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Well, I'm still alive and feeling well, and although I didn't get to see the consultant on Tuesday, the Clinical Nurse Specialist did tell me I have some chance of long term survival after my cancer op. Meanwhile as I'm 64 and just had a course of radiotherapy and there is that virus thing out there, I'm not going out much, to help make sure I survive that too! Among other things I'm lurking on CWDF, especially trying to be helpful  on the New To Boating topic...

 

Patrick Barrett, may I suggest two things?:

 

1. There's a trade off between DIY and paying someone for such jobs. i.e. how much knowledge and time you have, versus how much you can afford to pay someone.

 

2. Quick plug!: (I hope the mods don't mind?!) Once you have your stove, if you want a good supply of fuel for for next winter delivered (solid fuel and/or logs), maybe call the Narrow Boat Trust ... who I know will be coming loaded down the GU to London to attend the event at Kings Cross for the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Regents' Canal on 1st August. Pre-order what you want, and depending where in London, quite likely some arrangement could be made to fit you into the schedule.

The relevant webpage including the phone number for John the coal sales guy is:

https://www.narrowboattrust.org.uk/contacts

Apart from the NBT, who normally visit the London end of the GU twice a year about early August and late October, I think there's another fuel boat that mostly operates on the Lea and maybe into the Hackney area and on to the Regent's Canal. There might be others.

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31 minutes ago, Peter X said:

Well, I'm still alive and feeling well, and although I didn't get to see the consultant on Tuesday, the Clinical Nurse Specialist did tell me I have some chance of long term survival after my cancer op. Meanwhile as I'm 64 and just had a course of radiotherapy and there is that virus thing out there, I'm not going out much, to help make sure I survive that too! Among other things I'm lurking on CWDF, especially trying to be helpful  on the New To Boating topic...

 

 

Keep well Peter. It is boring staying in more...but at least we have the forum.

Good to hear you are still in there and hope you get past this one and start helping others to move their boats again. Keep well.

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51 minutes ago, Peter X said:

Well, I'm still alive and feeling well, and although I didn't get to see the consultant on Tuesday, the Clinical Nurse Specialist did tell me I have some chance of long term survival after my cancer op. Meanwhile as I'm 64 and just had a course of radiotherapy and there is that virus thing out there, I'm not going out much, to help make sure I survive that too! Among other things I'm lurking on CWDF, especially trying to be helpful  on the New To Boating topic...

Pleased to hear you are still with us.

 

I'm due for an MRI scan on the 19th March but have received a letter saying that they are now going to do a telephone appointment instead - wonder how that's going to work ?

 

The letter then goes on to say "if you are entitled to Patient Transport, call this number to book it ………………"

 

I don't think I need a Taxi to get to my phone, 'but hey ho' they are giving me the option.

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Keep well and stay safe Peter.

 

I had a tumour on one of my parathyroid glands diagnosed about a year ago, which has resulted in me having osteoporosis. Saw the consultant last July who said I would have the operation by the end of October. 

 

Didn't happen so I chased them up and was told I would hear by end of March. 

 

Still waiting, but I expect it to be delayed until the BHS has recovered from the Covid 19 overload.

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Hi there, Paul & Mary Ann here in the USA.

 

We are considering retiring fully in the next couple of years and returning to the UK, living the life of constant cruisers. As an ex-pat keen to show my American wife the lovely English countryside and way of life.

Would love a 40 foot narrowboat & rename her Troutbridge... yes EVERYBODY DOWN!!!!  :D

 

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16 minutes ago, Doc Scrumpy said:

Hi there, Paul & Mary Ann here in the USA.

 

We are considering retiring fully in the next couple of years and returning to the UK, living the life of constant cruisers. As an ex-pat keen to show my American wife the lovely English countryside and way of life.

Would love a 40 foot narrowboat & rename her Troutbridge... yes EVERYBODY DOWN!!!!  :D

 

Why not a 65 foot? Far more room if you are living aboard. You wont be camping will you?

 

 

eta......welcome to the forum by the way!

Edited by Dr Bob
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Hi Everyone.

 

I'm new to this forum - I bought a barge ex Liverpool and shipped it over to Ireland - a widebeam sailaway. I understand there is a bit of bias against widebeam boats, but our locks can fit them so I thought, Why not? I like the extra room. Anyway, I'm in the process of fitting out so I may require pointers before making a serious hash of things. I plan to retire and live aboard - perhaps travel to France or Germany for a season or two?

 

Cheers

 

Alistair

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2 hours ago, alistair1537 said:

Hi Everyone.

 

I'm new to this forum - I bought a barge ex Liverpool and shipped it over to Ireland - a widebeam sailaway. I understand there is a bit of bias against widebeam boats, but our locks can fit them so I thought, Why not? I like the extra room. Anyway, I'm in the process of fitting out so I may require pointers before making a serious hash of things. I plan to retire and live aboard - perhaps travel to France or Germany for a season or two?

 

Cheers

 

Alistair

Welcome to the forum Alistair.

How do you plan to ship it over to France?

The bias against widebeams over here is when they are used on canals that are not suited to the size of them ie the canal network that separates the North from South of England which are narrow canals and suited only to 7' wide boats. Sounds like it will be fine in Ireland. I've spent a lot of time in County Cavan and love the waterways NE of Cavan up to Enniskillen. Lovely countryside.

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Hi Bob, 

 

Thanks for the insight on widebeams - size wise it's marginally smaller than our vintage Guinness barges so locks and such were designed around that size so we shipped it from Liverpool on a truck via the ferry - - I imagine the same process to get to France, although I haven't done any serious research regarding the regulations on such an adventure - I'll do that when we tire of Ireland.

