Thanks for the video. It’s good a reality check and to hear the problems you face, and that not everything is always rosy. Ignore the ones that say you’re too negative, just because you talk about the problems and challenges of narrowboating doesn’t mean you don’t enjoy it overall.
I know a couple that is big into sailboats and spent many years on one. The concept intrigued me and I talked to the man about it -- he was very encouraging, said he could teach me everything I needed to know in just a few months and could easily get me into a decent boat with my available assets. Then I talked to the woman separately who was more engineering/practical minded like me and she pointed out the realities involved with living on a boat. My summary of her advice which she confirmed was accurate, was that boating is not something you do on a whim or as an escape from "rent" or "oppression" or whatever it is you think it will relieve you from, it is its own passion with obligations and issues. If it's your *passion* to be a boater, then onwards you go, but if it's simply an escape or a whim, then you should be VERY aware of the downsides. And I think that's exactly what you're doing here with these videos -- dissuading people from their frivolous fancies which is very fair to do. Among the boating community is the saying -- the two happiest days in a man's life is the day he buys a boat and the day he sells the boat.
I've only had my boat for a few months so this is my first winter. I'm in a marina so it's not too grim but it is very different from a house or flat. I've wanted this for a long time so I'm committed to having an honest go and staying aboard for a couple of years before I make a permanent decision. I love having a wood fire to take the chill off and I've figured out that a fan back aft blowing cold air forward equalises the temperature rather well. I miss my big bathroom though. The joys of a long, hot shower can't be overstated. I like the idea that I use very little electricity, gas and diesel which means that because I use wood and charcoal, I'm doing my little bit by not burning as much fossil fuel. I'm also becoming painfully aware of the amount of plastic that I and the others in the marina throw away. I'm working on that one.
By the look on your faces ,i can see you made the right decision. My wife and I just got back to Australia after spending a month on a narrowboat, we had that experience and loved it.
First thing to do when you buy a narrow boat, strip everything out, and line the whole boat with 6'' / 150mm of ''cellotex'' or similar POLYURETHANE insulation, NOT polystyrene, which only has half the insulation value. Then double glaze all windows and insulate all doors. It will pay for itself in two winters, from reduced heating costs.
In the old days when freight was moved by narrow boat in winter you always see the captain of a narrow boat standing inside a set of closed doors due to the cold. Just below the steerer and to his left is the rear cabin stove keeping him nice and warm. Note that they always wear a long tail navy pea coat for warmth. A hand saw or better yet a lithium ion battery powered chain saw makes cutting wood you come across is dead right simple. A nice crosscut hand saw, a small axe for splitting kindling makes it very easy to get free wood from along the canal. Consider if your stove has firebrick in it using anthracite as it is considerably cheaper due to longer burning times and burns smoke free. Not if you have a Mo so Squirrel stove with a back boiler to feed the radiators your heat is spread throughout the boat rather evenly. I don't know if your boat has the original style rear boatmans cabin but that's where you discover just how small a space you really need to live in. And boatman and the wife's raised upwards of 5 kids in that small space. You have a tub in your boat? Ohhh! Luxury! Figure out how many gallons or liters it holds and install a gravity tank with roughly 5 gallons a more than the tub capacity. A gravity single pipe would allow you to drain it and you heat it by a loop of copper pipe around the stoves exhaust pipe which heats the water by convection. Naturally tank is open to the atmosphere dumping overboard if it gets too hot. This would necessitate a third water valve for the tub but I don't think the Lady of the boat would complain. Cheaper to burn firewood than diesel for hot water or anthracite aka hard coal. My neighbor heats his house with had coal hand fired and averages near 20 hours before having to add fuel to the stove. Cheers! And enjoy as there are many ways to reduce your costs. While full timing on a narrow boat.
I've lived on a boat for 15 years and always get same questions. Q1. Don't you get cold.? A. It's called a fire. Q2. Don't you get damp? A. I live in the boat, not under it. I find most people who move onto boats that are natural wimps should stay in the brick boxes. More room for the real people not dreamers.
My favourite type of holiday. Coming from daily stress. Constant rush. Get to the boat. Stand by the tiller. Concentrate on what you do at 3 miles per hour.
Great video, and in particularly the honest approach to living today on a narrow boat with its ups and downs, thank you, regards Mark ,Cromer .Northfolk
Interesting and very honest I must say - think I would be looking for natural wood on towpaths tho - but I guess it takes a while to dry - thank you for great video!
Great video and so accurate. I'm a leisure boater and my boat is in the boatyard for a few repairs and a repaint and I'm still worrying about frozen pipes! Living on a boat in the winter must be a huge challenge and that probably adds to the adventure but only if you are able to cope with it. Thanks for painting such real picture of life on a narrowboat and lovely to see more of your partner.
