It seems that on the Ashby Canal it's not the people who don't age, only their boats! But if you can haul water at 80, then by the time you're 100 you'll be the captain of your own ship

I see that some people are  in à difficult situation, but they need to  make their own life their own, so to speak. There will be various organisations who can give provide moral support.

I know my own step mother was a stalwart, and succumbed to martyrdom [ my father being a very difficult person],  she was able to do one or two things independently, and I think she could have done a little more for herself if he had not been such a pia. I left home at aged seventeen, he never changed.

PS I moved on to my narrow boat aged 72.

 

Edited December 18, 20241 yr by LadyG

On 17/12/2024 at 17:32, Tony1 said:

 

 

There are a couple of potential half-way house options allowing you to go boating much sooner than 20 years time.

 

 

 

Thank you for the idea, the issue is funds, the equity from the sad selling of their house once they've gone was to be used to purchase a boat so I can cruise and continue working whilst on the boat as well as travelling, etc. I'm not in a position at the moment to purchase anything.

On 12/19/2024 at 11:53 AM, FuturoInspro said:

Thank you for the idea, the issue is funds, the equity from the sad selling of their house once they've gone was to be used to purchase a boat so I can cruise and continue working whilst on the boat as well as travelling, etc. I'm not in a position at the moment to purchase anything.

 I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to move forward, even if plans have now changed.

On 19/12/2024 at 09:53, FuturoInspro said:

Thank you for the idea, the issue is funds, the equity from the sad selling of their house once they've gone was to be used to purchase a boat so I can cruise and continue working whilst on the boat as well as travelling, etc. I'm not in a position at the moment to purchase anything.

Various groups are often looking for volunteer crew at little or no cost. Canal societies run trip boats, community boats for the disabled etc., historic boats, workboats and so on.

If that sort of thing is of any interest we could suggest options given a general area.

Edited December 24, 20241 yr by Francis Herne

I've lived aboard a much smaller boat than a narrowboat. A 27ft sailboat for over 18months through hot summers and really cold winters. Only people who love the lifestyle can stick with it. It looks good on paper, but it takes a lot of work and dedication.

1 hour ago, Ken Jolly said:

I've lived aboard a much smaller boat than a narrowboat. A 27ft sailboat for over 18months through hot summers and really cold winters. Only people who love the lifestyle can stick with it. It looks good on paper, but it takes a lot of work and dedication.

Correct, and I think age is a factor, I have lived in various standards of accommodation. When young it is easier to adapt. The roof over ones head is essentially somewhere to sleep. Later on, one spends more time on " homemaking".

I did live on my yacht for a few months in summer, but without heating, it would have been impossible in winter. 

Edited October 24, 2025Oct 24 by LadyG

This has been an interesting read.  My first post so hello to all.  My life circumstances are probably changing this summer allowing me to buy a narrow boat up to about 50k with a contingency fund for ongoing expenses plus a small monthly pension of around 1k for living costs. I keep looking at far cheaper 70ft boats to ‘make my own’ so to speak, but wonder about single crewing them.  
 

i’m fairly handy, DIY, maintain, repair and restore motorcycles an bicycles, service my own central heating and install basic electrics so this should keep me busy?  Comfortable with solitude as I go solo touring each year and enjoy having the choice to interact or not.  
 

I’ve been lurking and learning here but any advice (get a survey etc is a given,  also understand doctor stuff) would be greatly appreciated. 
 

