more like my narrrowboat.

In cubic area the kitchen is a fraction of the  whole house so only a fraction of my home heating  bill.

K

The main thing people who are interested in moving on to a boat have to realise is how inconvenient it is.   Yes this has changed a bit over time, hence solar is more popular now but Spidermans uncle could have said "with great power comes only a little bit more convenience" for his last words.  It wasn't that long ago that the only thing that ran off electricity on the average boat was some 12v lights.  When they went dim you knew it was time to start the engine, move the boat and get ready for a shower as the water was going to magically warm up at the same time.  Internet was a thing that people on land could enjoy, but a boater was more likely to be caught reading a book or listening to the radio.  Some people still enjoy that way of life, but now even those people tend to have a smart phone and the book has turned into a kindle.  It was a cheap way of life because it was almost impossible to find a way to spend money without trudging along a muddy tow path and walking for miles to find a shop or pub.  These days you can spend money simply by touching a screen, so maybe spidermans uncle could also have warned "with that greater convenience comes a spend it now button"  because that is the real end result. 

 

They make adverts on the telly, telling you of poor people in far off countries, asking for your money because someone has to walk for miles to get a jug of water, when they are hungry they have to walk all day to buy some food, they can't read at night because the electricity has gone off, when they are ill they can not get to the doctors and they have to share a cesspit with the rest of the village.  On the plus side they don't pay council tax. 

 

What am I trying to say?

Well we choose. We can live very cheaply or we can live very conveniently.  Either way you are going to have to do some hard work somewhere along the line.  There is no cheatcode that enables us to sit staring at a screen passing the time away and the only job we have is to press the buy it now button.  Everything comes at a price of some sort. 

51 minutes ago, WulfNut said:

It wasn't that long ago that the only thing that ran off electricity on the average boat was some 12v lights.

And the water pump. My Father (Magpie the Elder) and also father of @magpie patrick organised his school to hire four 12 berth boats from Willow Wren in the 1970's. Each boat, two teachers and ten kids. One day someone left the tap running and Dad had to quietly explain that as the water tank was now empty, there would be no bath or shower, no washing up and "Dinner" from whatever could be cooked without water. Not a problem for the loo of course, that was politely known as "Bucket and Chucket..."

I live near the canal. Not exactly where I will hopefully moor soon. 

 

Not surprisingly I have been very interested in goings on. Watching various narrowboats going through different locks. And chatting to boaters (moored at the side and marinas).

 

Spoke to a woman yesterday who was on a boating holiday. She was opening the lock. Asked about the boat. She said "I have no idea what it is. I hate it. Its killing me. Thank god we didn't book for a fortnight" 😆

 

So definitely not for everyone.

 

I expect my monthly cost to be more expensive on the boat. In part because of mooring (I am currently rent and mortgage free). But also factoring in setting money aside for improvements, general maintenance and emergencies.

 

I love camping and caravanning, but doubt I will continue that when on the boat. So guess money will be saved holiday wise.

 

Edited August 3, 20242 yr by Amaya
Dupe

On 20/12/2023 at 09:42, MtB said:

 

This used to puzzle me too, until I realised that these also tend to be the boats that cruise every day (rather than the one inch a fortnight actually required by CRT).

 

Boats actually constantly cruising don't need solar when the engine runs for hours every day, keeping the batts nicely charged. 

 

 

Well anyone thinking about cc ing on the Rochdale had better fit a full set of solar, there's not much chance of moving more than an inch per month.

My wife and I lived aboard for 4 years and although we had further to walk with the shopping, in other respects it wasn't hard work or an expensive way of life. We filled up the water tank every month, carried aboard a gas bottle every 4 months, emptied the toilet tank every 6 weeks or so and had one delivery of oil for heating each year. We were entirely off grid and survived on 1kw of solar panels and a wind turbine, needing to supplement with a diesel generator on a handful of occasions during the winter months. 

We eventually moved back into a house because I missed having a garden and I suppose the novelty of boat life wore off.

1 hour ago, Bargebuilder said:

  I suppose the novelty of boat life wore off.

