Living on boats - What is there to know?

[Iain.]

Looking at alternative housing solutions recently, as the house prices round here are insane.

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/35172461

That is on the road I live on, the road is full of junkies we've had multiple thefts, police/ambulances showing up every day, two cars written off whilst parked, several stabbings, one murder and the guy directly opposite it likes to knock his mrs about & smash the top windows out of his flat a few times a year. Really nice people & there's just sirens constantly. I'd like somewhere quiet to live.

Caravans you can't live in for one month a year, I can't get a licence for a lorry on medical grounds...Boats however look like exceptional value for money & theres a marina with residential moorings a very short distance from my workplace.

£50k buys an unbeliveably huge boat. Like, a ship. If you're willing to convert it yourself...

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/29969178?utm_source=trov&utm_medium=feeds#jUbCGYxBgvp6dxLI.97

£30k buys a smaller boat, ready converted;

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/30050942?utm_source=trov&utm_medium=feeds#mekBo61uiBYzf5jV.97

And £17-20k seems to buy a decentish narrowboat;

https://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=393665

Problem is, I know fuck all about the reality of living on boats. Any BCF'ers had experience of houseboats?

[Fisty]

[Tungtvann]

There is a BCF'er who lives on a boat. Last I recall, he loves it. Boats require maintenance though, and there are still lots of things to pay for.

[garth]

Fuck me, that flat is cheap compared to where I am.
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[andyscooter]

Every one round here that lives on a boat seems to spend more time in the pub then me


And all smell of diesel
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[Iain.]

[TheArchitect]

Watch this...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaTEitB4jsAHNjIU8bO5uTQ
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GSXR 600 K6 - Stolen
MT09 - Almost stolen

[Tarmacsurfer]

It's a hole in the water that you throw money into.

Lived on a narrowboat for six months, also spent time in a converted bus. The bus won hands down for comfort.
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I'm immortal. Well, so far.

[Northern Monkey]

Move 300 miles north to the land where people can afford a house of their own.
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Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

[garth]

[Iain.]

[Clanger]

[Tungtvann]

Found it, you may find this thread of use:

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=253618

[Nash GT]

Boats need maintenance, you also need to look into mooring costs as well as your typical bills, eg.. Electric, water etc..
Also parking even for a bike can be interesting/non existent at times, unless you take the bike on board with you.

Got a mate who lives in a sea worthy boat, all he ever says is "is not cheap"

Other than that he loves it .
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Suzuki GSF600N

[-Monty-]

Ian, I think you under estimate just how cheap property is in your area if that flat you linked to is anything to go by. £40k for a flat! Down here you could pay that for little more than a garage!

I will be watching this with interest though...
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Past: [Honda PCX 125] [Yamaha RXS 100] [Honda CB 500] [Triumph Speed Four] [Honda ST1100 Pan European - Po-Po Edition]

[nowhere.elysium]

[waffles]

[Iain.]

All I know about property in the south east is it's more than I'll ever be able to afford - even at 40k thus making it pointless to look at

Said 40k flat is 100% guarunteed fucked inside as previous residents were junkies, I suspect thats why no inside pictures. Other one bed flats on the same road are pushing £80k, studio flats starting at £60k - but we're getting off topic a little.

My mum still has my 25 meter swimming badge. I'm sure this means I'll be okay right?

Will make very clear, this isn't a "I iz gon buy boat" thread, simply exploring potential options, input so far massively helpful.

The bike thing did get me thinking. I conclude a lightweight dirtbike & a boat with a bit of deck space would be the only way to go, which puts the narrowboats out of it really. Given how many bikes G gets in his lorry though, I cant see it being a major issue. More ballache than anything & construction of a ramp.

[stevo as b4]

I wouldn't recommend narrow boats, as that limit's you to the boring, tight and hard/slow to navigate canal network. Also I'd probably be the stupid twat who would get pissed and then think it a good idea to sail a narrowboat down a river and into an estuary.

I think a sensible inboard cabin cruiser of med size, and something economical, sea worthy, good to charter in summer for coastal fishing/drinking trips with mates would be the only reasonable suggestion.

Sail boats must suck for a lot of the time especially if you want to be mobile around the coast and nip in&out of different ports a lot with limited crew and time.

I do like the idea of something long and thin with a deep V-hull and 2-3 Huge car engine size outboards hanging off the transom, almost but not quite heavy enough to sink the thing. If said outboards are big Mercury XR2 race engines tuned to the hilt, running on pre-mix with surface piercing props and Ski pole, then summers could be interesting with lots of bikini action. You could then always supplement your income with a couple of 70mph trips to Morocco and back with tons of bags of white powder for ballast/pocket money?

[Pete.]

Before you buy a boat you ought to spend a bit of time on one. Some people are really put off by the 'still moving' sensation they get on dry land after being on a boat for a long while.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Raksha]

if you want a sea worth boat you need two forums of transport so a engine and some paddle things.
if you want a sea side harbour thing you need to get on the waiting list.
and that's all I know.

[Polarbear]

I live on my 39ft narrowboat during the week in London and go home at the weekend.

Costs for information

Boat £20000
Licence £700
Towpath mooring licence £294
Diesel costs - fuck all really. 10litres a week for my heating. I haven't put anything in the main tank for a couple of months, then it cost me £80 @ 80p liter for red diesel.
Pub and eating costs go up as I'm moored right outside a pub and it saves cooking.
Every 2 years, £1000 for out of the water, blacking, anodes and repacking the shaft (£1000 is the maximum I would expect tp spend)

I've probably spent another £2-3000 on getting the boat how I want it.

When I finish in London, I'm off for a cruise and I'll still have a £20000 narrow boat to keep or sell.

The big, and I mean huge kicker in London is if you want permanent residential moorings with electric, water etc. you will pay £5000 + per year.
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[Polarbear]

[bikertomm]

I've heard they get cold. Really fucking cold.
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[Polarbear]