Hi there!

[mrsmelly]

Hi

 

I am not going to read all the replies as that would take too long. Lets abbreviate and give some idea of what its like.

It is NOT a small house it is a boat and thats a very very different way of life.

If you BOTH love it then its simply vastly better than bricks and mortar.

IT IS NOT cheaper than living in a small house.

Having an address is not at all needed such as doctors and dentists will accept this fact when you are face to face with them and explain lifes facts.

Banking etc etc can all be done online.

Do not get a complicated electric system it simply isnt needed.

Solid fuel stoves are the ONLY way to heat a boat properly.

Toilet choice is not so important but I prefer elsan disposal vastly over pumpout mainly because it is always possible wheras pumpots are not so many and can be broken.

Work is just as easy to get on a boat as in a house.

Do NOT take too much notice of boat show vendors they will sell you anything and the majority of them do not even live on a boat.

Talk to LIVEABOARDS for the most useful information as that is what you want to do.

24 years liveaboard experience this year.

I did say abbreviated

 

Tim

Welcome,

We didn't do any narrowboat holidays before making our decision for a couple of reasons, it feels so right to be doing this and we figured that having a holiday on a boat would be like going on holiday to say Spain and thinking it was great and wanting to move there. Places always look better on holidays but when you live there it is totally different, I think the same would go for boats.

 

 

 

Alan & Tina

 

Very very true.

 

Tim

[Sade]

Welcome,

We are just starting our move. We have a boat lined up awaiting survey.

We are now reducing the furniture and "stuff" in our three bedroom house of eight years into two boxes and a suitcase. Oh, boy, what a daunting task that is.

 

We didn't do any narrowboat holidays before making our decision for a couple of reasons, it feels so right to be doing this and we figured that having a holiday on a boat would be like going on holiday to say Spain and thinking it was great and wanting to move there. Places always look better on holidays but when you live there it is totally different, I think the same would go for boats.

 

12 years ago we moved from Australia to the England arriving with a suitcase and a box and here we are reducing back down to the same again.

 

Alan & Tina

 

Sorry for the late response....my Nan was rushed into hospital 3 weeks ago and things have been a bit manic...she's improving though so now I can get back to the task in hand

 

I totally agree with you about holidays to try and find out what life would be like in a place....the truth is, we already booked the boating holiday which we've been wanting to do for a few years and its just the way it has worked out, holiday booked, use it as a bit of a research tool, practice in being on the canal more than anything. But I do appreciate what you're saying and know that a week holiday is not going to give us a real feel for what life would be like....however, this has been a dream of ours on the back burner for at least 12 years now and it may well work out that we are in the process of buying a boat whilst on holiday!

 

We're not really material people so a good couple of boot sales and charity shop trips will do the trick in de cluttering .....remembering that the dog is part of the furniture but try not to accidentally tag him with a 50p label at the boot sale LOL

 

Thanks for your advice

[Sade]

Hi

 

I am not going to read all the replies as that would take too long. Lets abbreviate and give some idea of what its like.

It is NOT a small house it is a boat and thats a very very different way of life.

If you BOTH love it then its simply vastly better than bricks and mortar.

IT IS NOT cheaper than living in a small house.

Having an address is not at all needed such as doctors and dentists will accept this fact when you are face to face with them and explain lifes facts.

Banking etc etc can all be done online.

Do not get a complicated electric system it simply isnt needed.

Solid fuel stoves are the ONLY way to heat a boat properly.

Toilet choice is not so important but I prefer elsan disposal vastly over pumpout mainly because it is always possible wheras pumpots are not so many and can be broken.

Work is just as easy to get on a boat as in a house.

Do NOT take too much notice of boat show vendors they will sell you anything and the majority of them do not even live on a boat.

Talk to LIVEABOARDS for the most useful information as that is what you want to do.

24 years liveaboard experience this year.

I did say abbreviated

 

Tim

 

 

Very very true.

 

Tim

 

Thanks Tim, again, apologies for late response (see my last comment).

 

One of the things that truly appeals is exactly that....its not a house its a boat! Cost comes into it but its really the lifestyle change, for what it's worth, the husbands work is sorted (ish) and I'll be doing some sort of online work.

 

We'd only ever consider solid fuel stove

 

We went to Reading boat show years ago and found that although we met lovely boaty people and there was a great atmosphere, when we tried to inquire about buying from traders, it all got a bit clinical and "car salesman" like....put us right off doing things that way! We will go and look at boats as and when we see any we think suitable (probably private sale) and go from there.....our situation will be a second hand boat that comes "as is" and won't be looking to do any work apart from essential if needed ....it will be work in progress (much like our house has been in the 6 years we've been here!)