Utter rubbish, we live on a 60 foot boat and have done for 20 years and it was never cold, only ever dressed in T shirts and only ever had a 4 tog duvet on the bed the bathroom at the furthest point from the fire was always warm enough. Our motto is we may live on a boat but we ain't camping and at 73 years old we have been successful in living up to that motto. Phik
yes but there are stoves and stoves and some people are naturally cold people , so yes so feel cold those people need an aga , i know like 5 people have an aga and it heats their water boat and cooks it burns the same amount of fule its better for cold people
Ah Phil, I'm not on a narrow boat, (would love the experience though) but I am an experienced camper, (self sufficient that is) Despite my wife continually complaining of being cold, I have never felt that way. We have heaters, lpg or wood, we even have hot showers, 10 liters per person, refilled every three days. It's all about experience and ensuring you deal with ALL the issues.
Hi guys, I have only just started to watch your videos, before I have watched some of the others and have to admit that they are for the most part a little to "Rosey" for want of a better word. That said I am just blown away with your honesty and courage to talk about REAL life on a narrow boat. Totally different from the rest. Totally aussum, I shall subscribe with alerts you I don't want to miss. Anyway prattled on for too long, wishing you a happy Christmas and a safe and happy New year. look forward to your posts.
I had one and was on it for three years, loved it but the wife fell out with it. Lost a lot of money as house prices had shot up. Always speak up if you really don't want to do it rather than go along with it. We were never cold on ours but a wide beam is better, narrow beams are like confines and you don't need one unless your doing the narrow canals. It takes weeks to go what takes hours on the road so cruising is limited so if you are on wide canals look how far you have to go to get to narrow cuts and decide, do i have the time to get there? I had two weeks holiday and covered twenty miles, bear in in mind I had to get back.
very interesting. we bought a Narrowboat second hand ten years ago - a lot of pleasure and a lot of work. However we have a son 29 who has the same passion as us for Narrowboating and as he eventually will have it - he has taken great interest in keeping on top of everything - so we are lucky as we both, are 60 now but on saying that - it keeps us fit!
I thought that too ...they must not use the central heating which to me is silly since why have it if your not using it. I can honestly say we were never cold on our narrow boat...only if we ran out of gas and we solved that issue by connection an automatic cross over to a new bottle whilst replacing the now finished one...so we never woke up to the boat cold...it was toasty warm I have to say. Also we purchased a boat that had been insulated really well. This is the key to warmth ...insulation.
honestly if you have the right set up you will not be cold , not on a narrow boat but it does involve money ,a good stove can heat water and cook these days and if you are cold your stove is not big enough , tbh you do not have to have a big aga there are smaller stoves
yup i know this is serious money but you will have hot water heat the whole boat and cook for the same fuel from then on www.modernstoves.co.uk/range-cookers/condor-multi-fuel-range-cooker-with-back-boiler-59.html
Hi 'Z'. Lots of folk are suggesting youre negative and boating isnt for you. I get the impression that you love boating but highlighting the pitfalls for others ;-)
Narrowboaters and people who just live aboard in London and other cities, for a cheap way to live, are two completely different things. Looking at the state of many of the boats, you can see they dont care about them. Not sure where they all pump out, as many have not moved for years and are rust buckets. You wouldn't catch me swimming in the waters for sure.:)
Very good comments and honest too!!!! I built a narrow boat in the 90s and had to sell it because it was sunken once by the negligence of the canal company and as a result I could not leave it unattended. I absolutely loved my boat it was a home from home. Still hurts that I had to sell her she was called Tinkerbell and was 38 foot long. If you know of this boa it would be nice to find out where she ended up. Happy days. Oh! she was built by Arnold and PIckwell in Yorkshire.
If you don't have a couple of wood saws get some and when cruising the cut and you spot branches down along side the canal grab it and cut it up to fit your stove. If you see pallets out by the street from businesses grab em. Pallets are generally dried wood and hardwood to boot making the burn very easily. Your stove is it a Morse squirrel? If it is did you know you can add a water heater to the rear of the stove that connects to your radiator heating system thereby making it easier to heat the entire boat from one heat source. Cheers!
Great to see someone putting people off....more room for me! I'm off to the engine bay now to try and remove a sheared bolt from the alternator so we dan move, we are currently overstaying the 14 days for repairs (with C&RT blessing). Always something to fix on a boat and it costs twice as much to do most things on a boat compared to dry land.
I didn't really notice condensation as a problem. I mostly let the fire go out while i was at work and started it when I returned so the inside went from 10-20c most days. I also don't like burning damp coal and wood so I let it dry inside. I expected more condensation but it was fine.
So honest. . I'm sure that the freedom of no rent / mortgage negates the luxury of NO HOT BATH. ... TUFF for a girl I reckon... but THEIR LIVE FOR EACH OTHER WILL SEE THEM HAPPY & CONTENT.... GREAT VIDEO....
derrick they are empty on most the canal network but going on looking for a mooring in one of the most congested cities in europe is always gonna be a task. they were moaning for moanings sake on that one.
