20ft narrowboat project

[Morrisman]

Moved a friends boat from Milton Keynes to Ringstead & it was the best 2 days I've ever had on the canal/river

When we were in the middle of moving house I had the urge to drop it all and buy a decent narrow boat and take to the waters, rather than just sit out the autumn of my years in a boring bungalow, but I reckon it would be great for a while, then the reality of living in a tiny space would kick in.

Last summer I was walking down by the cut with a lady friend and we started chatting to a boat guy who had a rather pretty 3 pot Diesel engine plonking away with the side hatch open. Lots of brass and big cylinders on display. It was off an old pre war generator he had found in a scrap yard, and he rebuilt it and put it in his boat. He had built a good bench and mini workshop around it. Anyway, apparently he lived on his boat for six months of summer, then stored it and flew to Spain for the winter months.

Whatever I did, I'd still want a nice workshop of sorts, somewhere to tinker, and keep my motorcycle etc.

 

[stuvy]

Whats bugging me at the moment is I went to the chemist to pick up my tablets. As I needed to get some dogfood, and my ankles weren't quite world encompassingly painful, I drove around to the local tesco. On seeing ZERO cue outside (First time I've been into town and they've not been cued around the carpark in a month!!!) I decided to risk a trip inside. All went well until I'd got the dogfood and went to pay....... Only a couple checkouts were open and the cue was snaking half way round the store !?!?! I was down to 2 days of food for the dogs left so I had to put up with it and try not to start swearing at everybody. I'm back sitting in my car now. I'm almost hallucinating with the pain in my ankles and I'm waiting for the painkillers to start to kick in, but not to kick in far enough that I start going doolally and wouldn't feel safe to drive home.

Edit - Just in case anyone's worried about me (Doubtful, But possible), I got home alright. I was just starting to edge into a surrealist perception of the world while I was dragging the last of the dog food out of the car.
My ankles are still hurting........ Or somebody's ankles are......... Those ankles are way down there at the other end of the bed so it's hard to tell WHAT they're doing, Or who's they are..... There's only one pair of them down there, So I'm assuming they're mine.........

Spell checkers having trouble working out what I'm typing, so I should sign off for a bit.

These Naproxen do weird things to my head, So I think I'm going to watch a film now.

When we were in the middle of moving house I had the urge to drop it all and buy a decent narrow boat and take to the waters, rather than just sit out the autumn of my years in a boring bungalow, but I reckon it would be great for a while, then the reality of living in a tiny space would kick in.

Last summer I was walking down by the cut with a lady friend and we started chatting to a boat guy who had a rather pretty 3 pot Diesel engine plonking away with the side hatch open. Lots of brass and big cylinders on display. It was off an old pre war generator he had found in a scrap yard, and he rebuilt it and put it in his boat. He had built a good bench and mini workshop around it. Anyway, apparently he lived on his boat for six months of summer, then stored it and flew to Spain for the winter months.

Whatever I did, I'd still want a nice workshop of sorts, somewhere to tinker, and keep my motorcycle etc.

you do know @Ashley Burton is travelling in his transit van as soon as this is done

 

[Lazurus]

There is a couple of very small narrow boats here on the broads, makes a nice change from the usual fibreglass bath tubs from the hire fleets

 

[Morrisman]

The problem with boats is storage, finding moorings, without paying a fortune. there are some beautiful little cottages and bungalows along the canal in Gnosall, village 7 miles from me, that have their own moorings, but they are double the price of a house I can afford.

 

[spaffmonkey]

Spent a few more hours on the boat today. Around the old roof vents was rotten so cut larger areas out and welded in new plates. And got a layer of anti-corrosive paint applied.

Tomorrows job is to remove window with blue tape around and weld up the hole.

 

[spaffmonkey]

The problem with boats is storage, finding moorings, without paying a fortune. there are some beautiful little cottages and bungalows along the canal in Gnosall, village 7 miles from me, that have their own moorings, but they are double the price of a house I can afford.

It can certainly be an expensive hobby.

 

[Ashley Burton]

Moorings are around £250 a month over my direction

 

[spaffmonkey]

Moorings are around £250 a month over my direction

Moorings are generally priced per foot in marina's so depends on what size boat you have.
But some moorings are put out to tender and can go for crazy money per year.

 

[Ashley Burton]

@spaffmonkey I think really does depend on where you are in the country also!

I'm thinking of roughing it as a continuous cruiser to start with when I get afloat

 

[spaffmonkey]

@spaffmonkey I think really does depend on where you are in the country also!

I'm thinking of roughing it as a continuous cruiser to start with when I get afloat

Far nicer to be out cruising than being stuck in a marina. Unfortunately our boat is only for holidays and weekend use but love being out on it.
Be warned if you are going to buy a boat there are alot of well polished terds about. If you ever want any advice on things to look out for when looking at boats let me no.

 

[Beeezer]

I’ve been on my 62 foot bantoc for the last 20 years powered by a thornycroft RJ2.

 

[Morrisman]

@spaffmonkey I think really does depend on where you are in the country also!

I'm thinking of roughing it as a continuous cruiser to start with when I get afloat

I think you can have 48 hours in one space from the signage I see along Shropshire Union near us. Then you have to move on. 50 years should do it.....

 

[Ashley Burton]

@Morrisman There's quite a few 14 day moorings also!

If you don't want to cruise, Then a permanent mooring is probably a better option

 

[spaffmonkey]

@Morrisman There's quite a few 14 day moorings also!

If you don't want to cruise, Then a permanent mooring is probably a better option

Most of the canal network is 14days but areas close to towns or tourist areas can be down to 24hr moorings. Years ago the rule was you just had to move to the next parish to class as moved but now you have to move something like 20miles in a certain timeframe and have a destination to where you are traveling before heading back. There's currently alot of confusion on the canals since canal and river trust took over. But things take time to work out.

 

[Ashley Burton]

@spaffmonkey The impression I get is along as you don't just move from point A to B all the time, Then you shouldn't have any problems

 

[Morrisman]

Most of the canal network is 14days but areas close to towns or tourist areas can be down to 24hr moorings. Years ago the rule was you just had to move to the next parish to class as moved but now you have to move something like 20miles in a certain timeframe and have a destination to where you are traveling before heading back. There's currently alot of confusion on the canals since canal and river trust took over. But things take time to work out.

20 miles is 5+ hours cruising, but I wonder who polices it, to check you actually do go the distance.

 

[spaffmonkey]

20 miles is 5+ hours cruising, but I wonder who polices it, to check you actually do go the distance.

We actually see a CRT person every week going past workshop taking note of boat numbers and if people don't move enough distance they will actually refuse to renew boat license.

 

[stuvy]

We actually see a CRT person every week going past workshop taking note of boat numbers and if people don't move enough distance they will actually refuse to renew boat license.

does that affect your insurance or do you get a fine from it?

 

[spaffmonkey]

does that affect your insurance or do you get a fine from it?

Because you insurance is done by other companies I don't believe it affects it but I might be mistaken.

 

[spaffmonkey]

Well I got the window out and as the hole wad so wonky I decided to square it up to make life easier. Very pleased with the finished outcome.