thanks THM

Hi! I am new to the world of boating. I would appreciate kind honesty and feel you are the people to ask! 
I am 27years old, female and have a corgi. I left a DV situation 2years ago and financially I will struggle to own a home for a long time or if I do buy it will be in an area I would not want to live in. I have been looking at Narrowboating life as a means to escape this seemingly impossible struggle… I am someone willing to learn anything. Willing to go on courses (please let me know if there are any you recommend) to learn the skills. I have a family friend that’s owned boats all his life so he will be very helpful for advice etc. I have been looking and financially I could afford to get a personal loan and buy up to a £30,000 boat with just over a £6,000 net for survey, blacking, anode replacement and a bit of a DIY light update (paint etc.) as well as keeping a little back to start a maintenance fund. Looking at expected costs and maintenance I see that it would mean I can actually save money each month which I feel could offset the depreciation of the boat leading me to build a fund so I can buy a house later on. The idea is 2-3 years of boating. I have a feeling I would love the lifestyle- the stability of owning something of my own with the flexibility of taking my place of comfort wherever I wish. I have always loved camping and love being in nature. Rain and cold don’t bother me- I feel at peace in this sort of environment. The idea would be permanent mooring and likely not cruising often. I would pick a pretty dated ship and make small alterations as life goes on but nothing drastic. I would need to figure out care for my dog whilst I work (if anyone have advice on whether dog walkers are willing to come to boats etc I’m all ears or anything else RE dogs and boats). I also really want to be part of a friendly and close-knit community which I (at least currently!) seem to be is a factor of narrowboating. That to me is a huge draw to boating life… wanting advice, reality checks and any sort of helpful guidance anyone is willing to give! Many many thanks! 

1 hour ago, E257 said:

I also really want to be part of a friendly and close-knit community which I (at least currently!) seem to be is a factor of narrowboating.

 

 

Welcome to the forum E257.

 

I have to take issue with this bit. If you take a permanent mooring then yes you will become part of a close-knit local community of maybe a dozen boats, but it won't be all boats. You casn't possibly get to know all of them!

 

If on the other hand you elect to "continuously cruise", then in my experience you tend to form shallow 'hello in passing' type of relationships with other boaters in the general area* but 'close-knit', it absolutely isn't.

 

* 'General area' means a cruising range of about 30 miles minimum. Ideally a lot more. 

 

Also, keeping a dog on a boat can be difficult solo if you are off to work during the day. Boats get hot in the sun. Try the search facility (top right of every page) to find theads on this.

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, E257 said:

Hi! I am new to the world of boating. I would appreciate kind honesty and feel you are the people to ask! 
 

Willing to go on courses (please let me know if there are any you recommend) to learn the skills. I have a family friend that’s owned boats all his life so he will be very helpful for advice etc.

 

I have been looking and financially I could afford to get a personal loan and buy up to a £30,000 boat with just over a £6,000 net for survey, blacking, anode replacement and a bit of a DIY light update (paint etc.) as well as keeping a little back to start a maintenance fund.

 

The idea would be permanent mooring and likely not cruising often.

 

I would pick a pretty dated ship and make small alterations as life goes on but nothing drastic.

 

wanting advice, reality checks and any sort of helpful guidance anyone is willing to give! Many many thanks! 

Hello and welcome to the forum. I've picked out the parts of your post which I think I can add something to.

 

Firstly, your budget. I can't comment on your financial circumstances and the calculations you have made, but what you are trying to do is possible but will need great care. The issue you have is that if you buy the boat with a personal loan you have a very big problem if something turns out to be wrong with the boat. Boats in the price bracket you are looking for do exist with a solid, good condition hull, a working engine and a tired but functional interior. However, the same price bracket also contains boats with serious corrosion issues. You don't have the experience to know the difference, so you really need to line up a surveyor with a very good reputation who you can trust. Depending on the location, you can get recommendations on here, together with simple checks that you can do yourself before paying for a survey (a survey will mean taking the boat out of the water, for which you will have to pay, together with the cost of the survey, so you will be at around £1000 by the time it's done and you don't want to do that too many times). You are likely to be buying an older boat. That means it is all about how well it has been looked after. Older boats were often built with thinner steel than current practice but that isn't a problem if they have been maintained. However, you need to align this with your insurance. There are different views on this, but I would want to go fully comprehensive if all my worldly goods were on board and on an older boat that pretty much means providing a hull survey to the insurer, sometimes a full survey and they won't usually insure anything less than 4mm thick, so bear that in mind. It's worth lining up your insurer and understanding what they will require before paying for a survey, so you can get the whole thing done in one.

 

Courses - I wouldn't say they are essential. Moving the boat around is easily learned, particularly if you can borrow someone to help for a bit. Learning good practice and techniques can be picked up in various ways. A cheap and easy one is to buy a copy of A Boater's Guide to Boating by Chris Deuchar which will give you some very good ideas. The problem with courses is that they tend to be quite generic and not specific to your boat. Learning to service the engine and understand the electrics are things which can be done through @Tony Brooks course notes from the time when he ran training courses - the odds are that a boat in your price bracket will not have been updated and the content of Tony's courses will still be very relevant.

