tony de wonderful

I need somewhere to live whilst I wait for the property market to crash.

It would need a permanent mooring though 'cos I'm away so much.

Dingdongler

This would be suitable for you and probably just within your budget

Oldun

Do you mean a narrow boat on a canal?

It's something that's crossed my mind and would also be interested in a bit of knowledge.

dpb

dpb

Pah, canal barge - luxury!!

Lived on small sailing boat , for ~14 years

tony de wonderful

That's the one!

I quick bit og research tells me I would need to buy or rent a residential mooring, which are hard to come by, and buy a boat.

I'll probably investigate over the next few months. Only semi thinking about it really but I'm a property bear that doesn't want to be shaken out. Plus I think it would be interesting.

dpb

You might be able rent from someone.
My ole man did for short while, this was Rickmansworth north london

SJ_Skyline

Spend most weekends on my Sunseeker predator 130. If you have the means then I highly recommend picking one up.

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

My dad bought me one of my 14th Birthday .. when I hit 18 I got a real boat .. The Turama.... it's ok..

Jamie

My mate worth many a penny did just that i think he is still on it near northampton.

Graz

Water based gypsies

trails

iTrader: (41)

I've just finished helping some friends strip and refurb a narrow boat for just this reason...lovely way to live so far, winter is going to be interesting though

Hardest part is getting a proper residential mooring, you will find there is probably a long waiting list...but if you go down to your intended spot you will probably find quite a few people living on non-residential moorings. You need to befriend the locals...good luck.

dpb

Warmer than a caravan

trails

iTrader: (41)

even noisier than a caravan in the rain though...was in there during one of the monsoon stylee down pours last week; I quite liked it but thier two year old was a little perturbed to begin with

Carlh

property prices are starting to go up.... you might want to reconsider as it may be too expensive for you to buy back in..

Luan Pra bang

MY pal got a barge ten years ago and still lives on it with his wife, he just moves it up and down the canal when he has been in the same place for too long. Its well kitted out, requires constant maintanence , is too low for and anyone other than a short **** to stand up in and feels cramped as **** to me. It has been known to happen that people untie is for a joke and walk up the canal with it as well, or push it to the otherside of the canal.

mamoon2

CrisPDuk

There are more private marinas springing up every year, it might be worth looking into them if you are intending to leave the boat for a period of time?

MrsD and I are working towards achieving floating pikeyhood in the next few years

Jamie

Not sure if you are taking the **** my mate has a few million if not more in his bank account but he lives on a barge taking a simple life

CrisPDuk

I suspect he isn't

Whilst a surprisingly large variety of 'types' of people do own narrowboats, in my experience at least, a fair number of them are of the pikey persuasion

Jamie

Hmm 40k for a barge then fees they are not pikeys are they?

Ant

didnt f1 have one to sell?

dpb

Hmm......

LSherratt

iTrader: (1)

I can't help think this, but whenever I think of somebody living on a canal boat they're eitiher A) retired old couple B) pikey C) green peace/tree hugger/canal trust/wildlife conservationist type of person.

I have been on a canal boating holiday with my family when I was young and as much as I enjoyed it, I would never want to live on a canal boat.

dpb

Wouldn't be cause you've got used to the luxury - living mum and dads farm at all then?

LSherratt

iTrader: (1)

Haha good one.

Personally I'd just rather live in a house compared to a cramped narrow boat. I'm sure that could be said the same for a large percentage of people too.

Jamie

Depends how big the boat is

joshnosh

iTrader: (1)

Small enough to fit down A river I'm gessing so not that big!

Osimabu

iTrader: (2)

If it's on most canals, it will be no more than 7' wide and be a narrowboat, not a barge. You don't usually get a 'barge' on a standard canal, as they're wider than 7'. Guess why narrowboats are called 'narrowboats'?

As to living on one, hmm. I had a week's holiday with two friends on one in 1990 and we loved it, so we booked it again for two weeks in 1991. We came home four days early and didn't speak for three months afterwards....

Some folks love it though, so it depends on your mindset I suppose.

dpb

Get any classic Dutch barge on some water way somewhere and your cash will be safe indeed rising ..very cosy as well

Don't think I would be that happy on narrow boat, least I could sail around and lived in a marina, with all facilities