I like your straight forward approach about living on a canal boat. I have watched several videos on you-tube on canal boating and it seems to me that a common thing is heating the boat and the extra costs during winter. It strikes me that this problem should be tackled during the build of the craft as most canal boats are steel it must cause a lot of problems in this area. Obviously there are several types of insulation but non that I have seen seem to solve this problem, of course condensation on steel is a major problem I suppose. The extra cost in the winter should be put into the annual overall costs of operating the craft and then psychologically it will not stand out so much.
Having lived in the same 3 bed semi for the last 30 years and still not got around to installing central heating I’m not too concerned about keeping warm inside but standing on the stern in a chilling and wet wind is another thing - I have heard say that a trad stern is better for winter cruising as it almost envelops the poor sod at the tiller and keeps at least the bottom half protected - not sure how true this might be
Never mind,our heating bill is £100 per week to heat our bungalow!However,I have every sympathy for you to spend so much just to keep warm.Anyway,you do have a wonderful freedom which we don't have.!'m sure thousands would love your life.Good on you.
The first review which isnt rose tinted. We all know how lovely the canal network is, living on it in winter seems like a completely different ball game. So, thanks.....;-)
well see some of the canal boat owners have put an aga and it heats your boat and it heats your water and it cooks , they make sense to invest in and now they do one called an uno, its called uno cos its one burner on top and one oven and one fire pit , the burner holds two pans though , as for wood well most of the people round here just collect wood free , we live in nottinghashire/derbyshire/lincolnshire , plenty of free wood , just start collecting it in summer dry it then cover it , their tops are full of wood by autumn ready , some buy coal for night , to keep the fire going till they wake but burn wood all day ,
www.cast-iron-range-cookers.co.uk/products/heritage-uno-cookers.html, mostly not seen these they are very expensive but i have seen old aga cookers and those people are never cold
Standing on the stern getting cold is why I would have a Trad boat to live on - with a stove right next to you, and you can even close the back doors behind you. Stoves right at the front your main cabin are a bad idea too - although a fan on top of it can help - I think people put them there as a last thought.
I think that it is difficult to get a boat that ticks evry box, I have decided that I won't be standing for hours on the stern, in winter, just move on short journeys, maybe take a mooring with elecricity for a few months in winter. I kinda decided a semi trad is best, as I can store dry firewood and coal, and a bike. and I reject cruisers as I hate their pram hoods and such a waste of inside space.
I think I'd be tempted to look into some sort of remote controls for the tiller and throttle! Then.perhaps you could sit in the bow - behind a bit of cover and in the warm! I also wonder ow well insulated is your particular boat? 'CruisingTheCut' talks about his boat being toasty and warm. But her has central-heating in addition to his wood/coal stove...
Wow, feeling for you in the cold. I wear my thermals in the house in the winter plus two layers of fleece on top! like you I just have a coal fire for heating. Could you run any rads from your stove? Especially a teeny one into the bathroom?! All the best for the coming cold
Wouldnt say its bussy in london some parts yes same ewerywhere i work next to limehousecut and is quite empty. But yeah winter ots harsh i know what u mean about toilet :D
I think that has effectively convinced most people of not living on a narrowboat. I think its all fair comment. But compared to the working boatmen its pure luxury.
If you don't like the countryside and history and like cruising there are many people cruising on little financing and would change it you don't souñd suitable
Why are you living on a narrowboat then? I live on a narrowboat .. Where do you buy your coal and wood as I pay half what you do.,,Never buy it from a marina or petrol station. Put a couple of vents in the wall of the bathroom near the roof. Heat rises so the warm air will pass into the bathroom. My bathroom is not cold. forget about those silly fan things....don't work.Make sure the boat is well insulated..don't waste heat keeping the ducks warm.Lastly why cruise in bad weather...wait for a bright day, you don't have to wait 14 days...we never have bad weather for 14 days every day...Bath??? ok I only have a shower, but my friend and I heat water with a gas boiler...so as long as you have the water and the gas then no problem with how much you fill the bath....My gas lasts about 3 wks in the winter ( cooking and water heating )My boat is a 60ft cruiser stern...Believe me I need to open a window in winter as it can get to warm.The loo?? pump out for me every time, Oh well....happy boating guys.
The lady certainly likes her baths. I wouldn't mind sharing a bath with her, then she wouldn't have to worry about being cold. Lol I'd even have the plug end !!!
