I'm buying a boat part 32467243876

[ovaltina]

The banks will lend you 25k unsecured

Well, no, they might lend you £25k but if I asked I think they'd run a mile!

 

[ovaltina]

yup. I aimed for it and finally got there.

Congrats

 

[Strumpet]

Guests that can show me how to drive the thing even more welcome!

I don't drive

 

[BoatieBird]

So, about £1700/year. Where in the country are you

We're in Northamptonshire

 

[BoatieBird]

Here's a picture of b/f's sister's husband's boat (built 1895)

and it's history

http://heritageboatassociation.ie/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=125&Itemid=64

I love a boat with a bit of history behind it

 

[Gromit]

Very jealous. Don't know if I'd want to live on one permantly but I'd love to do a few months off work on one if I could ever afford to take a few months off (unlikely).

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I love a boat with a bit of history behind it

I've been going to Ireland for 17 years and as often as I go on it, I've never actually been on it when it's moving

 

[christonabike]

I have a mate who lived on a boat on Platts Eyot for six years

His boat is the only thing I have ever coverted in my life

Loved staying on it through the summer months, we are having a trip up river in September

For all the hard work, and some inconvenience compared to land living, it is an ace thing to do

One day......

Good luck with your new boat!

 

[6_6]

What's the maintenance like having a boat?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Greetings new poster 6 6

 

[fractionMan]

What's the maintenance like having a boat?

Depends on the boat.

Newer boats = less maintenance.

You need to get it blacked every couple of years (taken out of the water and bottom painted)

You need to keep the paintwork up to scratch.

You need to keep the engine serviced

You need to replace/maintain the batteries

You need to fix stuff as and when it breaks (water pumps, heating, electrics etc etc)

 

[6_6]

Greetings new poster 6 6

Thanks.
Actually is 6_6

 

[6_6]

Depends on the boat.

Newer boats = less maintenance.

You need to get it blacked every couple of years (taken out of the water and bottom painted)

You need to keep the paintwork up to scratch.

You need to keep the engine serviced

You need to replace/maintain the batteries

You need to fix stuff as and when it breaks (water pumps, heating, electrics etc etc)

And what about learning to drive that thing?
Do you call it 'drive'?

 

[fractionMan]

'pilot' I think.

I think I may be slightly out of my depth.

 

[heinous seamus]

Nice bit of boat, that. What height is it inside?

 

[fractionMan]

6 foot something. Enough for me anyway. Full specs are still on their way to me.

 

[fractionMan]

Terrible set of pictures demonstrating how not to show a boat at it's best here:

http://search.boatshop24.co.uk/morepictures.asp?btsrefno=14394146

Living area:

Ugly chairs. Weird display cabinet on the left will might get shifted so I can fit a sofa bed in facing forward down the boat. Those are the front doors btw.

Squirel stove will most likely go in where one of the corner cabinets is now, or I could put in a smaller one on top. Like the "little cod": http://www.marinestove.com/codinfo.htm which is also decent to cook on.

I liked this boats layout cos it had seperate room for dining, decent living room and a proper cabin for lil fraction with a door.

It goes

Cruiser stern
My room
Bathroom
lil fractions room
kitchen diner
living room
Nice sized bow with seating both sides. Might get a cratch cover for it.

 

[fractionMan]

Cool vid about how to handle boats (the Boaters' Handbook DVD)

http://www.waterscape.com/watch

 

[fractionMan]

it's well cheesy

 

[London_Calling]

Interiors on all boats tend to be rubbish don't they.

Fwiw, I've done some proper sailing and also this narrow boat malarkey - I'm sure you know there's not much to the driving you'll be doing. Half a day and you'll have all the confidence you'll need. Obviously need to know the rules of the road but I'm sure you're already thinking about the Big Issue for newbies, getting the angles and speed right when you want to dock.

Just be gentle and take it very slowly, they're pretty tough old things anyway.

Jealous as hell!

 

[lizzieloo]

So, how do costs work out for living on a canal boat? What do you have to account for - moorings, heat, fuel, maintenance? Anything else?

We lived on ours for next to bog all, just the licence.

 

[lizzieloo]

It's free (well, you need a BW cruising licence). You can stay in many places for 2 weeks at a time, but busy places have 24, 48 or 72 hour restrictions.

Have they tightened up on this now? it was never an issue when we were on the canal, been off for 10 years now. They had the restrictions but it was hardly ever enforced 'cept in popular spots.

Congrats fractionMan BTW

 

[pinkmonkey]

Have they tightened up on this now? it was never an issue when we were on the canal, been off for 10 years now. They had the restrictions but it was hardly ever enforced 'cept in popular spots.

Congrats fractionMan BTW

It's changed alot, mainly because there are so many boats, now . It's overcrowded in some areas, my mate (who works for BW) reckons 2 or 3 boats a week are being craned in in the London area. Where I keep my boat, there isn't room for many more and yet they still come. It puts pressure on stuff such as sanitary stations (which often have small septic tanks) and cruising clubs and rowing clubs complain because they can't moor at visitor moorings as they are full. Until this year, they've been quite lax, but we've noticed they really are moving boats on more than they did.

I've been following user group meetings. They are proposing refusing you a license if they think you are abusing the cc rules. They already fine overstayers but it doesn't happen that often.

 

[Crispy]

sounds like there's a business case for digging new basins
*revs up JCB*

 

[sim667]

'pilot' I think.

I think I may be slightly out of my depth.

Its helm

I've done my RYA powerboat level 2, but i dont think the same priniciples would apply to driving a houseboat......

I'd love a houseboat, always said it'd be a great way of life........ I just think it would get to me after a while.......

My ideal would be to have on aswell as my house....... dreams dreams eh?

 

[HobgoblinMan]

I couldn't live on one of these, as my main hobby involves swinging cats.

You all talk about cruising, is there a waterway in Hampstead Heath???

And all this talk of boats getting "blacked up" is quite frankly racist.

Can you do a loft conversion on one of these???

 

[fractionMan]

Oooer.

Going up next week to take it out for a spin!

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Oooer.

Going up next week to take it out for a spin!

oh, exciting
























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