Houseboats / Boatlife / Canal Cruising / Mooring Chat / Boat Porn

I am very keen on owning a houseboat.
I know there are a few of you out there...
I am looking at finance options and as with housing - its a minefield.

Any advice on taking the first step would be much appreciated!

Hopefully this can turn into a good resource for anyone in the same position as me in the future.

I am scouring Apollo Duck - but is there anywhere else I should be looking?

I spent a number of years living in a narrow boat on canals around the nottingham area , and would recomend it for sure . However there can be a lot of hidden costs and it is a lot more work than living in a house . What sort of boat / area are you thinking of ?

I realise its not easy, and I like that about it. I am not wishing for a more convenient life on water. What hidden costs where you thinking of?

Ideally a 60ft by 12.5ft ish widebeam boat. 240v system. Plumbing for washing machine etc.
Did you rent or buy?

I bought one as they were much cheaper 15 years ago , now you have to have a residential morning so also have to pay council tax . Every couple of years you have to get it out of the water to be repainted , also costs for emptying sewage tanks etc . I would recommend taking a bike down to a bit of water and talking to boat dwellers , most will happily talk and give you loads of info . Also hiring one for a week or two is very informative

A 60' wide beam would be cool to live on

Need this thread in my life.

I've been on the water in Limehouse for a month, absolutely delighted with it. Apolloduck is the big one, also Boatshed London (who I recommend) and Riverhomes (who I absolutely don't). A lot of people seem to be doing it privately, so even check eBay/Gumtree, or even walk around marinas you fancy living in or towpaths and see which ones have For Sale signs in their windows.

Also, because there isn't the volume of products to allow the market to find the right level (in comparison with flats), some of the pricing is daft. People value their boat based on their affection for it - you'll see boats getting 30%+ knocked off their price because they've been priced so optimistically.

Also, read the Miracle thread for ideas, facts and the joy of @Jacqui's writing.

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I covet something like this. Utterly impractical.
https://www.premierhouseboats.co.uk/gannet

That's awesome. I wonder what the cost would be to outfit it? I'm guessing much.

There are quite a few of that type of thing - when I first considered living aboard 4-5 years ago, fell in love with one with a ballroom and two bars, for about £200k. But they're all out in Medway - what's the point in having something that amazing if no-one will come to visit?

one with a ballroom and two bars

Ha! Yes, I remember that. I went down to Medway to view it. Ended up not seeing it in the end. The location is the downside.

@Arducius

My ex and I lived in a council flat in Chelsea, we'd go for a walk along the river most evenings and became enamoured with the idea of living on a boat moored by Battersea Bridge... One came up for sale when we were looking and it was £250k, this would be around 1997, you could easily buy a very nice two bed flat in Fulham for that price at that time... Then we looked a bit harder and also wound up looking at huge converted boats in Medway for cheap but we both worked in London so forgot all about it...

My girlfriend lived on a boat in Adelaide when she was younger and hated it... Her dad would take them out of the safety of their harbour in force nine gales when he was pissed tho', I'm sure that would affect my experience too... He's a fucking psycho...

Good luck, I've always wanted to live on a boat...

I've just moved off a narrow boat having lived on one for about 2.5 years. Life on the water is pretty cool, there are pros and cons (as with anything). You're immersed in nature all the time and you see something new pretty much every day whether it's just a cool sunset or an otter/pike/water vole/kingfisher...
Apolloduck is the main boat buying site but as others have said keep an eye out for signs in windows, chat to people on the tow path (most boaters are friendly and happy to talk in my experience), gumtree etc.
Happy to answer any questions.

Oh and go and see some boats that are for sale. Even if you think it's not "the one". Boats are incredibly varied and you might find you're willing to compromise on something you thought was a necessity after seeing something else etc.

currently looking at this as a floating motorhome/summerhouse...
https://www.dba.dk/lystbaad--husbaad-husbaad-ti/id-1036069472/

Wow lots of good info so far

That looks like my dream @drøn

Have you read this thread? lot of info about what and what not to do:
https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/197631/

Brilliant. Thanks - i'll have a look now

http://lightshipgannet.blogspot.co.uk/search?updated-max=2014-03-04T00:24:00-08:00&max-results=50&m=1

Looks like someone has already spent s huge amount of time converting it, nice though, always fancied some mental project like that.

There was a already part converted fire monitor and or pilot boat that was avout 1950 era in Belgium for sale, really wasn't a lot of money, maybe £50k iirc and was already been lived on, was a stunning boat

Hi @moocher, I've also harboured a desire for a lightship.. I couldn't own one solo though but could defo do partnership, renovation..

I guess the only big question is where to be based.. or maybe just anchor somewhere secure and buy acouple of small speedboats for access/shopping/ commute to work :)