68. What it costs to own and live aboard a canal narrowboat
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- čas přidán 9. 07. 2024
- #narrowboat #narrowboats #canal #canals #liveaboard #cruisingthecut
This is the third (and final, as it turns out) video in my short series about the costs of buying and owning a canal narrowboat. Here I talk about the annual ongoing costs you will incur regardless of how you use the boat, plus a quick overview of what I spend to live on board each month.
** I KNEW I'd forget something; a viewer has pointed out I missed the four-yearly "BSS" (boat safety) scheme check. Cost of that depends on whether you've got anything that needs sorting... **
Part 1 of this series, about the buying process, is here: • 66. The process of buy...
Part 2, about the costs of buying a boat, is here: • 67. How much do canal ...
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Theme music: "Vespers" by Topher Mohr and Alex Alena, from the CZcams music library
Hi CruisingTheCut, I've been youtube surfing and I stumbled on your video gems. Much like other people who live in small places and make informative videos, you don't advertise yourself, you don't aggrandize your life, and you genuinely try to help people understand this lifestyle. Plus, your broadcaster voice is so pleasant to listen to. Please don't stop posting videos about such a culturally unique way of life in the UK. Cheers, from the USA.
Thank you :-)
David: Our family has lots more binge-watching days to catch up to NOW but we so enjoy your vlog. Your voice is excellent. I say that as a Mom of autistic son --- he can watch your show for 3 hours and not get agitated. He especially likes you showing the various dogs on boats (he's not a ppl person) and he loved seeing the black cat, as he owns a black cat. THANK you from this Mom in Utah! We plan on shopping on your site for Christmas!
Oh wow, what a nice thing to hear. I’m glad he enjoys them. I like the animals better than people too ;-)
Would love to own a narrow boat but wow, much more expensive than i would have guessed. Dream crushed
I could listen to him all day long he is an excellent teacher, very interesting thank you.
I just loved the expression on your face when the cat showed up... especially having just 'warned' us about possible noises !
The maniacal laughter upon seeing a cat... very witchy I like it
Love how you have a visiting cat. Responsibility-free pet companionship.
I'm always astonished at how much I pay attention to these accounting videos when I know im not like looking for this information but there's something deeply engrossing about the reveal of the costs
What a nice person you are, especially to look after the cat so well. I wish more
People on this planet were as kind as you, luv your vids.
Very professional presentation....thank you.
Not many canals in Australia but rivers galore!
I live in The States, and everyone of your videos makes me want to retire to a narrow boat! Thanks so much for bringing us along on your adventure.
Thank you for watching. Glad you enjoy them. Cheers.
Another good video , I cannot understand how people can put a thumbs down on these videos,They must be afraid of water .
It speaks volumes about you that a neighbour's cat not only wants in, but trusts you sufficiently to crash on your chair. Good on ya, mate.
To be fair, that cat would make himself at home in any boat he could find!
I have been enjoying the fire side chats-lots if sensible suggestions and advise and I appreciate that.
Thanks for another quality video. Oh, small detail, but thanks so much for numbering your videos. It makes it easier to find where I left off as I work my way through your library.
B.O.A.T. - Bring out another thousand :)
This was so helpful, and so brilliantly presented. Thank you so much. Wonderful
I love your Vlogs, I am seriously considering buying a narrowboat to live on. Hopefully soon and I have enjoyed seeing your experiences, I have never been on a narrowboat apart from a quick visit, but the desire to live aboard is VERY strong and I know I will love it.
Your price breakdowns are wonderful and have given me some good help with what to expect. I have a few more to watch, and look forward to each and every one of them.
Thanks..Di.
Thank you for this video. Youve answered every question Ive ever had regarding costs. I started watching your channel about a week ago getting through several episodes every day. by the time I catch up to your current uploads I hope to be out there looking for my own boat.
Glad it was helpful!
I must say, that puts the whole cost in perspective - thank you for those 3 vlogs of yours. it has gone up in proportion since 2016 (now 2020). Yes, thank you again.
Thank you for making such an honest video, this was really helpful!
small pressure cookers are so great, rice 4 mins, potatoes 3 min if cut. lentals take longer depending on type 10 to 20 and so much more. veggies 2 to 3 mins! I adore pressure cooking and have 3 sizes!