Yep in the country it is ...also many forests where wood has lain for years... so you're not breaking any laws taking it. That's what we used to do collect it ...and boy oh boy did we have plenty of wood. We also got is delivered to where we were moored in the summer and stock piled it for winter. Coal and wood. its amazing how much wood you can store in the engine room... lol
Why not just check the weather forecast to see the best day to move in terms of weather? Also flasks of tea, handwarmers and good coats and socks solve the problem of being cold. You both sound like you would prefer to be back on land, boating is an amazing way of life, maybe not for you?
Yes it would be best to move on a mild day, but there may be several weeks of snow/rain/cold wind. I think it is eaier to keep warm if one is moving around, but it is never going to be much fun in freezing rain no matter how many flasks of tea, I know I have sailed in winter with ski goggles and all the rest of it, and the mug of tea has big sploshes of sleet plopping in to it. I think they are just being pragmatic, they formerly had a flat in london, rented I think, which is often far from perfect. Given the choice, I think I prefer the outdoor life, but a wilting rose type person would run a mile. Last week it was fffrezing here for a week and I had the heating on full blast, I was glad I was in my flat, but I was bored!
I think they are just pointing out the practicalities of living on a boat that those with rose tinted glasses aren’t aware of. It’s still living in the U.K with U.K. weather.
What you are ignoring is the mooring time. They pay for roughly 2 weeks of mooring each time they moved. You can't just put of moving from the mooring spot when your time is up. And moving before it is is just wasted money. It is like keeping a leased car for a couple of days longer and expect not to pay premium for those extra days.
After watching a few of your films, you come across as a couple with plenty of money, that doesn't really need to be on the boat, but doing it because you can. From listening to you, it seems you have very limited knowledge of canal life and waterway laws and bylaws, boat maintenance etc etc. To be honest, you come across a bit up yourselves.
OMG didn't you think of these things before living on board? A narrowboat unheated is absolutely freezing in winter. I have lived in camper vans and currently I am living in a hobby touring caravan. Install a new combi heating system. Heat is the one most important thing and not just around the fire. Gas central heating is the best and installing a large bottle of gas... as big as you can. Ours is outside as it can be in a caravan. Also a good composting toilet (emphasis on the word good) is the best since its very simple to empty and can be emptied...anywhere where there is land and a green field.. By the time its ready to dump, its beneficial to the land and does not pollute. So I never feel bad about dumping it and spreading it in the countryside....Never. They end this video on a positive note but boy oh boy do they paint a bleak picture of living on a boat, when it really does not need to be bleak at all. I have to say I ended up giving up a bath and now enjoy a nice long shower with the introduction of my combi 6E central heating hot air system and hot water tank of 14litres. I can have a nice long shower. A bath I am not interested in. Of course knowing where one can get water is important but that comes with experience. As for the moment I am in a caravan i have access to mains electric and mains water so its all good. I found whilst in a boat, getting a winter mooring was easier than touring in winter. Summer time is the time for touring and winter time is the time for settling somewhere nice and snuggling in for the winter. That would be my recommendation for anyone considering moving into a narrowboat...get excellent heating installed and a good water heater...and all the rest is simple gravy.
Its good to show the problems, people enjoy watching it. Alan and Ayesha enjoy it very much! Watch a disney childrens film if you want it all to be all happy...
Not sure why you think so, if they are still on board, they have survived. Modern boats have better insulation. Liveaboard boats are different from "caravanning". Lots of people love it, but a lot of people [in london] see this as a cheap alternative to living in a room share in London.
Thanks for the video. It’s good a reality check and to hear the problems you face, and that not everything is always rosy. Ignore the ones that say you’re too negative, just because you talk about the problems and challenges of narrowboating doesn’t mean you don’t enjoy it overall.
Thanks for watching David! Its good to highlight problems as people think its an easy life. Alan and Ayesha love it!
I know a couple that is big into sailboats and spent many years on one. The concept intrigued me and I talked to the man about it -- he was very encouraging, said he could teach me everything I needed to know in just a few months and could easily get me into a decent boat with my available assets. Then I talked to the woman separately who was more engineering/practical minded like me and she pointed out the realities involved with living on a boat. My summary of her advice which she confirmed was accurate, was that boating is not something you do on a whim or as an escape from "rent" or "oppression" or whatever it is you think it will relieve you from, it is its own passion with obligations and issues. If it's your *passion* to be a boater, then onwards you go, but if it's simply an escape or a whim, then you should be VERY aware of the downsides.
And I think that's exactly what you're doing here with these videos -- dissuading people from their frivolous fancies which is very fair to do. Among the boating community is the saying -- the two happiest days in a man's life is the day he buys a boat and the day he sells the boat.
Thats beautiful Dario and i hope you are happy on your boat. Thanks for watching and all the best!
Too true!!