 

And talking to liveaboards......isn't that what Im doing here? Heehehe, I know what you mean, we are planning lots of towpath walking over the summer months and hubby's birthday pressie will be a voucher for helmsman training ......errrmmmmm....just a bit excited about it all but trying to stay level headed.....this sunny weather isn't helping the latter

[Alanji]

I totally agree with you about holidays to try and find out what life would be like in a place....the truth is, we already booked the boating holiday which we've been wanting to do for a few years and its just the way it has worked out, holiday booked, use it as a bit of a research tool, practice in being on the canal more than anything. But I do appreciate what you're saying and know that a week holiday is not going to give us a real feel for what life would be like....however, this has been a dream of ours on the back burner for at least 12 years now and it may well work out that we are in the process of buying a boat whilst on holiday!

Admittedly only two months in but I feel as though I am on a constant holiday

[jelunga]

Hi there! I'm new to this forum and really want to just say hello!

 

I still live in a house with my husband and we are really just starting out trying to decide if the life would be for us. We have talked about it randomly over the years (17 in total!) and the idea of living on a narrow boat has always appealed to us. We're trying to be extremely http://www.canalworld.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/#EMO_DIR#/blink.gif sensible and not get swept away in the romantic views of living.....that is, we are thinking its a possibility but we don't want to forget the practicalities and that's why I'm starting here ....

 

We have a boat booked for a week in October on the South Oxford Canal with our dog Bullseye (staffie / collie cross) as a holiday first and a bit of a try out. We plan to book another around Jan/Feb time for a bit of winter experience! We've lived in a camper van, and also a very small bedsit in the past so we have an idea of living in a compact space. Hopefully after these little expeditions we can make a proper decision, so between now and then we are visiting boatyards (went to one yesterday) and looking into the ins and outs, meeting people, attending boat shows etc....and visiting forums! http://www.canalworld.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/#EMO_DIR#/clapping.gif .

 

Any advice, opinions on living the life, work, pros / cons etc would be helpful. And I really look forward to chatting and getting to know you all and some lively conversations! Cheers! http://www.canalworld.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/#EMO_DIR#/cheers.gif

Good move to get experience.

We had two weeks in a glorious May on a 60 ft hire just two of us. We loved the weather and cruising. Then hired a small 2 berth in end October with just coal stove, fold away bed in a matchbox shower in a phone box and toilet in a left luggage locked. Real cold, fire smokey and kept going out. Ropes froze stiffer than a porn star but still enjoyed it.

So we bought a boat and live on her.

However health problems now contra indicate living on a boat so maybe time tk move back ashore.

[Sade]

Admittedly only two months in but I feel as though I am on a constant holiday

 

So lucky Alan....and just been reading a bit of your blog...good stuff!

 

Good move to get experience.

We had two weeks in a glorious May on a 60 ft hire just two of us. We loved the weather and cruising. Then hired a small 2 berth in end October with just coal stove, fold away bed in a matchbox shower in a phone box and toilet in a left luggage locked. Real cold, fire smokey and kept going out. Ropes froze stiffer than a porn star but still enjoyed it.

So we bought a boat and live on her.

However health problems now contra indicate living on a boat so maybe time tk move back ashore.

It's a shame you think you may have to move back to dry land. If we haven't bought a boat by the time we go in October, I think we are going to book another week in January / February ......but the way things are going I'm not sure we will have got that far before buying a boat so maybe we will be living on it in January / February...heheee

[comfortably numb]

We hired for years, then 4 years ago bought a 12th share in a boat. This meant that we got to know more about the cost of running one especially if something went wrong or needed replacing, but not too painfully because the costs were divided between 12 of us. The other insight it gave us was being able to use it in the cold winter months, not the same as living on it full time of course but it nevertheless gave us a feel for it. Not only that but the cost even in the summer worked out at around a quarter of what we had been paying to hire a boat.

 

Now we've made the next progression into buying and living on our own boat, and since we moved on board at Easter we've loved every minute of it.

 

BTW, the share is for sale if you decide to go down that road before committing to buying a boat outright, LOL

[Sade]

We hired for years, then 4 years ago bought a 12th share in a boat. This meant that we got to know more about the cost of running one especially if something went wrong or needed replacing, but not too painfully because the costs were divided between 12 of us. The other insight it gave us was being able to use it in the cold winter months, not the same as living on it full time of course but it nevertheless gave us a feel for it. Not only that but the cost even in the summer worked out at around a quarter of what we had been paying to hire a boat.

 

Now we've made the next progression into buying and living on our own boat, and since we moved on board at Easter we've loved every minute of it.

 

BTW, the share is for sale if you decide to go down that road before committing to buying a boat outright, LOL

Thanks for your feedback Neil, much appreciated. We won't go down the share route....I think its do or die for us LOL!

[Maffi]

Hi there! I'm new to this forum and really want to just say hello!

 

I still live in a house with my husband and we are really just starting out trying to decide if the life would be for us. We have talked about it randomly over the years (17 in total!) and the idea of living on a narrow boat has always appealed to us. We're trying to be extremely sensible and not get swept away in the romantic views of living.....that is, we are thinking its a possibility but we don't want to forget the practicalities and that's why I'm starting here ....

