Mooring Question

[MixingWizard]

Hello all,

 

I'm new to the world of boating, but I've fallen for the live-aboard concept, and it looks like it will fit perfectly to my lifestyle. I spend most of my time working away from home (I'm only really home a couple of nights a week at most.) It seems mad to pay so much for rent when all I need is a peaceful place to sleep and relax.

 

I've done a fair amount of research, and I've put together a budget of roughly £15,000 to spend on a boat (it seems like there are a few in reasonable condition at that price, I plan on renovating much of it myself.)

 

My question is mainly about the mooring type I should look for - I figure I need to find somewhere to put it before I buy! Would my situation require a dedicated residential mooring or would I get away with a recreational one? I have a dedicated office-space elsewhere that I can use as a permanent address and work/stay whenever I need so I don't need a postal address. I plan on using solar power as I won't need much power, and I can use mobile internet. All I really need is a dedicated parking spot, a water supply and the freedom to stay for a few nights a week. I'm hoping to avoid paying council tax as well.

 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on my situation.

 

Many thanks,

Louis

[Machpoint005]

If you are on the boat only two nights a week it can hardly be considered residential.

[Peter X]

Lots of people get away with living on a leisure mooring, and in your circumstances (postal address elsewhere, and often sleeping elsewhere) it shouldn't be too difficult if you keep a low profile, not too much noise or smoke from your stove. But the availability of suitable moorings depends on location, so in your shoes I would do the same and look into that before you buy a boat. If relying on solar power in winter you'd need to be very frugal with power use (e.g. do without a fridge all winter), but many marina moorings do come with a shoreline.

 

Where do you hope to keep the boat? York?

[MixingWizard]

Thanks for the replies! That's good to know, as the costs were really starting to stack up otherwise.

 

I'm hoping to find somewhere near York, I mostly work in York and Hull, with some work in Bradford and Newcastle, so somewhere between them would be fine. I'm rather fond of York and the surrounding area.

[magictime]

A leisure mooring would be fine for your purposes as far as I can see; staying on your boat a couple of nights a week hardly constitutes 'residential' use.

[magictime]

...personally, in your shoes, I'd be tempted to do without a mooring altogether and just meander around the Yorkshire waterways, but obviously you wouldn't then have the 'home comforts' of a marina (parking space, water supply, electricity when needed). If moving frequently sounds like something you'd enjoy, you could look into it; if it sounds like a chore, don't bother. But as I find myself saying quite often to new forum members thinking about moving aboard a boat, I urge you not to miss the opportunity to do at least some cruising.

[MixingWizard]

Hi magictime,

 

I love the idea of permanently cruising, but it wouldn't be practical for me as I might be away from home for a month or longer without much in the way of notice. Don't get me wrong though, I spent many weeks cruising the canals with my dad when I was younger and would love to do so again in my free time. Not to mention, if I have time to travel I could bring my home to work instead of getting hotels! I can't wait :-)

[magictime]

Hi magictime,

 

I love the idea of permanently cruising, but it wouldn't be practical for me as I might be away from home for a month or longer without much in the way of notice. Don't get me wrong though, I spent many weeks cruising the canals with my dad when I was younger and would love to do so again in my free time. Not to mention, if I have time to travel I could bring my home to work instead of getting hotels! I can't wait :-)

 

Ah, OK, Yes, a month would be too long to leave your boat just on the towpath somewhere. Good to hear you're planning to get some cruising in, though - Yorkshire is not short of waterways to explore even if you only have a few days here and there.