That is an interesting comment and I wonder how many others are the same. We read all these reports from people who have been living aboard for two of three years saying how wonderful a life stile it is, bit is it still actually a novelty. This of course doesn't include those that have lived aboard for 10 15 years.

I started living on Boats when I was 19. I am now 50 and never stopped. Its just my thing. I did take a mooring when the kids were little but now they are ashore with their mum. I am back off grid and NFA which is my natural status. 

I can't really imagine any other way. I suppose ageing takes its toll and mobility but I think having done it for a long time will make it easier. I have a friend who is 79 who has been on Boats since the late 1960s. He still manages, tied to a tree with a boarding plank, ebike and a dinghy. 

 

Its alright but things are gradually changing. The more the merrier but at the same time increasing numbers can cause changes in policies and things become generally more awkward. 

 

 

 

I always wanted to live on a Boat as a kid and was lucky enough to be able to do so from a fairly young age. I can see the rest of my life being on Boats unless there is a dramatic change of some sort in the health situation. 

Some people are happy to have the experience of living on a boat. Just like people move house for different wants or needs over the years. Naturally people will leave living on a boat.

 

I probably won't live on a boat forever. Age and unforseen changes. But it's right for me in the foreseeable future. 

5 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

That is an interesting comment and I wonder how many others are the same. We read all these reports from people who have been living aboard for two of three years saying how wonderful a life stile it is, bit is it still actually a novelty. This of course doesn't include those that have lived aboard for 10 15 years.

 

I can see a parallel here with lumpy water liveaboards.

 

A common liveaboard saga in the marine world involves taking early retirement and sailing off over the horizon with an expectation of roaming the oceans for decades. Long-term observers and participants in this lifestyle reckon 7 to 10 years is a frequent point of exit with a return to normal shore based living. The reasons for a change of plan are typically medical or financial but many just make a positive decision to move on when the lifestyle becomes routine and the sense of adventure fades.

 

The other frequent point of exit is under 1 year. Cynics in the yachting world claim that Gibraltar or Trinidad are where to look to buy a discounted yacht abandoned when the ocean sailing dream turns sours after 6 months aboard and a Biscay crossing. The second winter of continuous cruising appears to be the canal equivalent of a Biscay crossing under sail.

Edited August 3, 20242 yr by Gybe Ho
Reverse out illogical multi post merge.

Yes, im sort of looking for the next phase after five years. This will likely be triggered by health issues.

I would not choose to live in a marina, I like to hear the dawn chorus and so on.

I find the boat is comfortable to live on summer and  winter as long as I have the internet and am not too isolated for too long.

I dont carry food along muddy towpaths or change my own gas bottles.   I just have them delivered if its hard work.

At the moment Im pretty much stranded on the Rochdale, but i just accept that these things happen from time time time 

 

On 20/12/2023 at 09:13, LadyG said:

I find that my energy costs are much less than those who live in a house, a good conventional boat should be insulated, and have a solid fuel stove plus diesel, I think the cost of heating,  cooking, and lighting is about £200 pcm for six winter months, and £20 pcm in summer.

 

 

Your figures are closer to my own preparatory liveaboard research.

 

One element missing in this discussion thread is the financial saving to be gained by fully embracing a simpler liveaboard life style. I intend to sell my car once established aboard and CCing fulltime, that will equate to a £2000 annual saving. I would find a British urban lifestyle without a car to be unthinkable but ditching a car for 5 years afloat makes sense, particularly in view of the burden keeping a car within 5 to 10 miles of a meandering voyage around the network.

 

Some people take to the canals to adopt a lifestyle called "Slow Living". In my future version of slow living I will forego foreign holidays for a few years because exploring the canal network will provide adventure. I have done enough travel abroad for one lifetime and look forward to never being treated like cattle again at an airport.

I had my own car from the age of 18 to the time i moved on board, it was essential to my lifestyle, but no longer.  So my outgoings are very low, and slow.

Edited August 3, 20242 yr by LadyG

11 minutes ago, Gybe Ho said:

 

Your figures are closer to my own preparatory liveaboard research.