What a list! You’re the first person I’ve heard go into this extended detail of living expense and regulation. It quite takes the free and easy, care free appearance to a different reality check altogether. Your three part presentation of canal life cost has been eye opening. Not for the financially unprepared at all, I’d venture. That said, it’s still a wonderful dream.
Another very informative and relevant video. Well done, as usual. Thanks again.
Hello, just another new subscriber housewife from Michigan. I have been binge watching your vlogs and have watched all up to this point even the one on the toilets. I could be watching silly cat videos but your blogs are so enjoyable and I get animals so it's a win win. Seriously, you are good at this so keep making more. You may never have to work again!
Haha thank you. I assure you, filming, scripting, editing and producing these videos is quite a lot of work... :-)
After 10 years of narrow boating which we had many happy times, we sold our beloved 55ft narrow Boat two years ago due to the cost of running it, it became a bottomless pit where money was concerned, there are many hidden costs like maintaining the boat, mooring, insurance, river licence, heating, batteries , gas, repainting, blacking the bottom of the boat every three years ,repairs,diesel etc we found it more expensive than running our flat, we loved it but unfortunately it was not cheap to run.
Almost like living in California.
aircrash tupolov yes we do miss it at times, but we are better of financial, about the renting it out unfortunately that is also very expensive there are also lots of hidden costs, lnsurance being one of them
I have been watching your channel a great lot during the last week and loved it. Not just as you allow a fascinating view into a lifestyle that I can only guess at as an occasional visitor to the UK but also as it is rather witty and simply fun to watch. Well done Sir, please keep it up.
All the best from Germany
Thank you Roland, very pleased you're enjoying it!
GREAT IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS VLOG
IT SEEMS AGES SINCE YOUR LAST ONE YOUNG MAN PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING FANTASTIC
THANK YOU SO MUCH WARM REGARDS MARK
9 days. Not that long really! Glad you liked it :-)
hello im a gypsy so this way of life on move really pulls at my heart idk what to say this is just calling me maybe someday keep the vids coming and stay safe
I really enjoy your show, you have a very calming voice and a pleasant face.
I just love watching your videos. I lived aboard my fishing boat in Alaska for 15 years. Cruising the canals is one of my goals in life. Your videos are very calming to watch. Take care.
Thanks for watching, glad you like them!
I just need to convince my wife. I could live out the rest of my life on a narrow boat on the canals. Well narrated sir.
Thank you. Reckon living on a boat is a viable cost effective alternative to land based living and am now seriously considering it. Gleaned some much needed information from this so thanks.
That was awesome about the cat. And awesome that you put/left that in the video. :)
Thank you for clear and comprehensive info - just been looking at a few of your vlogs - going on the water next spring - ooooh exciting ! good luck to you on your travels.
Thanks, and have fun!
I cannot imagine going down to 22MBp Data rate as I now have slow fibre of 75MBp with 550 MB Data usage. many of my friends have 150MBp with unlimited Data usage. While this is all relative. I come from an era when just having a phone put you in a higher social class. I do enjoy your Blog as you bring life on the Narrowboat down to an understandable level.
At my current age 79 I have other people do all my maintenance, in my younger years I did virtually everything, diesel and petrol engines, electrical, Electronic, grew up a Navy Brat, so a lot of marine related trades. Please continue the Blog as it is very down to earth (waterline) Your many comments on the actual living conditions, weather affecting issues, waterway conditions, safety issues, general every day life issues related to live on board.
Love this guys style of talking.Very watchable
Thank you
You're welcome.Keep up the good work.
Thank you for a most helpful video. Looked that many videos about living etc , but not about the cost of owning your boat. Roger (Cornwall)
Have spread the word about your Vlog - my sister and her husband have started with episode #1 and the first day watched 11 episodes! They are hooked - just like we are. We love the content - packed with information, delivered with a warm professionalism interspersed with dry humour! A perfect combination to make this Vlog the success that it is. Congratulations David. We are keenly awaiting the next episode. Cheering you on...Bruce and Andrea from Amherst Island in Lake Ontario
That's very kind of you and much appreciated! Cheers :-)
Hi David, Very informative video ! I so glad I came across your site ! As a owner of a sailboat in California, I've often wondered what it would cost to own a boat like yours and live on a canal . As you know boat people are ( for the most part ) a great group of people to be around . After watching this video, I'd do it in a heart beat. Please keep these videos coming! Thanks for posting. All the best, Monte
Hello! Thanks for tuning in. More soon but I've got some (rare) paid work to be getting on with for the next few days so there may be a delay to the latest vlog. Cheers
Love the visit from the neighbor cat! Realizing the video is several years and a couple hundred mooring spots old, please give it scritches from a random YT commenter, if you ever see it again.
