living on a barge...anyone any experience?

Deals_2

any thoughts on this . thinking of getting a second hand one. how does this work for mooring too?
thanks

tbs624

Not done it yet but definitely appeals. See here: http://www.barges.org/main.php?section=1798# for book in which all is revealed (there's also a page on the site somewhere about moorings rules & regs, & what to look out for.)

Edit - checked my bookmarks, knew I had it somewhere: http://www.barging.co.uk/liveaboard.htm plenty of info on moorings there

maninthestreet

Personally, I wouldnt touch this with a barge pole.

tbs624

Excellent.... but please don't set me off. I am returning to normal today. I fell from the path of online righteousness yesterday.;)

barnaby-bear

Deals wrote: »

any thoughts on this . thinking of getting a second hand one. how does this work for mooring too?
thanks

We have a bunch around here:

http://www.camboaters.co.uk/

They have an active forum which will give you an idea of the lifestyle - quite a lot of academic hippies round here.

You see them driving up to the pumping station to pay to pump out the !!!!!!.

They have to pay something about council tax band A level to the council and more for a river license.

They have a forum that'll give you an idea. It's several years waiting list most places for a mooring - the mooring is the DIFFICULT but essential bit. Private moorings are expensive (marinas etc), council ones like council houses hard to come by, long waiting lists.... it's easier if you will live in the middle of nowhere but near a town/facilities hard.

bryanb

We lived on a Yacht for 17 yrs (Med) It can be a great life provided you don't need to work as well. As said previously moorings are the problem. Never buy any type of boat until you have a secure mooring for it!

PasturesNew

barnaby-bear wrote: »

We have a bunch around here:

http://www.camboaters.co.uk/

They have an active forum which will give you an idea of the lifestyle - quite a lot of academic hippies round here.

You see them driving up to the pumping station to pay to pump out the !!!!!!.

They have to pay something about council tax band A level to the council and more for a river license.

They have a forum that'll give you an idea. It's several years waiting list most places for a mooring - the mooring is the DIFFICULT but essential bit. Private moorings are expensive (marinas etc), council ones like council houses hard to come by, long waiting lists.... it's easier if you will live in the middle of nowhere but near a town/facilities hard.

I had this bright idea back in the early 80s when I couldn't afford any kind of a place to live (Cambridge, so same place as that link).

But my mum wouldn't let me (I've only just managed to get away from doing/not doing what they tell me I should).

Mum said it probably wasn't very safe for a lone female down at the riverbank after dark.

becky_rtw

It is quite popular around here (Cambs too) but I don't think you cant get a mortgage on these boats?? Could be wrong of course.

A friend of mine does it and says summer is great, but its quite cold in winter - she is quite lucky though and has a midsummer common mooring so she can always nip into town to warm up!

lostinrates

We looked into it a couple of years ago but found that the ongoing costs were really high. (we were looking at London moorings). Otherwise I'd love it.

PasturesNew

becky_rtw wrote: »

I don't think you cant get a mortgage on these boats?? Could be wrong of course.

No. Something like this is like a mobile home - it has to be a personal loan. And they were always 20% deposit required,

Captain_Mainwaring_2

Bit like drinking Heineken.