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Wondering what the size limit might be for the French waterways, I looked here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Péniche_(barge)

and it seems that anything that fits the Irish system will probably be OK in France? Better take your time as you seem to be planning to anyway, as I would imagine that in the short term moving any boat from the internal waterways of one country to another will be difficult!

 

If you have a Leeds and Liverpool barge I would guess it couldn't do the sea crossing around Land's End safely under its own power; even in the nicest calm weather with an experienced mariner as captain that's got to be a tough project? But you could always ask someone who knows about those barges and lumpy water (not me) for advice.

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Hi to all, name is Pablo.

  57 year old guy, recently divorced and suitably fleeced.

  I’m hoping to sort myself a live aboard but the budget is tight so I am going to need lots of help and advice to stretch it!

Apologies in advance for all the newbie questions I will be asking!!

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20 minutes ago, Pablo Blanco said:

Hi to all, name is Pablo.

  57 year old guy, recently divorced and suitably fleeced.

  I’m hoping to sort myself a live aboard but the budget is tight so I am going to need lots of help and advice to stretch it!

Apologies in advance for all the newbie questions I will be asking!!

 

WELCOME aboard - PLEASE use the excellent search facility on here before asking too much as (no disrespect intended) so much gets repeated its boring for those of us trying to help - you will get much more from all of us if you show you have put some effort in to finding answers first.

On 14/03/2020 at 22:09, Peter X said:

Apart from the NBT, who normally visit the London end of the GU twice a year about early August and late October, I think there's another fuel boat that mostly operates on the Lea and maybe into the Hackney area and on to the Regent's Canal. There might be others.

"Quite" a well known and much better looking boat in fact - I think the name Pinnock is what you may be referring to...………………….

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi all, 

 

Proudly put a deposit down today, subject to survey, on a fabulous 60x12 widebeam on the Kennett and avon, first time moving aboard, but very excited and naturally a tad nervous, will be bringing her up to London. 

 

(viewing done with social distancing, the previous owner has ready moved off, and stayed on land whilst we viewed) 

Thanks

 

Toby 

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38 minutes ago, Tobyn123 said:

Hi all, 

 

Proudly put a deposit down today, subject to survey, on a fabulous 60x12 widebeam on the Kennett and avon, first time moving aboard, but very excited and naturally a tad nervous, will be bringing her up to London. 

 

(viewing done with social distancing, the previous owner has ready moved off, and stayed on land whilst we viewed) 

Thanks

 

Toby 

Exciting times and 'welcome aboard'.

 

Have you got your self a mooring 'sorted' yet, I understand they are not easy to get either in London or on the K&A.

Very few residential moorings available and at £15,000 per year not cheap either.

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Dr Johnson once famously said "He who is tired of London is tired of life". He was writing in the 18th century at about the time the canals were being built, but I suppose he didn't really have life on water in mind.

You could always do one slow trip; jn at Brentford, along the Paddington Arm and the Regent's canal, then decide you're tired of it. Easy decision, given the well known problems of boating in London. Out you come at Limehouse, turn right and keep going up towards Lechlade. A 60x12 should fit most of the way (last bit's got a lot of tight bends!) All good clean fun and you should stay alive, so long as you treat the very BIG boats on the lower Thames with proper caution.

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Hello folks, 

I may be barking up the wrong tree or just plain barking but how would a 40 ft Narrowboat do on lakes, rivers (Vistula, Nogat) and a calm enclosed estuary (Zalew Wislany)? I know it would be OK for the Elblag canal funiculars, locks and canal widths. Would a Dutch barge be a better bet? Where could I get plans made up to get an initial costing of having one built over here? Sorry that's 3 questions and Ive just introduced myself but I've at least a hundred more.

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8 hours ago, Dajw said:

Hello folks, 

I may be barking up the wrong tree or just plain barking but how would a 40 ft Narrowboat do on lakes, rivers (Vistula, Nogat) and a calm enclosed estuary (Zalew Wislany)? I know it would be OK for the Elblag canal funiculars, locks and canal widths. Would a Dutch barge be a better bet? Where could I get plans made up to get an initial costing of having one built over here? Sorry that's 3 questions and Ive just introduced myself but I've at least a hundred more.

Likely it will far too small. I'd make it 60 ft ....that's a real bote.

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Hi everyone,

I’m Sascha and thinking about buying my first narrow boat this year. I’m looking for a boat with residential mooring as primarily it will be my place to live. Does anyone know residential moorings in North London//North of London? Tried Springfield Lee Valley but unfortunately they haven’t residential ones. Please let me know. Thanks, Sascha 

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11 minutes ago, Sascha Auweiler said:

Hi everyone,

I’m Sascha and thinking about buying my first narrow boat this year. I’m looking for a boat with residential mooring as primarily it will be my place to live. Does anyone know residential moorings in North London//North of London? Tried Springfield Lee Valley but unfortunately they haven’t residential ones. Please let me know. Thanks, Sascha 

Welcome Sascha

 

Don't want to discourage you but proper residential moorings are like rocking horse dung and if you manage to find one in that area it will cost many thousands a year. I doubt living on a boat within the regulations will be much cheaper that doing so in bricks and mortar.

 

Its no my area but I think Roydon Marina might have some residential moorings. The vast majority of people living aboard in a marina are doing it under the radar and make sure no post comes to the marina and they do not upset other people. You may do better asking about how many nights a year you can stay on the boat BUT a leisure mooring will have no security so you could be told to remove your boat forthwith.

Edited by Tony Brooks
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  • 4 weeks later...

Hi, my real name is Nick (Sludgemariner). Ex-Royal Navy submariner (left in 91). Wife and I both keen on being Narrow Boat owners/liveaboarders. Reading all about it online and joined the forum for more insights. It is a very attractive lifestyle, but I always have to read up on things first.

FB_IMG_1450117357489.jpg

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