I do occasionally go and visit it but it's a fair distance from me now
I think it would be super cool (when you are cruising and speaking of destinations..) if you flashed up a flat map every so often to give Yanks like me a feel for the lay of the land. You might even point out how far and in what direction you are from well known land marks, famous battles, churches, monuments etc.
More recent videos now include Google map links in the video description but regarding why I don't show maps, please see my website FAQ page, cheers
Another great and informative video. I really look forward to these videos.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for "Cruising The Cut". I enjoy your videos immensely and look forward to each new one since subscribing. I live in Iowa USA and will probably never have the experience of living on a narrow boat, however vicariously sharing your experience is enjoyable to say the least. Keep up the good work. I look forward to "Cruising The Cut" again with you and your cat friends very soon. I hope this won't be the last of the fireside chats. I quiet enjoy them.
Thanks for watching! Cheers
Actually, all these costs added up equals fairly inexpensive living, especially considering the unique, quality lifestyle on the canals.
Thanks for running it down for us.
Happy Cruising
Cheers
You laughing at the cat made my day! God I'm such a loser 😂
We are all losers who will succeed in life
Thanks for a fabulous video...well detailed and full of information. May you (and the cat) be blessed.
Glad you liked it!
Very informative, thank you as I am thinking of purchasing a narrow boat
👍👍
For a weekender it's expensive but it sounds reasonable if you live on it.
Generally right on blacking. However, I recently sold a boat built by Yarwoods in 1929. Got it to use as a flat to save commuting 120miles per day. Blacked it when I bought it and it sat on marina for 10 years hooked up to mains. Retired and sold - new owner had survey and I took it to be lifted. Hull was like the day I blacked it - surveyor very impressed - little wear to anodes I welded on 10 years previously. Galvanic isolator did its job. Only cruised 1 day per week for 4 hours. Never painted the boat, and it does not look scruffy. T Cut is the product to use when good paint was originally applied - then wax ( just a few quid and elbow grease rather than the 8 grand you mention). The boat was hauled to Llangollen Canal where the owner lives on it (without blacking). In winter (when not cruising) pay 55p / l fuel - but get it from fuel yard (not marina) - google 'domestic heating oil' supplier to find nearest.
I was referring to a full repaint rather than polishing up the existing colour.
your videos really makes me happy. keep up the good work 😄
That is great to hear, thank you.
Superb set of video's - well done!
Many thanks for this information. I am coming up to retirement and want to live off grid I think....Just in the dreaming stage at the moment and this information is so useful when you are an absolute beginner so thank you.
interesting and informative thanks very much. I always fancied retiring to a narrowboat.
Glad you found it helpful. Cheers.
I do enjoy watching you travelling , but these videos are just as interesting. Thanks
Too darned cold and wet and miserable to be travelling at the mo :-(
Living this way is in the back of my mind but a possible reality depending on how the tide of life flows.Thank you for the down to earth reality.Great on screen voice and presence.
Thank you. Hope it works out for you.
Omg the cat!!! Hahahaha I love it and bless your kind soul sir! Wonderful vid!
I've yet to own a narrowboat but at least this video gives me somewhat of an idea of how much it costs to live on and operate one before I decide to fork out thousands of pounds purchasing a narrowboat.
Basically, with all the costs mentioned in this video, I come to a rough estimate of £5700 per year plus fuel and food. That works out to be around £110/week but I've budgeted for things like blacking and a BSS which only need to be done every few years.
>> Owning
Insurance £150/year
Mooring fees £3000 @ £250/month for 12 months
BSS Certificate £37.50/year (£150 every 4 years)
CRT Licence £840/year
Blacking/dry dock £300/year (every 2 years)
Servicing x 4 times a year @ £150 each time = £600
Emergency Services (Bronze package) £150/year
General Purpose/Maintenance/Upgrades £500/year
Total £5760
>> Running
Coal £66 - 6 x 25kg bags @£11
Gas (cooking only) 1 x 13kg bottle every 6 months £30 per bottle
Electricity £5/month
Comms - Internet, mobile, TV Licence etc.
