Would I be mad to sell my house to live on a narrowboat?

[EdinaMonsoonsWardrobe]

It isn't something I'm considering doing now or in the near future. I live in a lovely little terraced house and I'm very happy here. I love my house. But the walls are extremely thin and I get really severe noise anxiety, things are fine at the moment but I'm thinking ahead if I ever get awful neighbours. I read some stories on here and I just wouldn't be able to cope. I doubt I'll ever be able to afford another house that isn't terraced. So I'm trying to think of other ways out.

I have spent loads of time on narrowboats and I absolutely love them all year round be it muddy and freezing or sunny and warm. The physical sacrifices wouldn't bother me (less space, less clothes, smaller fridge etc) it's more the expense and upkeep I have reservations about. I'd want to moor at a marina, which I know will up the costs.

But the way of life and the serenity of it is absolutely perfect for someone like me. Honestly it's my absolute dream. But I know it's not bricks and mortar...

Thoughts? I'm in my early 40s and earn £35k per year. No children, pets or partner.

Maintenance, mooring fees, freezing in the winter, too hot in the summer, no ability to scrutinise your neighbours, pump outs, canal weed wrapped around your prop, work ....it's a nice idea, but the reality is VERY different. Watch a few series of Canal Boat Diaries with Robbie.

I would see if you can rent out your house and then rent a narrow boat

Have you ever spent an extended period overnights?

A very good friend of mine lived on a narrow boat for 5 years. The mooring, plus extra for toilet waste, plus broadband, plus laundrette, plus maintenance, plus lots of heating fuel in the winter etc etc etc wasn’t particularly economic compared to a bricks n mortar rental and it was really cold in winter, which looses its charm after a few days. She did spend a lot of time at my house in the winter!

She was also town centre based, which was handy for work & uni for her. Maybe in the rural location you’re dreaming of the benefits may weigh up differently, but don’t underestimate the costs & the prolonged cold - you might have a better insulated boat!

What made her move out?

A lot of canals are now under the responsibility of the CRT which is massively struggling with less funding and lots of canal repairs. The canals near me also ran dry for three months last summer and all the boats 1) lived on a tilt, and 2) couldn’t move. If you have anxiety anyway I doubt that’ll help things.

It is a way of life, it takes time and effort to live on a narrow boat. You have to haul wood in the winter and keep a wood stove going (it's not freezing in the winter, it's really toasty and cosy). You need to fill up and pump out water etc.
But it can be part of the enjoyment, the lifestyle. Live on boaters are generally nice supportive people and in many places there is quite a community feel amongst the boaters. It can be lovely.
Finding a permanent mooring can be hard. I would suggest investigating permanent moorings in your area and try to secure one before you buy the boat, after all you need somewhere to put it, unless you plan to move up and down the canal all the time, which isn't compatible with working off the boat.
But I would say go for it, if you think you can manage the considerations I described. Do what makes you happy, life is short. You will get naysayers but often people just like to shoot down the dreams of others for some weird reason.

Nightmare. Dont know what would possess someone to do this.

I lived on a boat before I bought a house. I loved it, but knowing what I know now, I would want a wide beam which essentially defeats the purpose as it limits the waterways you can traverse.

Its expensive, there is always something going wrong and I wouldnt say I saved much money doing it, and when the gas runs out part way through cooking dinner and you dont realise... well that's not ideal

But I loved my time. I loved my fire, I loved a summer on the river, I loved the community.

Its not cheaper, and you really need to actually want to live on a boat

A previous poster mentioned renting a boat- legally you can't, so you do have to jump in with both feet.

Also. Its not cold in the winter. Either through Central heating or just having a fire that does not go out.

There is still noise nuisance in marinas sometimes.

Yep spent bags of time on them. It's definitely not freezing in the winter it's lovely and cozy

If you hate the noise of a terrace house it's even louder in a narrowboat and the people walking past all want to have a nose through your window.

How come? Holiday? Family?

Well, surely that depends on the narrow boat itself 😕

Do your research thoroughly. Have a plan B should you go ahead.

No idea how she popped up on my instagram because until she did I had no interest in canal boat living - take a look at tanglewoodandtwo if you haven't discovered her already. She’s obviously good at DIY, has done most of the work on the boat herself and doesn’t hide the fact that living on a boat comes with its own set of challenges.

Yes, you would be mad. It'll be nice for a while until the weather is bad or you're ill.

Will you want to live on one when you're 70?

Do you like rats?

What an adventure!! Wouldn't suit me - I think I'd feel a bit vulnerable. What if someone stepped onto my boat? I wouldn't relax. I'm the same camping.

I have a few friends who live on boats and it seems like an absolute nightmare. It’s so cold in the winter. So much extra work. There’s a nice community among the boat people, but that’s the only appealing thing I can think of.

Yes x

I looked into this very briefly. Apart from the expenses of mooring and maintenance, you lose money because the boat depreciates. Your house, on the other hand should appreciate in value over time, even with normal fluctuations in the housing market. Long term it is an investment, whereas a boat is the opposite.

Can you say what it is that appeals? You say you have anxiety, you don’t like the thinness of the walks of your house, and worry a lot about getting bad neighbours, but you’ll be far less insulated from noise and the exterior world on a narrowboat, surely?

Yolo, do you! Personally I'm thinking about a static caravan as an escape. Would love a boat but so many things to consider but if serious wouldn't stop me. Xx