Colin Dobson-Fox and his partner Shaun gained an online following after selling their house, leaving their jobs, and moving into a 57-foot narrowboat called Silver Fox in 2018.
Where can widebeam boats go?
There are four main ‘cruising grounds’ for the widebeam owner: London and the South; East Anglia; the Severn waterways; and the Trent and North. See the map below for more info about where you can cruise. The extra width of the boat lends itself to use freestanding furniture.
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 buy a new narrowboat?
Ordering your canal boat
If you are interested in buying a new canal boat from Aqua Narrowboats then get in touch with us to discuss your ideas and we will show you our latest bespoke narrowboats, workshop and provide you with a quote for your narrowboat sale.
Who bought the narrowboat Silver Fox? – Related Questions
Do Narrowboats depreciate?
9.5 If you don’t like the idea of a canal boat depreciating in value, the best thing to do is to buy one that is at least a couple of years old. Usually, most of the depreciation happens in the first 5 years or so. When you buy a second hand narrowboat you are bypassing a lot of that major first step of depreciation.
How much does it cost to keep a narrowboat?
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.
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 do you buy a private narrowboat?
The Transaction Process. The stages of the transaction should be the same whether you buy a narrowboat from a brokerage or a private seller. You look, you like, place an offer subject to survey, sign a purchase contract, pay a deposit, arrange the survey/valuation and any finance if required.
How much does a canal boat cost UK?
The price of buying a narrowboat depends on the amount of space you want and the amount of work you are willing to do. It is possible to pick up a ‘project’ for as little as £15,000 or you could spend around £150,000 on a high-spec new boat.
How long does it take to build a canal boat?
It takes around six weeks to produce a hull and then from receipt of this it takes three to four weeks to complete the boat build. Where do you source the narrowboat engine from? The engines come from a company called Canaline Marine Engines, which supply many hire fleets across the UK.
What are narrowboat hulls made of?
Usually, they have steel hulls and a steel superstructure. The hull’s flat base is usually 10mm thick, the hull sides 6mm or 8mm, the cabin sides 6mm, and the roof 4mm or 6mm.
How much does it cost to build a canal?
Construction costs for traditional canal linings (concrete with sealed joints, buried geomembranes, compacted clay) range from $5 to $10 per square foot.
What is a canal boat made of?
Narrowboats, Widebeams and Barges
All narrowboats are 6 feet 10 inches wide. Generally they are all made entirely of steel, although some older boats have wooden and sometimes even glass reinforced plastic (GRP) cabins. Widebeams are wider than narrowboats and dutch barges are larger still.
Can you take a canal boat across the channel?
The short answer is Yes. A longer answer is Yes, but you you are advised to have an experienced crew, a properly-prepared and maintained narrowboat, and cooperative weather.
Can you take a canal boat on the sea?
Going into the sea and/or coastal waters with a narrowboat can be possible if you wait for totally calm conditions. You also need a narrowboat that has been properly sealed against the conditions on the open sea. Well sealed windows and doors, and a way to stop the well deck flooding for a start.
Can canal boats go on rivers?
In summer, many canal and narrowboats venture onto the River Severn. 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 !
Do you pay council tax if you live on a canal boat?
The pitch for a caravan or the mooring for a boat is charged Council Tax if someone lives in the caravan or the boat as their main home (known as their sole or main residence). The decision whether a caravan or boat should have a Council Tax bill is made by the Valuation Office Agency and not by local councils.
Can you 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.
How far can you travel on a canal boat in a day?
How far can I travel? During the summer months you can expect to cruise for anywhere between four and seven hours a day. Travelling at 3-4mph for four hours a day will mean you cover around 80 to 100 miles in a week.
Can you moor anywhere on a canal?
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.