 

I think you are on the right track with looking for a mooring. Continuous cruising within the current rules isn't really working for people who need to be in a specific area for work (with a few notable exceptions where the desire for the lifestyle results in compromises many people wouldn't be willing to make). True residential moorings are not likely to be available but slightly under the radar 'high intensity' or 'unlimited usage' moorings are easy to find, even within easy reach of city centres such as London. Don't ask for residential - use words such as above. If you indicate what part of the country you are looking to be based in then people may be able to point you at suitable places to ask, although for obvious reasons you might get that information by PM rather than on the open forum. Note, you have no security of tenure and may be asked to move on, but it's a boat, it can move onto the towpath temporarily and you then get another mooring. However, it is worth bearing this fact in mind when looking around - useful to find a location with a few options.

 

As MtB has indicated, the search function will find the answers to many questions but anything specific or that you can't find you are likely to get answers here. It's worth starting your own thread for that.

 

Alec

24 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

 

Welcome to the forum E257.

 

I have to take issue with this bit. If you take a permanent mooring then yes you will become part of a close-knit local community of maybe a dozen boats, but it won't be all boats. You casn't possibly get to know all of them!

 

If on the other hand you elect to "continuously cruise", then in my experience you tend to form shallow 'hello in passing' type of relationships with other boaters in the general area* but 'close-knit', it absolutely isn't.

 

* 'General area' means a cruising range of about 30 miles minimum. Ideally a lot more. 

 

Also, keeping a dog on a boat can be difficult solo if you are off to work during the day. Boats get hot in the sun. Try the search facility (top right of every page) to find theads on this.

 

 

 

 

Hi,thank you for your advice. I plan on mooring permanently so it would be lovely to get to know people. I have had a look at that thread thanks! It looks like it can be managed very well with proper planning and electrics for my girlie. I would also be looking at a dog walker or daycare environment for her to manage her time alone etc. she loves a good snooze so is not a high energy doggie. Happy for more advice!  

Also think about how your dog will get on and off the boat and if you'll need to help.

6 minutes ago, agg221 said:

Hello and welcome to the forum. I've picked out the parts of your post which I think I can add something to.

 

Firstly, your budget. I can't comment on your financial circumstances and the calculations you have made, but what you are trying to do is possible but will need great care. The issue you have is that if you buy the boat with a personal loan you have a very big problem if something turns out to be wrong with the boat. Boats in the price bracket you are looking for do exist with a solid, good condition hull, a working engine and a tired but functional interior. However, the same price bracket also contains boats with serious corrosion issues. You don't have the experience to know the difference, so you really need to line up a surveyor with a very good reputation who you can trust. Depending on the location, you can get recommendations on here, together with simple checks that you can do yourself before paying for a survey (a survey will mean taking the boat out of the water, for which you will have to pay, together with the cost of the survey, so you will be at around £1000 by the time it's done and you don't want to do that too many times). You are likely to be buying an older boat. That means it is all about how well it has been looked after. Older boats were often built with thinner steel than current practice but that isn't a problem if they have been maintained. However, you need to align this with your insurance. There are different views on this, but I would want to go fully comprehensive if all my worldly goods were on board and on an older boat that pretty much means providing a hull survey to the insurer, sometimes a full survey and they won't usually insure anything less than 4mm thick, so bear that in mind. It's worth lining up your insurer and understanding what they will require before paying for a survey, so you can get the whole thing done in one.

 

Courses - I wouldn't say they are essential. Moving the boat around is easily learned, particularly if you can borrow someone to help for a bit. Learning good practice and techniques can be picked up in various ways. A cheap and easy one is to buy a copy of A Boater's Guide to Boating by Chris Deuchar which will give you some very good ideas. The problem with courses is that they tend to be quite generic and not specific to your boat. Learning to service the engine and understand the electrics are things which can be done through @Tony Brooks course notes from the time when he ran training courses - the odds are that a boat in your price bracket will not have been updated and the content of Tony's courses will still be very relevant.