I've only had my boat for a few months so this is my first winter. I'm in a marina so it's not too grim but it is very different from a house or flat. I've wanted this for a long time so I'm committed to having an honest go and staying aboard for a couple of years before I make a permanent decision. I love having a wood fire to take the chill off and I've figured out that a fan back aft blowing cold air forward equalises the temperature rather well. I miss my big bathroom though. The joys of a long, hot shower can't be overstated. I like the idea that I use very little electricity, gas and diesel which means that because I use wood and charcoal, I'm doing my little bit by not burning as much fossil fuel. I'm also becoming painfully aware of the amount of plastic that I and the others in the marina throw away. I'm working on that one.
Thanks Dennis, hope your enjoying your boat. Unbelievable the amount of plastic we waste. Enjoy your boat and all the best!
By the look on your faces ,i can see you made the right decision.
My wife and I just got back to Australia after spending a month on a narrowboat,
we had that experience and loved it.
Its very beautiful on the boat and yes Ian , they do love it!
Well done for pointing out the not such pleasant aspects.
Always good to look at both sides
First thing to do when you buy a narrow boat, strip everything out, and line the whole boat with 6'' / 150mm of ''cellotex'' or similar POLYURETHANE insulation, NOT polystyrene, which only has half the insulation value.
Then double glaze all windows and insulate all doors. It will pay for itself in two winters, from reduced heating costs.
Sounds like a great plan niklar! Very good!
In the old days when freight was moved by narrow boat in winter you always see the captain of a narrow boat standing inside a set of closed doors due to the cold. Just below the steerer and to his left is the rear cabin stove keeping him nice and warm. Note that they always wear a long tail navy pea coat for warmth.
A hand saw or better yet a lithium ion battery powered chain saw makes cutting wood you come across is dead right simple. A nice crosscut hand saw, a small axe for splitting kindling makes it very easy to get free wood from along the canal.
Consider if your stove has firebrick in it using anthracite as it is considerably cheaper due to longer burning times and burns smoke free. Not if you have a Mo so Squirrel stove with a back boiler to feed the radiators your heat is spread throughout the boat rather evenly. I don't know if your boat has the original style rear boatmans cabin but that's where you discover just how small a space you really need to live in. And boatman and the wife's raised upwards of 5 kids in that small space.
You have a tub in your boat? Ohhh! Luxury! Figure out how many gallons or liters it holds and install a gravity tank with roughly 5 gallons a more than the tub capacity. A gravity single pipe would allow you to drain it and you heat it by a loop of copper pipe around the stoves exhaust pipe which heats the water by convection. Naturally tank is open to the atmosphere dumping overboard if it gets too hot. This would necessitate a third water valve for the tub but I don't think the Lady of the boat would complain. Cheaper to burn firewood than diesel for hot water or anthracite aka hard coal. My neighbor heats his house with had coal hand fired and averages near 20 hours before having to add fuel to the stove.
Cheers! And enjoy as there are many ways to reduce your costs. While full timing on a narrow boat.
I've lived on a boat for 15 years and always get same questions. Q1. Don't you get cold.? A. It's called a fire. Q2. Don't you get damp? A. I live in the boat, not under it. I find most people who move onto boats that are natural wimps should stay in the brick boxes. More room for the real people not dreamers.
My favourite type of holiday. Coming from daily stress. Constant rush.
Get to the boat. Stand by the tiller. Concentrate on what you do at 3 miles per hour.
it's a a great feeling sailing on a canal. I enjoy my visits to the boat, so peaceful and relaxing
Great video, and in particularly the honest approach to living today on a narrow boat with its ups and downs, thank you, regards Mark ,Cromer .Northfolk
Thanks Mark and sorry for the late response! Appreciate your comment and watching!
Interesting and very honest I must say - think I would be looking for natural wood on towpaths tho - but I guess it takes a while to dry - thank you for great video!
Great video and so accurate. I'm a leisure boater and my boat is in the boatyard for a few repairs and a repaint and I'm still worrying about frozen pipes! Living on a boat in the winter must be a huge challenge and that probably adds to the adventure but only if you are able to cope with it. Thanks for painting such real picture of life on a narrowboat and lovely to see more of your partner.
Thanks Sylvia, glad you enjoyed the video, more of Ayesha coming soon.
Utter rubbish, we live on a 60 foot boat and have done for 20 years and it was never cold, only ever dressed in T shirts and only ever had a 4 tog duvet on the bed the bathroom at the furthest point from the fire was always warm enough. Our motto is we may live on a boat but we ain't camping and at 73 years old we have been successful in living up to that motto.
Phik
yes but there are stoves and stoves and some people are naturally cold people , so yes so feel cold those people need an aga , i know like 5 people have an aga and it heats their water boat and cooks it burns the same amount of fule its better for cold people
www.modernstoves.co.uk/range-cookers.html
www.modernstoves.co.uk/range-cookers/condor-multi-fuel-range-cooker-with-back-boiler-59.html
Ah Phil, I'm not on a narrow boat, (would love the experience though) but I am an experienced camper, (self sufficient that is) Despite my wife continually complaining of being cold, I have never felt that way. We have heaters, lpg or wood, we even have hot showers, 10 liters per person, refilled every three days. It's all about experience and ensuring you deal with ALL the issues.
