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