Here's What You Need To Know About Living On A Narrowboat
The notion of living on a narrowboat is, for many
, escapism from the daily grind. Escapism from tedious 9-5 working days followed by household chores and too little quality time at the weekend. Narrowboat life is the cure for the stresses of modern day living. Days and nights without a care in the world surrounded by the sounds and the smells of nature.The good news is that life afloat can be your romantic dream, but there are a number of practicalities for you to consider before you make what could be the biggest decision of your life.
How much does a narrowboat cost to buy?
How much do you want to spend? How much space do you want/need? What modern conveniences must you have to make extended periods afloat acceptable? Do you want your own custom designed boat, an "off the shelf" new narrowboat or one that has been pre owned?
Most couples will require a boat at least 60' long to provide the space they need. You can expect to pay 40,000 plus for a pre owned boat of reasonable age and specification and 80,000 for a new narrowboat will a degree of customisation.
What are a narrowboat's running costs?
As with your car you have to obtain an MOT (Boat Safety Certificate), tax (British Waterways license) and insurance (insurance!). And, as with a car, you have to fill it with propulsion fuel plus, unlike a car, heating fuel. Because your car is also your house you also need gas and electricity and a waste disposal facility. You also need somewhere to moor your narrowboat and then every two to three years you will need to haul your boat out of the water to "black" the hull to prevent it from rusting.
How will you fund your life afloat?
You will still have the same basic requirements afloat as you currently have on dry land. You will still have to to buy food and clothing, pay phone bills and car maintenance costs in addition to your narrowboat's running costs. How much will you need? Will you have to work to provide this income and, if so, where will you moor so that you can get to work?
Where will you moor your narrowboat?
If you have to travel to and from work, you will need to be within commuting distance. Although you can moor for a short while just about anywhere on the canal network, you can't set up home without a residential mooring license. These moorings are in short supply. The alternative is to pay for a permanent mooring at one of the growing number of inland marinas on the canal network. Be careful though, many do not permit liveaboard moorers.
How much space is there onboard?
Your boat is appropriately called a narrowboat because it's narrow. In order to fit many of the network's 7' wide locks, your boat is 6' 10" wide. That means that you can't lay across your boat with your arms above your head without you hands and feet touching either side. And depending on the overall length and style of your narrowboat even on the longest narrowboat your cabin length will be no more than 60'. Both you and your partner will have to sleep, cook, wash and socialise in this space (a space which also accommodates all your worldly goods). Even the contents of the most modest house will be too much for a narrowboat. Many of your possessions will need to be either sold or put into storage.
Which of your creature comforts will you be able to take with you?
Say goodbye to your 60" plasma television. It (a) won't fit and (b) probably won't receive the 5,000 digital channels that you've been used to on dry land. Forget your super fast broadband service too. There are an increasing number of marinas offering a broadband service but the speed is still quite limited. In most locations on the canal you will have to rely on a USB dongle with an unacceptable signal. The more gadgets you have on board, the more strain you will place on your onboard electrical supply. It's not a problem if you are on a marina mooring with mains electricity but out in the "wild" you have to be a lot more careful
Where and how will you resupply?
You need food to eat, fuel to cook your food with, fuel to heat your boat and provide propulsion. You need water. And when nature has taken its course, you need somewhere to empty your waste. If you have a marina mooring, your fuel, water and waste disposal needs will be accommodated, but you will still need to do your weekly shopping. Out on the canal network, these needs require a little more thought. Most residential moorings near roads or facilities will already be taken so are you going to be prepared to lug heavy water containers to, and equally heavy waste containers from, your boat? And will you want to carry twenty heavy bags of shopping over the same route?
How will you cope living in a confined space with your partner?
Many couples like to have their own space. Space is at a premium in your narrowboat. If yours is an open plan boat, you will be able to see and hear each other all the time that you are on board. If either one of you is working, those hours apart may help the situation but, if your narrowboat adventure, as is often the case, is for when you both retire, you need to consider very carefully whether living in such close proximity will suit you for extended periods.
Are you still looking forward to your watery adventure?
I hope you are. You have over 2,200 of well maintained waterways to explore. The canal leisure industry is thriving. There are more narrowboats using the canal network now than there were at the height of the industrial revolution and, partly because of that, more disused canals are being repaired and reopened every year. The canals are cleaner than they were so there is more wildlife to enjoy. You can travel through towns and cities, peaceful countryside, negotiate lock staircases or long stretches without any change in gradient. And in the evening, after a hard day's cruising, you can moor within arm's reach of any one of the hundreds of canalside pubs along your way. Enjoy!
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