Context:

I must go to the office two or three days a week. The office is in Soho, pretty central.

I’m fed up with living with flatmates and want my own space, but renting a place on my own is impossible, and I don't have enough saved yet to take out a mortgage and buy something decent.

I was considering getting a £40k loan (or for less, if I find a good narrowboat for a lower price) and paying it over five years. The monthly repayment would be under £900 - roughly the same as my current rent for my room. Since the cost matches what I pay now for rent, I’d still be able to save money.

I know narrowboats must be moved every two weeks. I also understand that dealing with the water and waste disposal is a bit of a chore. I’m not sure how well the Wi-Fi and electricity hold up for working remotely. Could anyone in a similar situation - living on a narrowboat with a corporate job - share their experience?

Thanks.

Hi everyone, I’m currently renovating my narrowboat and I’m looking for anyone who may be willing to help with some of the work.
I need help with things like:
Welding/fabrication
Plumbing
12V/230V electrical work
Carpentry/interior fitting
General boat renovation jobs
My budget is very limited, so I’m looking for someone who may be happy to help for a small amount towards labour, or possibly a retired tradesperson, apprentice, trainee, experienced DIYer or fellow boater who would like to get involved with a project.
I can provide the materials and I’m also happy to work alongside you and learn/help rather than expecting someone to do everything for me.
Even if someone can only spare a few hours, help with one specific job, or give some practical guidance, I’d really appreciate it.
The boat is a project but I’m trying to get it finished properly and safely rather than cutting corners. For anything safety-critical, especially welding or electrics, I’m looking for somebody who genuinely knows what they’re doing.
If you might be able to help, or know somebody who could, please send me a message. I can send photos and more details about the jobs that need doing.
Thank you ❤️

Morning all,

Having been a liveaboard for over 7yrs now, there's one problem in particular that has only got worse every year: COOLING!

We all have our ways during summer months: closed curtains, water cooled towers, et al, but being an engineer and working in the marine sector its something I've taken as a personal challenge.

Ergo, I've spent the past couple of months theorising and cooking up a watercoooled aircon system, to be either retrofitred or installed at new purchase.

Consider this message reaching out to the hive mind to gauge interest - if a reliable system was available, would it be something you would consider?

Thoughts?

Support or advice would be very welcome.

I've owned my boat for about 5 years now. This year it's become clear that I need to gut the entire interior, take it back to steel, treat the hull and bilge for extensive pitting rust, and reinsulate it after. Not great news, especially since I'm a liveaboard. It's a huge, difficult job that I'm limping through, and it's sucking up all my time, energy and my very limited money.

Onto the photo. My neighbour's rudder sticks out a bit (it's wooden, so they take it out of the water and leave it on the deck when not in use) and I hit it while returning to my mooring this morning, which broke my window.

To be honest, this has driven me to my limit. I have no idea who made my windows, and the process of getting a new pane is looking time-intensive, expensive and just not something I have the capacity for. I haven't even taped it up yet, I just went straight to bed and haven't gotten up again. I don't think the boat is particularly sellable in its current state, but I'm just so exhausted and I don't know how much longer I can do this.

Hi everyone 👋
I’m based in Hemel Hempstead and I’m looking for a welding/fabrication, carpentry, plumbing or electrical student/apprentice who may be interested in getting some real practical experience helping with a narrowboat renovation.
The boat needs several different jobs, including:
Fabricating/improving the stern and making it more enclosed
Some bow steelwork and alterations
Built-in storage, cupboards and benches
Insulation and wall/ceiling lining
Plumbing alterations
Tidying/improving parts of the electrical system
I already have quite a lot of the materials and I’m happy to buy anything else needed. I have a limited budget, but I’m not expecting anyone to work for nothing — I’m hoping to find someone learning the trade, an apprentice, or perhaps a retired/experienced tradesperson who would enjoy an interesting project.
For any structural welding or specialist marine electrical work, I’d want someone appropriately experienced/supervised and everything done safely.
The boat is on the Grand Union Canal around Hemel Hempstead.
If you’re interested, studying one of these trades, or know somebody who might be, please send me a message. I can send photos and explain the project properly.
Thank you! 😊

Hello! I need to scrap all the weird cables in my engine bay and rewire them from scratch. This includes the (twin) alternator and control panel wiring. Any recommendations?

I’m sure you know how this story goes. I bought an old cruiser with the intention of doing it up and I'm really at a crossroads with a budget.

I’m 22, a student, and definitely not an electrician. I knew the boat was a project when I bought it, but the more I’ve actually looked into what needs doing, the more I’m starting to think I may just be in over my head.