@@jitaamesuluma9730 if people are natural mard arses then don't live on a boat.
I like this, stops others wanting to live or use the canals. Keep it up!
I do wonder if that's their motive
Hi guys, I have only just started to watch your videos, before I have watched some of the others and have to admit that they are for the most part a little to "Rosey" for want of a better word. That said I am just blown away with your honesty and courage to talk about REAL life on a narrow boat. Totally different from the rest. Totally aussum, I shall subscribe with alerts you I don't want to miss. Anyway prattled on for too long, wishing you a happy Christmas and a safe and happy New year. look forward to your posts.
I had one and was on it for three years, loved it but the wife fell out with it. Lost a lot of money as house prices had shot up. Always speak up if you really don't want to do it rather than go along with it. We were never cold on ours but a wide beam is better, narrow beams are like confines and you don't need one unless your doing the narrow canals. It takes weeks to go what takes hours on the road so cruising is limited so if you are on wide canals look how far you have to go to get to narrow cuts and decide, do i have the time to get there? I had two weeks holiday and covered twenty miles, bear in in mind I had to get back.
very interesting. we bought a Narrowboat second hand ten years ago - a lot of pleasure and a lot of work. However we have a son 29 who has the same passion as us for Narrowboating and as he eventually will have it - he has taken great interest in keeping on top of everything - so we are lucky as we both, are 60 now but on saying that - it keeps us fit!
Well that is handy and certainly does keep the fit. Thanks for watching.
What happens if you're due to move on day 14 and the whole canal is frozen up? Are you allowed to stay longer?
You have a duel fuel fire and diesel heating, so how can your bathroom be that cold? No radiator in there?
They have radiators, but it does get cold down that end.
I thought that too ...they must not use the central heating which to me is silly since why have it if your not using it. I can honestly say we were never cold on our narrow boat...only if we ran out of gas and we solved that issue by connection an automatic cross over to a new bottle whilst replacing the now finished one...so we never woke up to the boat cold...it was toasty warm I have to say. Also we purchased a boat that had been insulated really well. This is the key to warmth ...insulation.
Not sure why you would want to stop in London. You don't have to wait till day 14 to move, if it's sunny on day 12 move then!
very true, but London is very nice to stay in, a great vibrant city.
Exactly. I would move always on a sunny day...like you say you do not have to leave it to the last day. If one is touring one would one anyway?
Thank you so much for your honesty its made me think realisticly ..... i may just hire once a year x
honestly if you have the right set up you will not be cold , not on a narrow boat but it does involve money ,a good stove can heat water and cook these days and if you are cold your stove is not big enough , tbh you do not have to have a big aga there are smaller stoves
www.modernstoves.co.uk/duo-multi-fuel-cooker-stove-161.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwm-fkBRBBEiwA966fZJElLLmzeTryBvapH28FLHFJpjRS_zCzRAdoRqd1cj9RF3XH3jMkbhoCce8QAvD_BwE
yup i know this is serious money but you will have hot water heat the whole boat and cook for the same fuel from then on www.modernstoves.co.uk/range-cookers/condor-multi-fuel-range-cooker-with-back-boiler-59.html
Very, very informative. thank you.
Hi 'Z'. Lots of folk are suggesting youre negative and boating isnt for you. I get the impression that you love boating but highlighting the pitfalls for others ;-)
exactly right! boating is amazing, but just like life, its good to show people it ain't all roses!
Narrowboaters and people who just live aboard in London and other cities, for a cheap way to live, are two completely different things. Looking at the state of many of the boats, you can see they dont care about them. Not sure where they all pump out, as many have not moved for years and are rust buckets. You wouldn't catch me swimming in the waters for sure.:)
Thanks for the information!
Very good comments and honest too!!!! I built a narrow boat in the 90s and had to sell it because it was sunken once by the negligence of the canal company and as a result I could not leave it unattended. I absolutely loved my boat it was a home from home. Still hurts that I had to sell her she was called Tinkerbell and was 38 foot long. If you know of this boa it would be nice to find out where she ended up. Happy days. Oh! she was built by Arnold and PIckwell in Yorkshire.
well done for building a boat! sounds amazing! Thanks and all the best!
If you don't have a couple of wood saws get some and when cruising the cut and you spot branches down along side the canal grab it and cut it up to fit your stove. If you see pallets out by the street from businesses grab em. Pallets are generally dried wood and hardwood to boot making the burn very easily. Your stove is it a Morse squirrel? If it is did you know you can add a water heater to the rear of the stove that connects to your radiator heating system thereby making it easier to heat the entire boat from one heat source.
Cheers!
Very good review of more common winter points. On the narrow boat.