 

I think you are on the right track with looking for a mooring. Continuous cruising within the current rules isn't really working for people who need to be in a specific area for work (with a few notable exceptions where the desire for the lifestyle results in compromises many people wouldn't be willing to make). True residential moorings are not likely to be available but slightly under the radar 'high intensity' or 'unlimited usage' moorings are easy to find, even within easy reach of city centres such as London. Don't ask for residential - use words such as above. If you indicate what part of the country you are looking to be based in then people may be able to point you at suitable places to ask, although for obvious reasons you might get that information by PM rather than on the open forum. Note, you have no security of tenure and may be asked to move on, but it's a boat, it can move onto the towpath temporarily and you then get another mooring. However, it is worth bearing this fact in mind when looking around - useful to find a location with a few options.

 

As MtB has indicated, the search function will find the answers to many questions but anything specific or that you can't find you are likely to get answers here. It's worth starting your own thread for that.

 

Alec

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and knowledge. Is it worth then considering a boat specific loan and getting a more expensive boat? I am absolutely with you on my lack of experience and not wanting to get a rust bucket by accident. I have been reading up on the hull side of things- it is a very important thing to be aware of. 

2 minutes ago, Lady M said:

Also think about how your dog will get on and off the boat and if you'll need to help.

Thanks, yes- a good point- she is a little corgi so easy to carry/move and is comfortable travelling on a narrow ramp of sorts which I am sure I could set up for her. I’ve also read up that engines or generators (if required though as I’ll be permanently mooring not as important) can be load and unsettling for some dogs but we used to live next to an active steam locomotive line so she is very familiar with these loud noises so I think she will adjust quite well. I do plan on renting a narrowboat for a week or so to check these sorts of things in terms of practicalities! 

2 minutes ago, E257 said:

Is it worth then considering a boat specific loan and getting a more expensive boat?

 

I'd say no, as a marine mortgage will (or used to) require the boat to be Lloyds Registered which is whole load more hoops to jump through. I'm not sure such things exist anyway nowadays.

 

Which leaves you with just a personal loan to finance in with. And with those there is a top limit a lender can lend which used to be £30k. Probably still is. You could take out two personal loans however, if you have the income to support the repayments. You will need a land address though, with a postcode. 

13 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

I'd say no, as a marine mortgage will (or used to) require the boat to be Lloyds Registered which is whole load more hoops to jump through. I'm not sure such things exist anyway nowadays.

 

Which leaves you with just a personal loan to finance in with. And with those there is a top limit a lender can lend which used to be £30k. Probably still is. You could take out two personal loans however, if you have the income to support the repayments. You will need a land address though, with a postcode. 

Ah ok, so being savvy about what to look for is necessary then. 

On 07/07/2026 at 21:59, The History Man said:

I keep looking at far cheaper 70ft boats to ‘make my own’ so to speak, but wonder about single crewing them.  

A 70ft boat is no more difficult to steer than the more typical 50-57 ft boat which many liveaboards have. Full length has the advantage that the boat fills a typical narrow lock, so you never have to worry about it surging backwards and forwards, and crashing into gates, as the lock fills or empties, but you do have to be more aware of not landing on the cill.

Licence and mooring will be more expensive, and you will often have to pass towpath mooring spots that shorter boats would fit - although I have never found it to be that big a problem. Some winding holes are not long enough (or too silted) for 70 footers, which can occasionally be a nuisance. 

And the boat is too long to access parts of the system in the north.

But because they are not a 'go anywhere' length and the higher mooring and licence costs, 70 footers can often be picked up for no more than the cost of a similar condition 57 footer.

5 hours ago, David Mack said:

But because they are not a 'go anywhere' length and the higher mooring and licence costs, 70 footers can often be picked up for no more than the cost of a similar condition 57 footer.

 

Having sold my 68ft boat two or three years ago, I'd say anything 70ft-ish is worth substantially less than an equivalent 57 footer.

 

This was certainly the case when I bought it 20 years ago, and still was when it came to selling it.

 

 

 

 

13 hours ago, E257 said:

The idea is 2-3 years of boating. I have a feeling I would love the lifestyle- the stability of owning something of my own with the flexibility of taking my place of comfort wherever I wish. I have always loved camping and love being in nature. Rain and cold don’t bother me- I feel at peace in this sort of environment.

I'm 30 and have lived on board for a few years now.

