A Short Guide To Buying A Narrowboat
So you want to buy a narrowboat? Good on you. With your narrowboat you will have access to over 2,200 miles of navigable canals and rivers, more tranquil beer gardens than you can ever hope to visit and a unique view of urban and rural Britain not seen by many.
But buying a narrowboat is not something you should rush. Your boat will be a home away from home and probably the most expensive purchase you'll ever make after your home. It will cost you thousands of pounds each year to moor, run, maintain, license and insure. You will spend as much time cleaning it as you do your regular home. You need to think very carefully before you take the plunge. And the first consideration, before you've even looked for a narrowboat, is where you are going to keep it.
MOORING
You can moor your narrowboat just about anywhere on the thousands of miles of the canal network for a night or two, but you can't stay there for extended periods without permission and without paying a pretty penny to do so. British Waterways control the majority of moorings on the canal banks. A full list of their current vacancies available online
The alternative to canal side moorings are dedicated narrowboat marinas. There are over two hundred in the UK of between 50 and 650 berths offering a range of facilities. You need to ensure that the marina you choose is going to be within comfortable commuting distance to enable you to use your boat regularly. And you also need to make sure that the marinas are situated close enough to the marinas you want to explore.
PURPOSE
Of course WHAT you want your narrowboat for will, in part, determine WHERE you want to leave it. Are you going to spend the occasional weekend on it? Do you intend to go on extended cruises for weeks or months at a time? Do you intend to live on board full time? And if you are still working, will you have to find a mooring close to work?
LENGTH
Once you have decided what you want from your boat, you will have more of an idea of the length you need. A 30' boat may be OK for occasional use for one person but completely unsuitable for extended cruises for two or more.
At the other end of the scale, a 70' boat will give you all of the space you need. However, you need to think about where you are going to take it. Some canal locks will not be able to accommodate your boat so you won't be able to explore them. If you want to ensure you can travel anywhere on the network, you need to stick to 60' or under
COST
A narrowboat will cost you from ten thousand pounds for 30' well used craft to more than one hundred thousand pounds for one of 70' built to your specification. You may well decide to settle somewhere in the middle for a second hand boat that has been well looked after. There are literally thousands of second hand narrowboats for sale throughout the UK.
Hopefully this brief article will point you in the right direction and help you to buy a boat which will give you pleasure for many years to come.
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