A narrowboat costs just £57,000 on average, with new and cutting-edge boats costing up to £150,000. As long as you stay on top of renovation costs, it’s no wonder owning a narrowboat is attractive.
Do you pay council tax on a narrowboat?
Council tax: If your boat is moored permanently, it will typically be in the lowest tax band. However, if you’re happy to move every two weeks as a ‘continuous cruiser,’ you won’t have to pay this.
Is it worth buying a narrowboat?
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 much does it cost to run a narrowboat in the UK?
As of 2021, you’re currently allowed to use ‘red’ diesel fuel for your narrowboat. The price of diesel is likely to be somewhere between 70 pence/litre to over £1, depending on the fueling station you choose. Your annual fuel cost is likely to average somewhere around the £1,300 mark.
How much does a canal boat cost UK? – Related Questions
What bills do you pay on a canal boat?
On top of mooring fees, there are other expenses – possibly council tax, a safety certificate, a boat licence, insurance and upkeep costs.
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.
How much are mooring fees UK?
C&RT fees at the moment can range from £400 to £1,000 per year depending on the boat size.
Is living on a narrowboat cheap?
Is living on a narrowboat cheaper than living in a house? ‘Yes’ – for most people. Boats are generally cheaper to buy or rent, buy an old cruiser for a few hundred pounds! Moorings usually are cheaper than property taxes, even free as long as you keep cruising!
Can you live on a narrowboat all year round?
Yes, it is possible to buy a canal boat as a home. This is a much cheaper option than buying an entire house, but it comes with a variety of drawbacks with it’s advantages. You can buy a narrowboat to live on for only £20,000, although prices do vary based on a boat’s size and condition.
How much diesel does a narrowboat use?
Typically, a narrowboat will achieve diesel consumption in the area of 1 to 1.5 litres per hour. If you work on an average of 1.3 litres per hour then you won’t actually be too far off. A typical 2 week cruise averaging 6 hours travelling per day is 84 hours.
Can I still use red diesel on my canal boat?
Due to a recent change in April 2022, canal boats can no longer use red diesel as a means of fuelling propulsion of their craft. So engines that propel your canal boat are clearly a big no no!
What is the difference between a canal boat and a narrowboat?
Narrowboats typically have a beam (width) of between 6ft 10in – 7 ft, whereas a barge can typically be around twice the width – often around 14.5 ft. If you come across a boat which is in between, this range of vessels is typically known as ‘wide beam’ canal boats.
How long does a narrowboat last?
If you take good care of it, the narrowboat battery may last for as long as six to eight years. If you don’t take good care of it, it can fail within a couple of seasons.
Is it cold living on a narrowboat?
Dressing warm while on your narrowboat in winter almost goes without saying. However, being below deck when it’s nice and toasty can make you forget how cold it really is outside. If you’re facing the elements, you need to be properly kitted out.
Can canal boats travel at night?
Can I drive a canal boat at night? If you own a canal boat, it is not illegal to drive your canal boat in the dark – however, if you are renting from a canal boat supplier, such as ABC Boat Hire, these hire boats are not permitted to be driven at night.
Can a narrowboat go to sea?
Narrowboats are “Category D” boats which are intended only for navigating rivers, canals and small lakes but some intrepid boaters have crossed the English Channel in a narrowboat.
Can you take a canal boat from UK to France?
Unfortunately not; the locks in the Channel Tunnel are too narrow for British Canal boats.
Can you take a canal boat on a river?
They can be crewed by experienced inland canal boaters or newbie holiday makers – you may notice little difference if either is on a major river for the first time ! Boaters used to the inland canal system should remember that there is always a current on the river.
How far can you travel on UK canals?
At a rate of 3MPH (rather than 4 to make up for the time lost at locks etc.), this would give you a daily range of around 21 miles. This range will of course vary wildly by how many locks there are on the stretch of canal you are navigating. For example, the Huddersfield Narrow Canal is exactly 19.9 miles in length.
How far can you go in a day on a narrowboat?
Narrowboat hire
You can expect to be able to travel at about two miles per hour and are likely to want to cruise for around four hours a day – so in a week don’t plan to cover more than about 50 miles.