 

One element missing in this discussion thread is the financial saving to be gained by fully embracing a simpler liveaboard life style. I intend to sell my car once established aboard and CCing fulltime, that will equate to a £2000 annual saving. I would find a British urban lifestyle without a car to be unthinkable but ditching a car for 5 years afloat makes sense, particularly in view of the burden keeping a car within 5 to 10 miles of a meandering voyage around the network.

 

Some people take to the canals to adopt a lifestyle called "Slow Living". In my future version of slow living I will forego foreign holidays for a few years because exploring the canal network will provide adventure. I have done enough travel abroad for one lifetime and look forward to never being treated like cattle again at an airport.

 

It all depends what lifestyle you had on land. For some (many?) their can be savings. For others not. But I do think many have an unrealistic expectation of price of living legally on water at the beginning.

 

I hope you are on your boat soon and can enjoy your new adventures 😊 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 3, 20242 yr by Amaya

It seems to be compulsory to have a youtube channel as soon as you buy the boat so budget for camera gear, 😄

1 hour ago, LadyG said:

Yes, im sort of looking for the next phase after five years. This will likely be triggered by health issues.

 

 

I follow your posts with interest and despite the pervading negativity from other posters in this thread, you do demonstrate what is possible and presumably at a lower cost compared to urban living ashore.

 

Don't hit the CCing abort button prematurely. A comfortable retirement lifestyle in a house = a fast path to an accelerated decline in health. What keeps people alive in retirement is physical and cognitive exercise. Life CCing on a narrowboat provides that without spending money on gym or line dancing classes.

46 minutes ago, Mike Hurley said:

It seems to be compulsory to have a youtube channel as soon as you buy the boat so budget for camera gear, 😄

 

I was hoping that the Ad revenue would pay for the camera gear, at the very least I was hoping it would be a passport to the cool-club and the best Christmas parties afloat in Llangothlin.

Edited August 3, 20242 yr by Gybe Ho

6 hours ago, Gybe Ho said:

 

Don't hit the CCing abort button prematurely. A comfortable retirement lifestyle in a house = a fast path to an accelerated decline in health. 

 

This is indeed an interesting point. My mother lived on a canal Boat for 12 yars and returned to land for various reasons. It was a family story and did not end well. I often think she should have stayed on Boats but perhaps had a wide Boat as she was based on the Grand Union and it is entirely pointless having a narrow there. 

After several yars of living in a small flat she decided to take her own life. A family trait but I wonder if the change from Boat life which is actually incredibly pleasant to living on land again was part of the trigger. 

 

In her case the move from land to a Boat was attempting to escape from something in her own head. As Bob Marley said 'you can't run away from yourself". How true. 

 

By all means move onto a Boat but don't under any circumstances think that it will solve your basic life problems because it won't. 

 

Yes living on a Boat is wonderful. I love it and have always done it but this in itself can cause issues because it presents as being an amazingly beautiful life but in reality it is actually fairly complicated and a little arduous. 

 

 

 

 

When I lived on a boat, it was kept on a permanent mooring, so my wife and I could become part of a local community, join clubs and make long lasting friendships. I have no experience of continuous cruising, but I've always imagined that it could be quite a lonely existence, with only transient relationships, particularly if you live/cruise alone.

36 minutes ago, Bargebuilder said:

When I lived on a boat, it was kept on a permanent mooring, so my wife and I could become part of a local community, join clubs and make long lasting friendships. I have no experience of continuous cruising, but I've always imagined that it could be quite a lonely existence, with only transient relationships, particularly if you live/cruise alone.

 

I reckon the natural human conditio is to have transient relationships with everything. Other people, animals, the environment, food, water &c. 

 

All that is actually happening is the Basic Conveyor Belt Situation. 

 

It is impossible to alter this. 

 

 

40 minutes ago, Bargebuilder said:

When I lived on a boat, it was kept on a permanent mooring, so my wife and I could become part of a local community, join clubs and make long lasting friendships. I have no experience of continuous cruising, but I've always imagined that it could be quite a lonely existence, with only transient relationships, particularly if you live/cruise alone.

