99% of boats on the canals in manchester are the narrow boat ones. They range from fairly pickey poverty spec to some super comfy ones over 60 feet. There are also one or two wider 'barge' type boats which seem to have tons more space.

 

barges are way bigger than narrow boats...have a google before you call them all pikey...and take a look at the cost of the proper jobs. Not for me I like mowing m lawn too much but a proper alternative with an open mind

 

I suspect googling will only reinforce the pikey impressions

 

A money pit. Just get £10,000 worth of twin axle caravan and get a seasonal pitch somewhere.

 

Sounds even more Pikey.

 

If you're saving money to buy a house it's ideal. Pikey to me means living day to day in fields or car parks trying to keep clear of the law. Living in a proper campsite is a different matter. Electric hook up in included, sometimes water hook up and grey waste drainage. The campsite will have showers and toilets and you don't pay council tax. Beats living on some narrow boat costing tens of thousands more to buy with the associated fees, repairs and charges you'll have to fork out on.

 

Admittedly I know very little about caravans, but I would have thought the prices would be comparable, like for like, is this not the case then?

I would also be very surprised if the associated costs you mention are not comparable to owning a twin axle and renting a pitch.

 

http://www.fikkers.nl/ned/schepen/info/2552/



This is what you need.

 

My outlaws live on a boat most of the year and love it; but it's a pretty big yacht and it's moored in the Med.

I reckon barge life could be quite fun.

 

Maybe the engines gone on that one, same as my sisters engine though


It's too cheap

 

I looked into doing it myself. The spec of caravans less than 5 years old is very good. Insulated, double glazing, proper bathrooms, fixed beds etc etc. With a full awning you'll have loads of room. £10k would get you a very good 3/4 year old caravan which would have lost its heaviest depreciation.

There are seasonal pitches across the country and there's lists on the caravan club and other sites. They generally cost around £2-3k per year and of course you get the benefits I've already mentioned. You can run everything off your electric hook up including the heating. The one drawback is you have to leave the pitch for a few nights every 21/28 days (caravan can stay). I don't know how hot they are on this and I suspect they turn a blind eye as long as you're not a twonk. You could even forgo a seasonal pitch and go from site to site every month for around £400/£450.

With a boat you've got mooring fees, diesel costs, service charges etc and the boat itself. I certainly wouldn't live on a boat costing anywhere near £10k. It will need constant maintenance and painting, and lifting out now and again.

 

Friends live in a static caravan park along way here, nice park besides water. (old quarry pit)
10k for caravan and 2.25k for pitch

Plus your gas /electric.

But they've got to have another address (home) and 2 months a year they can't be there at all!

Which is what they want cos they've got a boat in Mexico, Gutamala....somewhere similar for the winter

 

I completely discounted statics due to running costs.

 

What other costs?

 

The ones I looked at had council tax, water and electric charges and cost a fortune to heat . Being kicked out for a few months to save on the council tax is a pain too. Depending on the park you'll also have to have a newish caravan or upgrade it. I like the idea of being able to move easily if I had to.

 

We looked at a chalet style thing (basically a big static) as a holiday home but the annual charges were insane and it was limited on when you could use it; so we bought the camper instead.

 

Don't get the council tax thing at all???

 

Slightly amazed at those figures scoobynutter

, I mean - you could go through 50 quid of electric in a week!

 

http://www.threepondspark.co.uk/

This is the place

 

Where do you get £50 a week in elec from? Moving out for 2 months means they are not permanent residents so won't have to pay council tax.

 

Right, I think I know what you mean now. Look here at Hertford my nearest seasonal pitch site
http://www.campingandcaravanningclub...asonalpitches/
£2300 for the year inc hookup. Yes you could easily spend £50 a week in electric if you went mad but I guess there's a fair usage policy

 

Sorry, missread

2-3 k .....plus bills

 

Once you've paid the £2300 for the seasonal pitch you don't have to pay any other bills (other than tv licence) as you can do everything on hookup.

 

Well that does sound like a bargain!!


These friends caravan like the one in the pics, he paid 10k ish, but had to completely redecorate

 

Yes it's outstanding value. I'm thinking of renting my house out and going down that route.

 

[TDW] Anyone live on a barge?[/TDW]


Nope, but living on a barge is a romantic idea. It's not just for the 'pikeys' as some say. I know some renowned artists and poets that live on their boats. You have to be a person who doesn't give a damn about what others think, and go with your wish.

If I ever live on a barge, I think I'd need a bleddy big boat, as I like plenty of space around me. Narrow boat would do my head in. Also, you have to be thin to live on a narrow boat.