Selfsufficientish.com

I didn't know where else to post this query, so I figured I would start here and Andy or Dave would redirect me if I am wrong....

... are there any fellow selfsufficientishers out there who live in the UK on a narrowboat or similar? If so I would love to get some advice straight from the sailor's mouth on your experiences etc

G'Day Spen,

I can't be of much use directly - but have you seen the book "Sailing the Farm - Independance on thirty feet" by Ken Neumeyer - 10 Speed Press - 1981. It may be of interest. Due to copyright issues I couldn't copy it for you. (PM me).

Nev

Thanks Nev, I will contact my local library and see if they can get it for me :)

About 17 or 18 years ago I looked into living on a narrowboat. A useful organisation was RBOA - the Residential Boat Owners Association. You can find them here. They had the inside information that you couldn't get from the British Waterways Authority, which are the licensing body.

I don't know what the details are these days, but back then, officially you needed a residential licence to live full time on the waterways (I think the BWA only deal with canals - not sure about rivers), however there were people who were making a success of it on a leisure licence. But the rules were not helpful in this respect - you could not stay in one parish for more than a few days. In order to get a residential licence you had to have a residential mooring, which meant one with relevant planning permission, and some utility services like waste and sewerage disposal facilities. This normally means renting one, usually at a marina. Some have garden plots attached.

Back then the BWA were in a bit of an administrative mess, and didn't really have any idea how many people lived afloat, but it was around then that the Thatcher government became very unfriendly towards people who didn't live in houses, and I think there were proposals to tightened up on things. I'm sure there are still people who make a success of living afloat, but I've no idea how easy, or cost effective it is.

Thanks for your info Stew. As your profile picture says, we are looking for the escape route too, and we are seriously considering living on a boat full time. One of the most frightening parts will be working from the boat and living off my artistic skills! Frightening yet exciting at the same time so anything anyone has to share would be welcomed!

Hi Spen! Can't really advise as yet - but we are doing this very thing in two years' time. We are selling up, and living on a boat full time. We have wanted to do it for years. It was either a smallholding or a narrowboat with an allotment or two - and we are doing the latter 8)

Isabella! That sounds great! If our plans come to fruition then we will be in the same boat (pardon the pun) by Christmas, minus the allotments as we will be continuously cruising. If it all comes off maybe we can advise you :)

Hi Spen,

My mum lived on a narrowboat on the K&A for nearly 15 years. It's a great life, you can move if you don't like your neighbours etc. Unfortunately, the K&A is rather overcrowed now. The 'Kamakaze' holiday boats can drive you mad in the Summer period.

When my mum first moved aboard there were about 20 'live a boards' on the Bath/Bradford on Avon stretch, there are hundreds now, all trying to get away from it. You can still find quieter canal areas and it is a beautiful life. It makes you appreciate things like having water, not wasting it and using your power thoughtfully, because you make it all from the engine. The wild life is fab too!

If you need any info or help in what to look for in buying a boat. SHOUT!

Shiney

Thanks for your reply, and thanks also for your offer of help. It is amazing how many people want away from the rat race nowadays. Such a small island and sooooo many people on it!

Interested in your comment about the holidaymakers, I didn't realise until recently that the UK lets people hire boats without any sort of licence or training! That has to be a recipe for disaster!

PS - Thanks also for your kind comments on my website