Diesel - too variable to calculate
Total £700
Remember, this is only a guestimate from the information provided in this video and I won't really know the correct figure until I actually own one of my own but it gives you some idea of what expenses to expect before taking the plunge.
Mooring fees will vary depending where in the country you are but if you have one, I doubt you'll do the mileage to need four services a year and it is worth the effort to do those yourself (quite easy) anyway. That coal figure will be per month in winter. Cheers
Great video you answered all my questions in my head!
Binge watching CTC is my best use of this Easter Sunday.
I work on the rivers of Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, and spoken to many boat owners over the last 20 years. The most common phrase i hear is ... the two best days of owning a boat is the day you buy it and the day you sell it... just saying...
theres a lot of truth in that , even more so if its wooden .
if you dislike some one , buy them a boat,,, if you really dislike them , buy them a wooden boat.
Hi David. I just recently found your channel. Very interesting!! I had no idea that the canals or the narrow boats existed.Best wishes from Central Florida,USA. Vince
Cheers :-)
Keep up the good work. We love your vlogs
I'm not a boat dweller, but I do enjoy your informative and entertaining blogs! Cheer!
Thank you!
Neighbours cat , your a good soul.
For those who want to know, on my conversion app., it show 1BPS=$1.25, so 1.25 times pounds equals cost in dollars, 11/24/2016.
Great stuff. Thank you. Hope you're keeping warm. Your neighbour's cat is lovely.
He's fab but he's got such muddy paws! Yes, very warm :-)
Thank you David really enjoyed your blog found it a really good guide for me thanks for this David sturdy.
Well it seems to me that the costs to live abroad a narrow boat are similar to being a landlubbers, except you aren't stuck in one place, you move around, see places from a different angle, fresh air, nature etc....
I've sailed on a Catalina 27' tall rig in the San Francisco Bay. I've learned that boat stands for Break Out Another Thousand ! 🤣🤣🤣
You crack me up, I love your videos. Thank you.
Glad to hear it!
Thank you. :) much appreciated and very helpful. Nice to see you again:)
:-)
Awesome video and very well explained for every cost on your narrow boat really enjoyed watching this video I've got one of those bongles from three and only cost £23 a month unlimited and watching interesting videos like your,s I'm not really interested in the TV any more ☺👍
The cat is curled up for sleep. All is well in the world. Nice conclusion.
Thanks for such detailed onfo. Just what I was looking for.
I have been a subscriber for awhile and finally I am commenting here. I just love your videos! For decades I have wanted to be on a narrowboat, and my mother in North Dakota before me wanted to travel on a narrowboat. She told me she got the idea for it from Agatha Christie, of all things. But now I am housebound... I waited too long. At any rate, I watch your videos and for a few minutes I am on a narrowboat, and I was right, I do just love being there. Thank you from San Francisco.
Oh, what a shame that the dream won't come true but I'm so pleased that I've been able to "bring you on board" through the videos. Thank you for watching. Glad you enjoy them :-)
David dear boy, clean your solar panels, if you haven already, you will be pleased at the difference it makes.
I would have subbed your channel and shared all your videos just for mere face you let the kitty come in and chill. I have a soft spot for animals myself. Also I own a chubby black haired cat that was a former stray.
Love your vids ,,, straightforward x
Another great video and so informative, thank you.
love the cat segment!
Y'alls licensing, given the massive amounts of facilities provided, is not that bad.
We pay a 50-60$ annual boat license fee, but the only "mooring" you're going to get is a cypress knee or a cleet at a public ramp while you launch the thing, and the only public "facilities" you get is the occasional port-a-can that they'd ticket the crap out of you for dumping a toilet in.
Everything else is private. I can only think of ONE lock in this part of the state, and it not only costs money, it's only open 4 days a week for about 6 hours, and is currently 8 years old and already down for indefinite maintenance. The only canals we have are the inter coastal waterway, and you wouldn't catch me on a skinny flat bottom that close to a 6 barge hitch barreling down the canal.
