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Original poster

Have you or would you live on a boat?

36 replies

ScafellPoke · 19/03/2019 18:05

I’m looking for experiences from people who have lived on a boat, maybe as a family? Why did you make that decision? Was it a good decision?

Or anyone that’s ever considered it and why? Will you do it eventually?

OP posts:

Livingtheboatdream · 19/03/2019 20:45

Nc for this as it could be outing

My parents did just this. All of us kids had moved out a long time ago and my mum's job where she lived had come to a natural end, my dad was commuting 1.5hrs each day.

Their 3 bed house was too big for 2 of them despite having lived there for 25+ years.

Due to things that happened in the past and where they lived they couldn't afford a house nearer to where my dad worked. So they started looking at canal boats.

In the end they sold the house and moved to rented for 6 months while they got a brand new wide beam built to their spec.

As you can imagine they massively down sized. Alot of stuff was brought to mine and other family members houses and they took on board what they could.

They have got through the winter and recent storms with no major dramas.

Due to rules on the canal they ended up with a permanent mooring but the canal community is amazing and their boat is beautiful and about the same size as a 1 bed flat.

We have done a few journeys and it's great fun and sitting on the boat with the gentle rock makes me very sleepy haha

They have intentions to go on long journeys up canals they can fit down.

Also have another relative who lived on a narrow for about 10 years and recently upgraded to a wide beam and they love it.

Obviously you have to consider waste disposal,water and fuel but once you get a rhythm it's all good.

Obviously you don't have a mailbox so if you know someone you can be registered at their property for or you can get a po box.

They don't regret the move despite teething problems and intend to live on the boat for as long as physically possible.

It's a very different way of living and you do need to make adjustments but it's a good adventure

foofooyeah · 19/03/2019 21:08

Watching with interest, I have always dreamed of living on a boat

GoldenEvilHoor · 19/03/2019 21:16

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

Original poster

ScafellPoke · 19/03/2019 22:57

Sounds amazing livingtheboat dh and I are sailors so considering the sea rather than canals. But still sounds fab!

OP posts:

Original poster

ScafellPoke · 19/03/2019 22:59

😀 golden yeah I know all about the condensation!! I’ve stayed on boats for up to a week whereas my dh has done ocean trips for weeks. But neither of us have lived on one fulltime. We have 2 dc too!

OP posts:

Furrytoebean · 19/03/2019 23:01

I lived on a (tiny tiny) yacht in a marina when I was a student,
It was fine at the time but not long term.

The damp was horrendous and it used to rain indoors when we cooked, also the bed never felt completely clean.

It was a great experience when I was young and had energy but I couldn’t do it with a family.

BertrandRussell · 19/03/2019 23:03

I do! What do you want to know?

Finfintytint · 19/03/2019 23:08

My DS rented a berth on a boat for around a year. He loved it but was single and no ties. It was a luxury £400k boat though and I’d have loved to have lived there too. ( the only problem he had was walking the gangway when a bit pissed).

Original poster

ScafellPoke · 19/03/2019 23:18

Do you have kids bert? And do you sail? Or is it permanently moored?

OP posts:

Original poster

ScafellPoke · 19/03/2019 23:19

fin

OP posts:

BertrandRussell · 20/03/2019 06:42

It’s not a sailing boat- it’s a barge but yes we do take it out sometimes. And yes- we’ve lived here pre, with and now nearly post kids.

DinosApple · 20/03/2019 07:13

A family at the DC school rented their house out and went off sailing around the world for a couple of years. Looks fabulous.

anniehm · 20/03/2019 07:19

My friend lives half time on a boat (it's a proper houseboat rather than a narrowboat) because they have to split their time for business reasons. It's quite cramped but they aren't living full time so storage isn't an issue. I would suggest you rent/borrow before buying.

Original poster

ScafellPoke · 20/03/2019 11:37

Hard to rent a sailing boat longterm. We’d love to rent out house and just go but our mortgage is so high we’d never cover it.

Considering selling and just going for it! Latests council tax bill has spurred me on 😂

OP posts:

BertrandRussell · 20/03/2019 11:40

You still have to pay council tax if you live on a boat!