 

We have a boat booked for a week in October on the South Oxford Canal with our dog Bullseye (staffie / collie cross) as a holiday first and a bit of a try out. We plan to book another around Jan/Feb time for a bit of winter experience! We've lived in a camper van, and also a very small bedsit in the past so we have an idea of living in a compact space. Hopefully after these little expeditions we can make a proper decision, so between now and then we are visiting boatyards (went to one yesterday) and looking into the ins and outs, meeting people, attending boat shows etc....and visiting forums! .

 

Any advice, opinions on living the life, work, pros / cons etc would be helpful. And I really look forward to chatting and getting to know you all and some lively conversations! Cheers!

Good idea taking a boat out in Jan/Feb A bad winter usually sorts the men fron the boys. Will you be going down to Oxford in October? Look out for me.

 

You might like to come for a drive out to Thrupp its a popular canal spot OX5 1JZ

Admittedly only two months in but I feel as though I am on a constant holiday

Six years in and that feeling doesnt subside! Edited May 8, 2013 by Maffi

[DeanS]

Sometimes I wake up, walk through to make tea, and suddenly think...."..now I remember...we live on a boat and theres water out the window"

[bodger]

We're not really material people so a good couple of boot sales and charity shop trips will do the trick in de cluttering .....remembering that the dog is part of the furniture but try not to accidentally tag him with a 50p label at the boot sale LOL

 

Thanks for your advice

 

We have at last sold the house, and waiting for the boat, around August. The one thing I would add is that we didn't think we were material people, until we moved in (temporarily! ) with son.

It took a week of travelling to the skip, the people there now think I work there and have invited me to their Xmas dinner, and also have hired a 20' container for storage. BE AWARE!!

Edited May 8, 2013 by bodger

[Sade]

Good idea taking a boat out in Jan/Feb A bad winter usually sorts the men fron the boys. Will you be going down to Oxford in October? Look out for me.

 

You might like to come for a drive out to Thrupp its a popular canal spot OX5 1JZ

Six years in and that feeling doesnt subside!

Great stuff Maffi! Yes we will be leaving Rugby on 4th October from Willow Wren and hoping to get down to at least Cropredy (we know the pubs!) it would be great to come and say hello if we spot you on Milly M! Is that your dog in the profile pic....could be a holiday friend for ours? lol....will talk to the hubby about coming out to Thrupp, thanks!

 

Sometimes I wake up, walk through to make tea, and suddenly think...."..now I remember...we live on a boat and theres water out the window"

I find myself closing my eyes and imagining what that would be like......every morning!.....I stand in our utility area quite a lot these days for no particular reason other than its about 6ft wide hahahahaaa!

[Sade]

We have at last sold the house, and waiting for the boat, around August. The one thing I would add is that we didn't think we were material people, until we moved in (temporarily! ) with son.

It took a week of travelling to the skip, the people there now think I work there and have invited me to their Xmas dinner, and also have hired a 20' container for storage. BE AWARE!!

Heheheee thanks for the heads up......we're looking to do this over several months so first will be the loft which only has 3 boxes of "junk" in it, the only thing we will keep from those boxes is the photographs (to be kept at the in-laws) and hubby's record collection ...clothes are mostly going, not sure why we keep half the clothes anyway. Then the big stuff will hopefully go to good homes or stay when we sell up....fridge etc is built in so won't be a problem....

 

It's only taken us about 10 years to accumulate all this "stuff" when we moved to the first house we had a lampshade and some clothes......not sure what happened to that lampshade now?

[comfortably numb]

Heheheee thanks for the heads up......we're looking to do this over several months so first will be the loft which only has 3 boxes of "junk" in it, the only thing we will keep from those boxes is the photographs (to be kept at the in-laws) and hubby's record collection ...clothes are mostly going, not sure why we keep half the clothes anyway. Then the big stuff will hopefully go to good homes or stay when we sell up....fridge etc is built in so won't be a problem....

 

It's only taken us about 10 years to accumulate all this "stuff" when we moved to the first house we had a lampshade and some clothes......not sure what happened to that lampshade now?

We’re nearly there with getting our house ready (for letting out). Having lived there for 30 years and me being a terrible hoarder it’s been a huge task, but I’ve had to be ruthless and part with most of my ‘treasured’ items.

 

You mention your photos and hubby’s record collection; I’ve scanned all our photo prints so instead of numerous bulky photo albums they are all on a tiny memory stick. All of my 950 (ish) record albums are now on an ipod, and videos of holidays, outings, family occasions I’ve transferred from bulky VHS cassettes onto CD’s.

We managed to move aboard our boat at Easter and actually have a bit of room to spare so perhaps I’ve been too ruthless when getting rid of stuff. I wish I hadn’t taken those old footy programmes and concert memorabilia to the council tip now