This is all fascinating and a fascinating way of living. Reminds me very much of the house boat culture in central Louisiana that my father grew up in during the 40s...... slow, layed back, and enjoying the water. They just did it out of poverty, not preference.
stupid question- modern pounds/pence is 100 pence in a pound right?
Yes 100 pence to 1 British Pound
@@tosspot1305 just saw that, what I thought :-)
Great vid :) Also much liked your CC'ing monologue, as K&A dweller and former CC'er I remember the trials of not falling foul of the rules, and seeing the results of those who did as well as the flaws in the system. It's a very difficult topic to discuss but you put it across excellently
Ah, thank you! I really appreciate that from you since you know that patch and the CCing so well. I tried to be quite balanced about it! Hope all's well on Kizzie :-)
Really enjoyed the video, thank you for sharing your experience. 👍🏼🇬🇧☕
You’re hilarious! I can’t believe I’m sitting here listening transfixed about your costs!
As a cat owner it's nice to see (assumed) non cat owners interact with pet cats in a positive way. A blanket and a place to relax is a good exchange for a genuine outburst of hilarity. A pet centered video might make for a good Vlog.
I've considered a "boat pets" video but it would require sufficient pets and willing owners so it could be a bit of an effort to make it. Maybe one day.
I was raked over the coals because I told a "responsible cat owner " that we let our cat roam at night and occasionally during day for potty break. She was livid. I did not know what to say. He is completely vet proofed. Cats are the best.
thanks again, lovely to see your video once again. have a nice weekend.
Ta
Very informative, thanks for sharing.
The CRT licence is very high these days. We paid relatively little for a 45' boat back in the days of the old BWB ( British Waterways Board) £900+ is close to my current council tax rate and then you have all the other things I top. I was living in hope that boat life was a much cheaper alternative to living in a house and something that could be easily funded by a property letting income? I wonder why so many people sell houses to go and live the canal life? Our old boat never seemed to need much in the way of maintenance, it had a really solid two cylinder Lister engine and we did all of our own blacking work at Kerridge dry dock, the biggest cost was the paint itself. I think the only component on the boat that needed to be replaced in two years was an electric bilge pump that cost 25 quid.
I suppose it depends on the property you're renting out and where it is! A typical two-bed terraced house seems to let for maybe £650-£750/month in my part of the Midlands so if you had a couple of those to let, you could cover your costs on the boat, just about. If you have a nice big London house renting for £4k/month, you're sorted!
@@CruisingTheCut The plan here is to rent out a single two bed house which would generate the same sort of income as a place in the Midlands. To me that seems doable as I am used to very thrifty living. On top of that I would also have income from work in IT and photography. I'm so bored of living in a house and so keen to return to canal life that in one of my madder moments considered doing an equity release on my very old cottage to provide funds to both do up the house and buy a boat and then let the newly refurbed house for top rate, assuming that such a thing was possible with equity release. Plan B is to try to sell my old (and in need of modernisation) house in a very des res then buy another cheaper place and a cheap-ish boat, live on boat and let new house but for less income than plan A.
I think that's a very doable plan, especially with the occasional bolster of IT/photography work, of which you'd only need one or two (properly-paying) jobs a year to top up the house rent, provided you have no major household expenditure or lack of tenants etc. Good luck!
Bummer you didn't have a fire blazing behind ya in the vlog.
Great vlog, if only we in the US could have a a network of canals, etc. to do something similar; otherwise, we're limited to marina's on lakes, some rivers, and oceans.
On the basis of living in a 2 Up 2 down house with your mortgage paid off in full living on a houseboat and owning a houseboat is much more expensive. But houseboat life is so much more interesting. Thank you so much for a interesting video
Nice one. really helpful as I'm thinking of retiring to a boat. Thanks
David, not ever going to be a narrow boat owner but just love you talking money. Trying to keep up with exchange rate to Aussie dollars. Cheers
Cat = instant upvote.
Great informative video and a bonus cat to boot, marvelous,Thanks . Steve
He is a bonus indeed :-)
Great video, straight forward and informative. Many thanks.
Cheers
Informative and funny .Bit like Alan partridge
Thank you
I want to buy/live on a boat.. watching this am thinking maybe a van! 😂
Excellent informative vlog! Thank you 😊