My current boat cost me ~£30k, 31ft aluminium narrowboat in good structural condition but with quite a tired interior.

 

Initially it was very much a 'try it and see' thing and I expected to move back onto land at some point, but it only took a few months to realize I have no intention of ever doing so. Instead I have bought a bigger boat, although that's still a WIP project...

 

Part of the appeal is exactly what you describe - being able to take my own home and space wherever I feel like. You can moor in the middle of nowhere or the centre of a big city, as it suits your requirements or state of mind.

 

The community is great and I have to disagree with MtB there. There are some very tight social groups I've been fortunate enough to stumble into, and more generally people I've met all over the system, spent a few days chatting with and then later met hundreds of miles away and mutually remembered well enough to pick up where we left off.

In general there's a strong culture of helping other boaters out with things, even total strangers.

 

Some marinas do seem very cliquey and full of infighting/gossip/drama. But you can always go elsewhere!

 

(the above is for CCing outside the London area - in and around London a lot of people, probably a majority, have moved onto boats as a cheap living option without any particular interest in canals or trying to 'assimilate' and it's a very different culture. I don't like it and haven't spent much time down that way)

 

I had a dog for a while (he died last year) but am fortunate enough to be able to work from the boat most of the time. He wasn't much trouble, but being old and very calm I knew I could take him on trains/buses/shopping etc.

I haven't got another because of worries about that - puppies are obviously a liability in public and rescues you can't really know before committing.

 

A friend who has a permanent mooring regularly looks after another couple's dog while they're at work. I have looked after dogs occasionally. Obviously it's a big commitment especially if you're new to somewhere, so I wouldn't count on that being an option, but can't see why paid dog walkers would care about your being on a boat.

 

A different friend is 23, bought his first boat last year, and has very similar "can't imagine going back" opinions.

 

I find it noticeable that most people on this forum are a lot older and have quite different attitudes in some ways. There's a lot of experience and good advice though!

Edited August 30Aug 30 by Francis Herne

7 hours ago, Francis Herne said:

I'm 30 and have lived on board for a few years now.

My current boat cost me ~£30k, 31ft aluminium narrowboat in good structural condition but with quite a tired interior.

 

Initially it was very much a 'try it and see' thing and I expected to move back onto land at some point, but it only took a few months to realize I have no intention of ever doing so. Instead I have bought a bigger boat, although that's still a WIP project...

 

Part of the appeal is exactly what you describe - being able to take my own home and space wherever I feel like. You can moor in the middle of nowhere or the centre of a big city, as it suits your requirements or state of mind.

 

The community is great and I have to disagree with MtB there. There are some very tight social groups I've been fortunate enough to stumble into, and more generally people I've met all over the system, spent a few days chatting with and then later met hundreds of miles away and mutually remembered well enough to pick up where we left off.

In general there's a strong culture of helping other boaters out with things, even total strangers.

 

Some marinas do seem very cliquey and full of infighting/gossip/drama. But you can always go elsewhere!

 

(the above is for CCing outside the London area - in and around London a lot of people, probably a majority, have moved onto boats as a cheap living option without any particular interest in canals or trying to 'assimilate' and it's a very different culture. I don't like it and haven't spent much time down that way)

 

I had a dog for a while (he died last year) but am fortunate enough to be able to work from the boat most of the time. He wasn't much trouble, but being old and very calm I knew I could take him on trains/buses/shopping etc.

I haven't got another because of worries about that - puppies are obviously a liability in public and rescues you can't really know before committing.

 

A friend who has a permanent mooring regularly looks after another couple's dog while they're at work. I have looked after dogs occasionally. Obviously it's a big commitment especially if you're new to somewhere, so I wouldn't count on that being an option, but can't see why paid dog walkers would care about your being on a boat.

 

A different friend is 23, bought his first boat last year, and has very similar "can't imagine going back" opinions.

 

I find it noticeable that most people on this forum are a lot older and have quite different attitudes in some ways. There's a lot of experience and good advice though!

Thank you so much! I have a feeling I will feel the same though of course until I get on the water and I won’t know for sure! 
I really appreciate your detailed answer- it is really helpful. I have spoken more with my dad and his friend (been on boats all his life) is going to come with me to view boats and teach me the basics which I am very thankful for so I find the right one! It is reassuring to know you have found a boat in my price range that has been what you thought it was and not had any nasty surprises! 
 