Original poster

ScafellPoke · 20/03/2019 12:01

Not on a sailing boat

OP posts:

Original poster

ScafellPoke · 20/03/2019 12:02

We wouldn’t have a base, we’d be in and out of marinas in winter but basically on moorings and anchorages in the summer. The only real challenge is Brexit

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MrsTerryPratchett · 20/03/2019 12:03

My parents did. Damp and smelly.

AlwaysTeaTime · 20/03/2019 12:04

I sail a lot (have done a few Atlantic crossings and other offshore passages), so know some people who live on boats. None with kids long term though- we know some a family who sailed round the world for a few years when DC were small but have since come back and live in a house now.

I think, from what they have said, that it works well with DC when actually sailing and when they are young, because their world is the boat, but once they get older they will want a bit more space/proper showers etc.

One couple we know have lived in a contessa 32 for 4 years. They would say to make sure you get a decent sturdy well insulated boat if planning to live in the UK, like a Hallberg-Rassy (or if budget will stretch an oyster)

Before you make the leap, make sure your DC have some experience with boats! Take them on a flotilla or something to make sure that they enjoy it. Don't just assume that they will enjoy it because you and your DH do

I would also recommend spending some more time on boats yourself, if the longest if a week you should really try and build up from that. Try chartering/spending some time on a friend's boat and live as you would at home e.g. cooking, not eating out, using the boat toilet/shower, laundry etc. Also would be worth learning about boat maintenance- there are some courses you can do and books you can get, so that you and DH know how to fix the engine/pipes and things. Definitely not something to do on a whim- would need lots of consideration and planning first!

Original poster

ScafellPoke · 20/03/2019 12:50

Thanks always yeah my dh is an ocean master and has done many crossings so he know everything we need to know about the boats themselves, and the sailing. Halberg’s are our top choice, oyster would be fab!!

I’m a dinghy sailor, but done a little bit of big boating. We’re taking dc away for their 1st sailing trip at Easter, not a flotilla though. Just bareboat.

OP posts:

justasking111 · 20/03/2019 13:00

We spent our summers on boats with two DC`s, weekends and whole weeks, a Contessa 32 was one of our holiday homes. As the family grew we needed a bigger boat Biscay 36. You need to be organised re: stuff and storage. Full time living an Oyster would have been our dream. But work demanded we keep it to casual sailing.

We have friends who do live on their boats we get messages from far flung places but they are living aboard 50` plus yachts.

My FIL had a canal boat, that was great fun for him for many years post retirement.

BasiliskStare · 20/03/2019 20:11

Would a normally moored large "houseboat / barge " type boat be cosy and dry - a friend of mine has thought about selling her house and buying a boat ( not sailing - generally fixed mooring - is that the right term? ) there are some moorings in the general area & they do have their own post boxes - I should imagine the upkeep is expensive. ( But I do not know )

BertrandRussell · 20/03/2019 20:23

The warmth and dryness depends very much on the boat- heating, ventilation and insulation. Ours is warmer and dryer than many houses of similar age- but we do have more than a foot of insulation throughout and lots of central heating radiators.

BasiliskStare · 21/03/2019 01:26

Thank you @BertrandRussell - this is actually a friend and not a "friend" i.e. code for me asking ( I would be asking lots more questions if ) . She is a sensible woman & I think she will research properly. One more question if I may - would you say that , given she and her DP have little to no experience of boats etc - would that be a problem ? ( in that I assume there are maintenance things to do with houseboats /barges ( I don't really know the difference just a large boat / barge adapted for full time living) which you really ought to know about) I think she is just thinking of it as a floating lovely flat / apartment of a good size. & I can see why - but neither of them have sailing / boating etc experience.There is nothing I have said here I have not suggested to her. And it is her choice - just rather serendipitous this thread came up. But I can say where she is thinking of they do have their own post boxes

MissLadyM · 21/03/2019 01:48

I've always loved the idea of it. Stephanie Beacham tempting Ken into hers didn't help. I bet it's a bloody nightnare in reality though

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