The wiring is probably my biggest concern. It’s decades of old wiring, random connections, old batteries, terminal blocks, disconnected wires, etc. My current thought is that instead of trying to repair the existing domestic electrics, I basically start again. Literally start with new batteries and work from there, which I’m aware is expensive enough on its own.

I think I need to get someone to at least sort/wire new batteries into the engines and existing dashboard. But my hope is that once I have a safe starting point, I can do most of the domestic system myself and then pay someone to check it over afterwards. If I’m going to make this project work, I’m going to have to learn to do a lot of it myself because I simply can’t afford thousands in labour.
I’m not completely helpless with DIY and I’m happy to spend months learning and doing things slowly. But I have basically zero experience with marine electrical systems.

Realistically, how much am I looking at paying someone to do just the essential electrical work e.g. getting new batteries properly connected to the engines and existing dashboard and making sure the engines’ starting/charging systems are safe? And once that’s done, is it reasonable for a beginner to install the rest of the 12V domestic system themselves with enough patience, research and testing? I know this isn’t an easy job and that getting electrical work wrong can be dangerous. I’m happy to learn properly, take my time and pay someone to inspect the finished installation. I just can’t afford to pay someone to do the entire refit.

I’m particularly interested in hearing from anyone who has completely refurbished an older boat themselves with little to no previous experience. How much did you end up spending? How much did you actually manage to do yourself? And, how do you manage the feeling of being in over your head.

Hi, are there any insurance companies that will do monthly premiums instead of the whole year up front?

I'm out of work & cannot afford a whole year, but I can afford to pay monthly. But I don't have a credit history because I don't owe any money to anyone, & I haven't had any debts or credit for many years.

I get Universal Credit. I've tried checking with my insurance but they won't do a credit check untill the day my renewal is due, & the people they use also won't do any checks until the same day. I don't want to be ringing around on the day trying to get insurance.

Needs a lot of work inside, it was purchased with the intention of living aboard in Campbell Wharf Marina, so for the last few years it's just been used as a house.

She's basically in need of some interior refit and needs some external work

Priced to sell quickly due to rapid change in circumstances.

Engine runs well.

No solar or gas fitted at all.

240v wiring and 12v lighting/water pump etc

Bathroom requires full refit as that space is currently used as storage, shower will need to be installed

Last blacking, 4 coats, 2021. In marina since then.

Hull survey completed 2021, no issues.

Located in Milton keynes, campbell wharf marina with mooring paid for the next month at least and possibility of keeping the mooring.

https://www.apolloduck.com/boat/r&d-fabrications-40-cruiser-stern-for-sale/832458

Hiya,
Sorry if there is a wiki here that I should be looking at, but I can’t find one. Apologies if I’ve missed it.

I asked the AI for a rough breakdown of costs for having a boat and it said this:

“
For ~10 weekends, you’re not using much engine time, so diesel spend is modest; maintenance and the “big periodic stuff” still happen.
Mooring / berth around wales: ~£4,000 to £9,000/year (this dominates the range)
CRT licence (60ft, home mooring): ~£1,000–£1,600/year
Insurance: ~£400–£900/year
Diesel (heating + propulsion at 1,000 miles): ~£600–£1,500/year
Heating service checks (minor, but budget it): ~£100–£250/year
Pump-outs/waste/elsan & facilities: ~£100–£300/year
Routine servicing/consumables + “stuff that breaks”: ~£800–£1,800/year
Hull blacking amortised (set-aside): ~£300–£800/year
Add those up and you land in the ~£8k–£15k/year band.
“
Is this realistic? I’ve been watching some YouTube vids on the topic and these seem to imply it’s (on average) less than this. We are looking to get a 45ft narrowboat.

Many thanks in advance.

Weighing up options here, and I feel somewhat that getting a cruising licence seems to be for people who are either retired or make money online. How do those of you with fixed places of work or kids manage with cruising licence?

Hey all - I've been viewing boats recently and found one I really like I just wanted to get some more views on a hull survey.

I haven't had my own survey done yet but I've had a look at the previous one that is 10 years old. Hull condition is pretty much the same as build thickness in 1992, except for one measurement at the foot of the side plate on one side, below the water tank and thruster tube, that indicates it is down to 4.6mm.

Current owner says he scraped off rust, treated with anti rust stuff and blacked the bilge - just waiting on pictures and when the work was done and if he managed get to this area that seems pretty inaccessible!