Thankyou Derrick!
Great to see someone putting people off....more room for me! I'm off to the engine bay now to try and remove a sheared bolt from the alternator so we dan move, we are currently overstaying the 14 days for repairs (with C&RT blessing).
Always something to fix on a boat and it costs twice as much to do most things on a boat compared to dry land.
Hi, what made you take out the Pump out Toilet? Great vid again guys
Did you mention condensation? Thats the biggest problem I have on my boat during winter.
check out the new video
I didn't really notice condensation as a problem. I mostly let the fire go out while i was at work and started it when I returned so the inside went from 10-20c most days. I also don't like burning damp coal and wood so I let it dry inside. I expected more condensation but it was fine.
So honest. . I'm sure that the freedom of no rent / mortgage negates the luxury of NO HOT BATH. ... TUFF for a girl I reckon... but THEIR LIVE FOR EACH OTHER WILL SEE THEM HAPPY & CONTENT.... GREAT VIDEO....
Thanks John, we have some great videos coming up. They love living on a narrowboat, but always good to reveal the not so pretty moments!
You need to live in Ireland the canals are pretty much empty compared to the UK.
derrick they are empty on most the canal network but going on looking for a mooring in one of the most congested cities in europe is always gonna be a task. they were moaning for moanings sake on that one.
what about safety? Would you not be extremely vulnerable to criminal elements?
That's always been my concern. Easy targets for theft when moored up and nobody's at home.
I like your straight forward approach about living on a canal boat. I have watched several videos on you-tube on canal boating and it seems to me that a common thing is heating the boat and the extra costs during winter. It strikes me that this problem should be tackled during the build of the craft as most canal boats are steel it must cause a lot of problems in this area. Obviously there are several types of insulation but non that I have seen seem to solve this problem, of course condensation on steel is a major problem I suppose. The extra cost in the winter should be put into the annual overall costs of operating the craft and then psychologically it will not stand out so much.
Thanks, heating is a big one, but they fitted and extra heater in the back now. I will film a tour of there boat at somepoint :)
Having lived in the same 3 bed semi for the last 30 years and still not got around to installing central heating I’m not too concerned about keeping warm inside but standing on the stern in a chilling and wet wind is another thing - I have heard say that a trad stern is better for winter cruising as it almost envelops the poor sod at the tiller and keeps at least the bottom half protected - not sure how true this might be
thanks Martin, your'll certainly save some money. Will pass that on about the trad stern.
Bang on!!! Why doesent everyone do that. I retire early soon and hope to do the same.........
Never mind,our heating bill is £100 per week to heat our bungalow!However,I have every sympathy for you to spend so much just to keep warm.Anyway,you do have a wonderful freedom which we don't have.!'m sure thousands would love your life.Good on you.
The first review which isnt rose tinted. We all know how lovely the canal network is, living on it in winter seems like a completely different ball game. So, thanks.....;-)
Certainly is! appreciate your comments
Thankyou for this honest video, please do more, could you do one on calculating the costs and also working on the boat as in earning money? Thankyou x
I will be explaining this in an upcoming video, all the best!
well see some of the canal boat owners have put an aga and it heats your boat and it heats your water and it cooks , they make sense to invest in and now they do one called an uno, its called uno cos its one burner on top and one oven and one fire pit , the burner holds two pans though , as for wood well most of the people round here just collect wood free , we live in nottinghashire/derbyshire/lincolnshire , plenty of free wood , just start collecting it in summer dry it then cover it , their tops are full of wood by autumn ready , some buy coal for night , to keep the fire going till they wake but burn wood all day ,
www.cast-iron-range-cookers.co.uk/products/heritage-uno-cookers.html, mostly not seen these they are very expensive but i have seen old aga cookers and those people are never cold
So if you were living in a house would you not have loads of winter heating expences.
Of course it costs more to keep warm in Winter
Standing on the stern getting cold is why I would have a Trad boat to live on - with a stove right next to you, and you can even close the back doors behind you. Stoves right at the front your main cabin are a bad idea too - although a fan on top of it can help - I think people put them there as a last thought.
I think that it is difficult to get a boat that ticks evry box, I have decided that I won't be standing for hours on the stern, in winter, just move on short journeys, maybe take a mooring with elecricity for a few months in winter.
I kinda decided a semi trad is best, as I can store dry firewood and coal, and a bike. and I reject cruisers as I hate their pram hoods and such a waste of inside space.
I enjoy the cold, so when i go on and film them, i rather like it. But thanks for your input Peter, i will pass this on. Thanks!
Love the honesty x
always from the heart
There’s plenty of wood along the canal use that
very true!
I think I'd be tempted to look into some sort of remote controls for the tiller and throttle! Then.perhaps you could sit in the bow - behind a bit of cover and in the warm! I also wonder ow well insulated is your particular boat? 'CruisingTheCut' talks about his boat being toasty and warm. But her has central-heating in addition to his wood/coal stove...
