Anybody know the pitfalls of buying a narrowboat?

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I'm going to do my own research anyway but just wondered if anybody on here had direct experience of the pitfalls or anything else I should consider. So far I've come up with;

 

(1) Buying one can be as risky as buying a second hand car.

 

(2) It'll be cold in winter.

 

(3) I'll have to get rid of loads of 'things' which I have, in the past, thought I needed but now realise I don't.

 

(4) Would I be able to get 'roving' internet access on my laptop? I've heard of dongles but that was years ago when they weren't very good. Have they been superceded or become more efficient? I ask because I'm not sure if we are going to be stationary for most of the time or not. 

[eFestivals]

My missus lived on a narrowboat for ten years or so, so I'll draw her attention to this thread this evening.

 

For 'net access, most modern phones are now able to be a wifi hotspot, so you can connect to the net via that - tho there might be cheaper options thru a dongle (I'm not sure). However, be warned that with canals often in cuts, phone reception can be a bit ropey.

 

One thing you've not mentioned and is often missed by people considering a narrowboat are the monthly costs - licences and moorings. These can be in the hundreds of pounds each month, so it's not the case that you can buy a boat and then 'live for free'.

[___S_o_m_a__]

4) Dongles are much better now and can utilise the 4G network as long as you have reception. You shouldn't have a problem getting internet on the move.

 

If you are continually moving (up to 2 weeks in one spot) you may not have to pay some of the usual costs although I did hear (word of mouth - no official source) that British Waterways were cracking down on this sort of thing - Neil's missus may be able to clear that one up but there's a short article here about it.

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/boating/mooring/want-to-be-a-continuous-cruiser

[sheffieldlady]

A very good friend of mine has lived on a narrowboat for the last couple of years, he said he was thrilled that he didn't rush into the decision of buying a narrowboat. So don't rush into the decision. 

 

Obvious things like making sure you can afford it, how you're going to pay for it etc. The purpose of the boat will also determine your decision making - if it's a liveaboard you're decision making will take longer. After that, ideal length etc - if you're going to be cruising you will be limited by the length of the locks on some canals. If you're living on it - maybe the cruising aspect doesn't matter so much. With that thought - how many people will it be containing for sleeping - do you need more than two? Do you want the hassle of preparing a pull out bed every evening?

The other top tip is to inspect the boat and spend some time looking around it. More so than you would with any car, simple questions are important to - the height of the ceiling and if you can stand comfortably inside the boat! In my friends boat, myself and him are fine, anyone taller tan 6ft1 may struggle as they have low ceilings. When they first brought the boat they had a shallow bath which they quickly replaced with shower. And really think about the storage space - if you're living abroad storage is important, even if you get rid of a lot of belongings.

I will be visiting him after Glastonbury for a bit of a canal crawl / pub stop. He loves his life on the boat but is likely going to have to give that up, his girlfriend wants them to take the next step and she isn't interested in living on a boat! 

[Cheshire Cat]

If you plan to live on it I would recommend a proper survey or take the advice of somebody you trust who really knows what they are doing, there can be more pitfalls than buing a car or van.

 

If you think about it a van only needs to be watertight on the top half, boats need to be sound underneath too and unless viewing it in a dry dock you cant inspect that bit. I think experts can test the thickness of the hull and therefore rust and weakness with specialist ultrasound? equipment. Not to mention the engine.

Try to stay away from ex hire boats because as with hire cars they probably havent been driven with the greatest of care and are likely to have been knocked about in the locks and have a worn or damaged hull. Hire boats will also be laid out for maximum number of bearths rather than maximum storage and convinience to live in.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Thanks to all for your input, it's really appreciated. I know I've got to do a lot of research on this. I might even go and talk to a few people with narrowboats in Gas Street Basin in Birmingham city centre. I am also going to join a narrowboat forum.

[micawber]

Get a few related books on Kindle. Do a few holidays first including one in winter.

[Katster]

I holidayed on one once and the main bug bear of people I met who lived on them were taxes/rates. A little bit like living in a house I guess.

[lisajlb]

Hi, me and hubby bought our narrowboat in January 2014 and against what you read, we bought the first one we actually saw (other than online). It is perfect and we had only ever had one 4 day trip on one. In saying that we did read online quite a bit. 

 

In answer to one of your questions about it being cold in winter - nope the opposite - we spent 10 days over Xmas and New Year on it and even became an ice breaker a couple of times we had the doors open watching the snow with the log burner on.

 

We bought one that needed some TLC but no major works, I do advise any you look to buy get a survey on it like you would a house, not cheap but it will be lifted out and fully inspected.

 

Storage is fun, but you really do realise very quickly what you actually need and what is just clutter, I will say mine is 60' so on the large side.

Best thing we ever did

[sheffieldlady]

That sounds great. 

If you're clever you can have furniture that doubles up as something else, an opportunity to be quite creative with space, there's a company called StudyBed who do wonderful beds / desks. Which would be ideal if you had visitors!

http://narrowboatnemesis.blogspot.co.uk/- this featured on George Clark amazing spaces if you needed inspiration for storage

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Get a few related books on Kindle. Do a few holidays first including one in winter.