I’m so sorry to hear about your dog passing- that is a really hard thing to go through. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. My Corgi is very used to public transport etc (at the moment I haven’t got a car) though given her breed and younger age (she’s 3 now so still looks very young but is really chilled for the most part now!) I daren’t leave her anywhere by herself as I don’t want her getting stolen. It is great to hear that with time and fellow boater may wish to help me with care- she is wonderful company! I’m hoping dog walkers won’t mind much either but I’m prepared to figure it all out! 

10 hours ago, MtB said:

 

Having sold my 68ft boat two or three years ago, I'd say anything 70ft-ish is worth substantially less than an equivalent 57 footer.

 

This was certainly the case when I bought it 20 years ago, and still was when it came to selling it.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for your advice. As I’m in the north I have read that around 55ft is the maximum for the locks up here so I will be sticking around this. I guess that plays a role in the value of the bigger boats as people like the convenience of being able to go anywhere. 

1 hour ago, E257 said:

As I’m in the north I have read that around 55ft is the maximum for the locks up here so I will be sticking around this. I guess that plays a role in the value of the bigger boats as people like the convenience of being able to go anywhere. 

Hi and welcome. Don't limit yourself to 55'. Our 58 footer had no problem fitting in the smaller northern locks. I adore corgis! If you find a mooring near a town you shouldn't have any trouble finding a dog sitter. Best of luck.

Ive not read everything in detail, my brief scan indicates that OP has a lump of money but intends to get a loan, for a boat and pay for this by working. Why buy a boat? Bricks and mortar are a far better investment, mortgages are generally cheaper.. Expenses are upfront then it smooth.  Generally houses don't sink or need ongoing maintenance. 

I reckon my boat is pretty sound, but it has required several thousands already this year to keep it up to scratch. I painted it four years ago, myself, must have bern about a £1000. It needs more painting,  just the gunnels!   I'll pay for it to be done, I anticipate another thousand! If you have skills and determination and the time, it is possible to DIY, but its time consuming. 

I have a 57ft, there are a few locks which would require a 58ft to use diagonally and lift fenders. This is a faff singlehanded. If the boat you buy is in the North, it's likely it wil fit, and it will not be 60ft. 

If a 70ft boat is cheaper when you buy it, because its not a conventional size Up North, it will likely be more difficult to sell, and this is VERY important  when you NEED  to sell. 

There may be a boating community,, but I think you will find that wherever you are, there will be a community. 

 

Edited August 31Aug 31 by LadyG

30 minutes ago, MrsM said:

Hi and welcome. Don't limit yourself to 55'. Our 58 footer had no problem fitting in the smaller northern locks.

60 ft (and not an inch more) is the absolute maximum, but 59 ft or less will make things easier.

https://www.penninewaterways.co.uk/calder/locks.htm

 

18 minutes ago, David Mack said:

60 ft (and not an inch more) is the absolute maximum, but 59 ft or less will make things easier.

https://www.penninewaterways.co.uk/calder/locks.htm

 

Just be careful what is the understanding of boat length.

Is it just the hull length? that was the case of our 58ft ft narrowboat  boat, with the rudder hanging out another 400mm or more aft, and fore and aft fenders a bit more. Overall just over 60ft

Fenders we could lift,  but the rudder still needed some room one side or the other. And skewing a narrowboat in a wide lock gave a little more. 

The only place we don't know for certain it was within length was the Calder Hebble Rochdale/Pennine crossing, which was closed to our intended passage after devastating winter floods of Boxing  Day 2015. Froghall tunnel was probably too high. 

 

4 minutes ago, DandV said:

Is it just the hull length? that was the case of our 58ft ft narrowboat  boat, with the rudder hanging out another 400mm or more aft, and fore and aft fenders a bit more. Overall just over 60ft

 

 

In addition to this, the length described by a seller might be the bare hull length as you describe, or it might be the licensing length which CRT charge for, this being IIRC the total overall length of the baot including bow and stern fenders, rudders, davits and anything else sticking out beyond the hull. 

 

 

 

 

So boat licensed and sold as 60ft could easily have a bare hull length of 57ft or 58ft.