 

I get the impression the narrowboating community is naturally convivial during the summer cruising season. As you say it would take friendships to sustain the lifestyle through the winter.

Hi, I'm a newbie here, but I thought I'd add to this thread rather than starting a new one as I guess it relates to the topic. Around six months ago I started watching a few online live streams of boat owners and ended up down the rabbit hole of watching tons of videos on YouTube, across a whole range of subjects, from seasonal living, expenses, etc. I feel fairly clued up on what is involved and I'm sure there is a ton more I need to know. But putting this to one side, I currently am responsible for the care of my folks, I'm in my early 50s and they are 70s and 80s. Once they pass, and in the knowledge my children are grown up enough to take care of themselves, then I could have the opportunity to move onto a boat and spend as much time travelling around the UK. But my long winded way of getting to a question is, how old is too old to start owning a boat and going off continuous cruising? I admit my back isn't the strongest, so I know I'd have to be mindful of locks and lugging gas and coal around. But is there a point where too old is too old and perhaps I should just leave the idea of a boat as a dream. I know there are hire companies, but I just don't think a week or two would suffice.

Anyway, how old would be too old? Thanks for your thoughts on this.

Welcome to the forum,

There are no guarantees in life. From what I've seen, you can keep on boating as long as you are in reasonable health. Single handing is more strenuous than with two. One to steer the boat, the other to handle the locks. At some point, if we don't die first, some medical issues, or general decrepitude will stop us boating. When that is is down to genetics, lifestyle and luck. Only one of those can you do anything about and the whole package can vary enormously from person to person.

As we age, sudden debiltating illness or accidents are more likely, so its not  case of how old is too old, its a case of how you feel now, and planning well in advance for the day "IT" happens.

 

I'd advise that you keep some property on land that you can use (return to) if you need to. If you have property now, maybe downsize and rent out the flat / bungalow etc but it is always there if you need it.

 

A good friend of mine (acctualy the assistant manager at the marina we were in) had lived aboard for many years and widely cruised the system, he was slowing down so they took a permanent residential mooring which was fine for a few years, then he had a stroke.

 

Everything changed 

 

He managed to get on and off the boat for a few months but could no longer take the boat for fuel or toilet pump out so we all mucked in to keep him going.

He gradually worsened and required the Social Service "Care at Home / District Nurses" all went well for a few weeks but then they said that unless he moved ashore into Bricks & mortar they would no longer treat him as it was an H&S risk for the nurse to be walking along frozen pontoons, and having to climb onto his boat (literally a 2-step up to get onto the boat).

 

He gave in after a few more weeks but insisted 'I'll be back'.

He (and his wife) went into sheltered accomodation and he never came out. He asked me to sell his boat about a year later.

 

We don't know what tommorrow holds for us so make the best of 'today', but have a 'plan B' for tommorow.

Thanks both, I would be the beneficially of my parents place when the time comes which would be used to cover surveys, purchase a boat, etc and I also own my own property, which I would rent out. 

 

I completely appreciate it'll be bloody hard work especially as a single handed skipper, but maybe it's hard to explain or easy to understand that I don't want to fester sat within four walls watching TV until the end of my time and this country is beautiful, I haven't even scratched the surface of it yet. The pros of going for it are there, but the unknown is when I would realistically start on the journey.

 

Thanks for the replies.

1 hour ago, FuturoInspro said:

Thanks both, I would be the beneficially of my parents place when the time comes which would be used to cover surveys, purchase a boat, etc and I also own my own property, which I would rent out. 

 

I completely appreciate it'll be bloody hard work especially as a single handed skipper, but maybe it's hard to explain or easy to understand that I don't want to fester sat within four walls watching TV until the end of my time and this country is beautiful, I haven't even scratched the surface of it yet. The pros of going for it are there, but the unknown is when I would realistically start on the journey.

 

Thanks for the replies.

That's a good attitude to have -- both why you want to do it and appreciating the challenges and the need for a fallback solution if/when you can't do it any more.

 

Go for it... 🙂