 

Unfortunately I'm running out of time so can't do a few holidays first. You are right though in that I need to read up a hell of a lot more on the subject.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Hi, me and hubby bought our narrowboat in January 2014 and against what you read, we bought the first one we actually saw (other than online). It is perfect and we had only ever had one 4 day trip on one. In saying that we did read online quite a bit. 

 

In answer to one of your questions about it being cold in winter - nope the opposite - we spent 10 days over Xmas and New Year on it and even became an ice breaker a couple of times we had the doors open watching the snow with the log burner on.

 

We bought one that needed some TLC but no major works, I do advise any you look to buy get a survey on it like you would a house, not cheap but it will be lifted out and fully inspected.

 

Storage is fun, but you really do realise very quickly what you actually need and what is just clutter, I will say mine is 60' so on the large side.

Best thing we ever did

 

Thanks for responding lisajlb.

 

We bought our campervan on a whim and haven't been disappointed with it. That said, she (for she is a she so my wife tells me) will have to go - unless we can find cheap storage somewhere. I would get a full survey done though on any boat I am thinking of purchasing. My previous jobs (lasting over 28 years) were building related so I know the pitfalls in that department - as I haven't a clue about narrowboats I'm currently running with the notion that I will need a full survey. That said, the surveyor in me is asking if it would be cheaper for me to buy / hire the kit to determine hull thickness etc and do it myself. As a qualified diver with the appropriate kit I could also do an underwater inspection - if only I knew what I was looking for!!

 

If I go for one I too will be aiming at the 60' mark. I know I'll have to be sensible as far as storage goes but can visualise the two pieces of furniture I can't part with (both old gym horses) fitting in - as seats and storage combined.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I holidayed on one once and the main bug bear of people I met who lived on them were taxes/rates. A little bit like living in a house I guess.

 

Hello Katster

 

Nice to hear from you. Hope you and your family are well.

 

I get what you are saying as it's something that I have read about. Apparently a lot of the potential costs in this area aren't applicable if you keep travelling every two weeks (and not from A to B, then B to A etc). To keep on moving would be something we'd both treasure and enjoy. The thing that would stop us doing this right away is having elderly parents. Even though I've had a major fall out with mine I still couldn't turn my back on them in that way and just travel off and ignore them. So, I guess I have no choice but to look in to this specific area.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

That sounds great. 

If you're clever you can have furniture that doubles up as something else, an opportunity to be quite creative with space, there's a company called StudyBed who do wonderful beds / desks. Which would be ideal if you had visitors!

http://narrowboatnemesis.blogspot.co.uk/- this featured on George Clark amazing spaces if you needed inspiration for storage

 

Thanks for the link sheffieldlady.

 

I haven't read it yet but will do so shortly (still playing on this site at the moment). I know I've got to sell / get rid of a lot of stuff but am kind of 'there' within myself at the moment - I mean do I really need the full on church pulpit which is standing at the back of my garden!

[eFestivals]

As a qualified diver with the appropriate kit I could also do an underwater inspection

 

In a British canal which has wet mud and not water, I don't think that would work.

[lisajlb]

In a British canal which has wet mud and not water, I don't think that would work.

I agree, I am on the Bridegwater in Manchester and it is not deep but there is no way to stand or get your footing and you do slide and sink. 

 

With our survey the inspection was not just of the hull but also the engine and other hard core stuff. I would say when looking do find one with the largest water tank you can get, when travelling the number of boats that have to top up daily or every day is quote surprising and that is not always easy. We have a huge water tank and we can easily go for 7 days without conserving so to speak.

 

The one storage issue still left for us to solve properly is that of coats, it may seem simple enough but winter coats take up so much space.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

In a British canal which has wet mud and not water, I don't think that would work.

 

I'll admit it - I hadn't really thought that one through.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I agree, I am on the Bridegwater in Manchester and it is not deep but there is no way to stand or get your footing and you do slide and sink. 

 

With our survey the inspection was not just of the hull but also the engine and other hard core stuff. I would say when looking do find one with the largest water tank you can get, when travelling the number of boats that have to top up daily or every day is quote surprising and that is not always easy. We have a huge water tank and we can easily go for 7 days without conserving so to speak.

 

The one storage issue still left for us to solve properly is that of coats, it may seem simple enough but winter coats take up so much space.

 

Thanks for the tip on the water tank lisajlb. When you say you have a huge water tank what capacity is 'huge'?

[lisajlb]

Sorry for the delay in replying bit busy, we have a 500l water tank and 40l diesel for the fuel. That works really well

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Sorry for the delay in replying bit busy, we have a 500l water tank and 40l diesel for the fuel. That works really well

 

Thanks for getting back to me lisajlb. I'm kind of floundering now on the decision making but am going to have to make a decision soon'ish. I only know bricks and mortar so it would be a big leap in to the unknown. That said I just met an OAP couple at a car boot sale who have just sold their narrowboat because of age difficulties. They did say that they had a fabulous 15 years on board though before arriving at the point where it became too much for them. The flip side is that I know and have made money on property before and could do so again (buy a knacker of a house on a good road and do it up not a good house on a knacker of a road which needs nothing doing to it - it's not genius) if only I could be arsed - which I don't think I am able to be.