This varies depending on your boat’s size and location, but you’re looking at roughly between £3,000 to £18,000 per annum. You’ll also have to budget for your regular Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) certificate every four years. This generally costs around £180.
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.
Can wide beams go on canals?
While the greater size of Widebeam can be slightly more restrictive than a Narrowboat for cruising, especially the more historic canals that have lower bridges and shallower channels, there are still plenty of networks that are suitable.
Can you live on a narrow boat?
The canal boat lifestyle is not reserved for one type of person. People from all walks of life choose to live their life floating along the waterways. The community of people living on narrowboats is like no other with a diverse group of people with similar values.
How much does it cost to run a narrowboat in the UK? – Related Questions
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.
How long do narrowboats 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 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!
Why do people live on Narrowboats?
Life on a narrowboat is for those who want to get away from modern-day society and live closer to nature than they would in their bricks and mortar fortress. The destination for many is London, where house purchase costs and rent are eye-wateringly expensive.
Why do people live on canal boats?
With the freedom to move, whenever you feel; canal boat owners can enjoy their time afloat knowing each day would bring new adventures. Now more than ever, people are making the move to live onboard, as it offers so much more flexibility and allows people to enjoy life on their own terms.
How do I live on a boat UK?
You can rent a residential mooring in a private marina or from the navigation authority. Some mooring operators won’t rent out a mooring to a boat owner who lives permanently on their boat. Some boat dwellers live on permanent moorings that are not for residential use.
Is it cheaper to live on a boat than a house?
Utilities. Your electricity bill will be a fraction of what you’d pay living in a house. When you live in a very small space (like a boat) you’ll consume less electricity for heating and cooling, meaning you’ll have a lower bill at the end of the month.
Where can I moor my boat for free UK?
Most visitor moorings on canals and rivers governed by the Canal & River Trust are often free of charge. You are permitted to moor almost anywhere alongside canal towpaths for no fee, as long as you are not causing an obstruction to the waterway.
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.
How much is a boat Licence UK?
An Initial BSSC registration for a full year for a boat starts from £144.00. Note – All boats requiring a BSSC must be tested every 4 years.
Can you moor a boat anywhere?
Despite what you see in the movies, you can’t moor or drop anchor just anywhere. Most cities and states have mooring restrictions or location requirements. Furthermore, there are some spots where it just isn’t safe to leave your boat parked for very long.
Can you dock a canal boat anywhere?
Short Term mooring is allowed along most canal towpaths (though not on the opposite bank or near locks or bridges). But no boat can moor there for more than two weeks, a few days in some indicated places. Long term moorings are where most boaters pay to keep their boats.
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.
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.
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.
Will boat prices go down in 2022 UK?
Based on boating industry trends in the past two years and the continuous rise of the boating market, the short answer is that boat prices are highly unlikely to go down in 2022 due to pandemic-caused supply chain disruptions and the continuing popularity of boating in general.