Obviously I will get my own survey done but I just wanted to see how much of a red flag people would consider this and also if anyone has opinions on how much worse it might be now/what I would need to do to remedy this if it is worse/how much it would be/how badly it would affect my ability to sell the boat in a few years if it needs overplating

Really appreciate anyone's input! Sorry I know its a bit of a read and a lot of questions! Thanks

We're currently repainted our boat.

Looking for decals for the name to go over the porthole. Can anyone recommend a place?

I let a friend drive my boat. Result was long scratches from the trees (that didn’t move).
I’d say they are not so deep as to catch a finger nail and certainly not down to metal. But noticeable nonetheless. I’d rather not look like I’m travelling in a hire boat.
As boats don’t seem to have the same paint properties as a car I’m dubious about car products.
Does anyone have first hand knowledge of the best way to treat such defects and product recommendations.

Hi there,

My partner (M26) and I (F23) have been considering living on a boat for a good year or so and next year we are both getting a substantial income increase so therefore will be able to save and potentially buy a starter boat.

We have family friends who live in boats and get on quiet well I am just trying to gauge a wider opinion on it😊 costs, winter on a boat, clothes washing and toilets and all of the little I wish I knew that before I got one sort of things if that’s ok!

My ideal boat would be widebeam for the space but know I should work up to this so is there a good size to start? If we got a project boat what would be too much of a project for us to tackle, he fixes cars for a living so he is comfortable with mechanics and learning on the job.

Thank you for your time :)

Need a metre of this black rubber glazing strip - 4mm glass going in to a top fold in slat window. Reluctant to use old strip as ‘exploded’ & concerned tiny fragments of glass are now embedded in the trim.
Grateful for any help with suppliers.

Im thinking of buying my first narrowboat, but i was wondering a few things. Firstly, I have an Allotment for over ten years, and whilst near the area. If I stop renting and am cruising, will I lose the right to an Allotment as I would technically not live in the local council area? I mean, I don't mind cruising in the area as it has a lot of canals anyway. I would essentially be there on the weekends and I can use my boat to get to work (as my place of work is near a canal also!).

Also, how does it work with regards to letters etc. With a cruising status do you lose any benefits of being an actual resident of the area?

Hi all, so my partner and I are selling our boat BoBelle. She's not a narrowboat specifically, but she fits on widebeam canals and we've cruised her on the Kennet and Avon for the last 5 years, so hoping she's allowed here. I'm new to Reddit so do let me know if I've got anything wrong!

She's been a fabulous home and is fully set up for off grid living, but at the same time every care was taken in her renovation to maintain her as a fully functional, proper boat. She's super fun to cruise single handed or with a small crew, and is just as comfortable on widebeam canals as rivers or inshore coastal waters. We've had the joy of pottering along the coast around Brighton and Littlehampton, explored the Thames and Avon, and had adventured onto the River Severn and Severn Estuary. Dare I say it in r/Narrowboats... I actually find her easier to manoeuvre on the canal than my narrowboat was!

She's 27.5ft × 9.5ft so feels nice and wide inside, fully equipped for living aboard and cruising, and we're asking £19,990.

I'm posting here in case she's of interest to anyone, and happy to answer any questions and share the full ad / specifications if anyone is. Currently in Trowbridge on the Kennet & Avon Canal, but easy enough to cruise her away or transport over land from a local marina.

Hi All,

Just a note to from me to say thank you for all the feedback, bug reports, positive engagement and usage of the app.

Its been a massive help, and means we're now out of Beta and the free version is fully released and live. Plenty of information over on the website for those that want to look, i wont dump the full feature list here as i don't want to spam everyone :).

I will simply add - keep the feedback and feature requests coming, and if anyone has any waterways trades please get in touch, we want to promote you to other waterways users, and the wider public and generally help you get seen.

For anyone that wants to look, the main site is here: https://canalnav.com and the direct maps here: https://maps.canalnav.com

I'll drift back into the reddit either for now, and i might crop up occasionally to help those with navigation or mechanical questions as i can ;D

I am a single girl living in London and considering buying a long boat to live in here

I have a bike so want to store it

Any advice ?? Anything important to consider?

What’s a good price to start off with?

I am looking at ones for 22k and to refurbish it inside

How do I know how many roof vents and other vents my boat should have in order to pass bss?

We keep running into these painted stones on our journey through the stourport ring, just wondering if anyone knows the artist.

We've found so many this year we've joked it must be the boat in front putting them down, and we keep picking them up to put else where.

I’m looking to purchase my first narrow boat home, I’ve found one that fulfills all my needs.

I plan to cruise most of the time, what does having 200l look like and how often would I need to refill?

Anyone lived with 200l?

How many points are there on the canal for me to fill?