There are over 2,000 miles of waterways across the UK, making narrowboats an investment for living, holiday-making, and more. But do narrowboats keep their value? This all depends. Most canal boats hold their value exceptionally well over time, but they must be kept to a high standard and updated with the times.
What is the best length for a narrowboat?
Generally speaking, a 30-40 foot boat is ample as a holiday boat, whilst a 50 plus foot boat is ideal for extended cruising or living aboard. There is a myth that boats must be no longer than 57 feet long, because some locks have a maximum length of 60 feet.
Are narrowboats a good investment?
Owning a narrowboat or a widebeam canal boat is a great investment as it allows you to access the beautiful canals in the UK and gives you the freedom to travel the country whenever you decide.
How thick should a narrowboat hull be?
How Thick Should the Steel be on The Hull? For insurance purposes the minimum hull thickness must be 4mm. The majority of modern narrowboats are built using 10/6/4mm plating or steel thickness specification, 10mm is the steel thickness on the hull base, 6mm the sides and 4mm the roof.
Do canal boats go up in value? – Related Questions
How often does a canal boat need bottom paint?
Maintaining your boat’s hull is vital to avoid expensive steel damage and blacking with 2 coats of SML Bitumen every 2 to 3 years provides excellent protection for the bottom of your boat.
How do I stop my narrowboat pitting?
As surveyors we often see deep pitting up to 3mm in narrow boat plating. Normally caused by galvanic corrosion it can be prevented by installing a galvanic isolator and if you’re a live aboard with access to shore power an isolation transformer.
How thick is the fiberglass on a boat?
On average it was between 5.0mm and 6.0mm which is pretty good.
What does insurable hull mean?
: insurance protecting the owners against loss caused by damage or destruction of waterborne craft or aircraft.
What is the swim on a narrowboat?
Swim = The after (back) underwater part of the hull that goes to a point to allow a cleaner flow of water over the propeller. Tiller bar (or extension) = Fits on the swans neck of a motor boat to give extra leverage.
Can you canal boat alone?
Canal boats can be skippered and crewed by one person, and it could be a good way to escape for a while and feel like you truly are the master of your own destiny, but some experience is definitely recommended before embarking on any solo adventures.
What do you call the driver of a canal boat?
Helmsman, while not as well known as some of the others, is the technically correct term for someone driving the boat who is not the owner. In those cases, the captain is typically overseeing the helmsman and the broader operations on the boat.
What are people who live on canal boats called?
In boating terms, people who live on their boats but move along the canal system are often are known as ‘Continuous Cruisers. ‘ This means they are not paying for a fixed mooring spot on a marina and are able to move around as and when they feel.
Do you have to pay to moor a canal boat?
You usually need a boat licence. This costs around £500 to £1,000 per year and gives you permission to use the waterways. You must display the licence on both sides of your boat. You also need to pay a mooring fee if you rent a mooring.
Can you legally live on a boat in the UK?
Is it legal to live on a boat? It is, provided you get the right mooring. If you already have a leisure mooring for your boat, you’ll be allowed to spend holidays and weekends onboard, but can’t live there full-time. To make your boat your home you’ll need to find a residential mooring.
Do you need a TV Licence on a narrowboat?
“You need a valid TV Licence if you use TV receiving equipment to watch or record television programmes as they’re being shown on TV. ‘TV receiving equipment’ means any equipment which is used to watch or record television programmes as they’re being shown on TV.
How do you watch TV on a boat?
Cable TV — A cable TV drop is delivered to your slip, possibly by your marina or via direct subscription with a cable company. When the boat is in the slip, you connect the boat to the cable; when you’re away from the slip you don’t get any programming.
Can you get TV on a canal boat?
If you get a 12 volt TV this will be simple to run from your boats batteries and won’t need any invertors. The problem is 12 Volt TV’s are not as widely available and generally not as good. You can solve this by having regular mains power in your boat.
Can you have a TV on a canal boat?
You can have 12v dc and 230v ac models. The 12v versions tend to be made for the mobile market like caravans, boats and campers. The down side to these are that the smart versions are very far and few between. Some do come with DVD players integrated inside them.
Do you need a TV license on a boat?
However, if you’re away from home and plug one of these devices into the mains and use it to watch live on any channel, TV service or streaming service, or to use BBC iPlayer*, you need to be covered by a separate TV Licence at that address (unless you’re in a vehicle or vessel like a train, car or boat). It’s the law.
What is the best TV aerial for a narrowboat?
DM Log aerial
It’s the only antenna we recommend for boats and caravans.