Thanks for watching Richardf. Heating is alot better on there boat now, i will be doing an update soon
Sounds like you really need to sort out heating for your boat.
They have another heater out the back now, and it gets like furnace on there!
these people own a narrowboat but they will never be boaters they moan and whinge. hopefully I won't meet them on the cut
Wow, feeling for you in the cold. I wear my thermals in the house in the winter plus two layers of fleece on top! like you I just have a coal fire for heating. Could you run any rads from your stove? Especially a teeny one into the bathroom?! All the best for the coming cold
Thanks Momma hil, i will pass that on! all the best!
Wouldnt say its bussy in london some parts yes same ewerywhere i work next to limehousecut and is quite empty. But yeah winter ots harsh i know what u mean about toilet :D
London is great, people have mixed views as it can be harsh contrast to the country, but its all good!
Ohh dear it sounds that you seriously need to return to your nest in Mayfair after such a terrible experience!!!
If they don’t check up on the people who don’t have a licence why would they check up on you especially in the winter
I think that has effectively convinced most people of not living on a narrowboat. I think its all fair comment. But compared to the working boatmen its pure luxury.
but the canals are full up in London!
If you don't like the countryside and history and like cruising there are many people cruising on little financing and would change it you don't souñd suitable
Great video, your a lovely couple.
Why are you living on a narrowboat then? I live on a narrowboat .. Where do you buy your coal and wood as I pay half what you do.,,Never buy it from a marina or petrol station. Put a couple of vents in the wall of the bathroom near the roof. Heat rises so the warm air will pass into the bathroom. My bathroom is not cold. forget about those silly fan things....don't work.Make sure the boat is well insulated..don't waste heat keeping the ducks warm.Lastly why cruise in bad weather...wait for a bright day, you don't have to wait 14 days...we never have bad weather for 14 days every day...Bath??? ok I only have a shower, but my friend and I heat water with a gas boiler...so as long as you have the water and the gas then no problem with how much you fill the bath....My gas lasts about 3 wks in the winter ( cooking and water heating )My boat is a 60ft cruiser stern...Believe me I need to open a window in winter as it can get to warm.The loo?? pump out for me every time, Oh well....happy boating guys.
Thanks for your feedback, be great for you to show us how your working your boat. All the best!
How MUCH do you want FOR THE boat ?
The lady certainly likes her baths.
I wouldn't mind sharing a bath with her, then she wouldn't have to worry about being cold. Lol
I'd even have the plug end !!!
@@waiata216
Haha, you are so Funny
Why don't you send your wife or girlfriend over to me, and then we will see who is the Gay one !!!
thanks for watching, you guys are funny!
Me too, straight after you......
You lucky dog,
Spending your time with that object of desire...........
you were remiss in forgetting that not enough space for a helipad must be a significant downside.
forgot about that one Phenogen :) :)
What about snakes sneaking aboard?!
The government should heat the canal
Trump is doing his best.
to funny, underfloor canal heating? haha! Not sure what trump is doing, but somethings happening!
🤣 oh yes please .....
You guys are pretty cute. Love from Dallas TX
Why are you buying wood , the towpath is full of it
Yep in the country it is ...also many forests where wood has lain for years... so you're not breaking any laws taking it. That's what we used to do collect it ...and boy oh boy did we have plenty of wood. We also got is delivered to where we were moored in the summer and stock piled it for winter. Coal and wood. its amazing how much wood you can store in the engine room... lol
Why not just check the weather forecast to see the best day to move in terms of weather? Also flasks of tea, handwarmers and good coats and socks solve the problem of being cold. You both sound like you would prefer to be back on land, boating is an amazing way of life, maybe not for you?
Yes it would be best to move on a mild day, but there may be several weeks of snow/rain/cold wind.
I think it is eaier to keep warm if one is moving around, but it is never going to be much fun in freezing rain no matter how many flasks of tea, I know I have sailed in winter with ski goggles and all the rest of it, and the mug of tea has big sploshes of sleet plopping in to it.
I think they are just being pragmatic, they formerly had a flat in london, rented I think, which is often far from perfect.
Given the choice, I think I prefer the outdoor life, but a wilting rose type person would run a mile.
Last week it was fffrezing here for a week and I had the heating on full blast, I was glad I was in my flat, but I was bored!
Lifes an adventure and Alan and Ayesha enjoy that! I think they are very suited to boating life and they love it. Thanks for your comments.
I think they are just pointing out the practicalities of living on a boat that those with rose tinted glasses aren’t aware of. It’s still living in the U.K with U.K. weather.
What you are ignoring is the mooring time. They pay for roughly 2 weeks of mooring each time they moved. You can't just put of moving from the mooring spot when your time is up. And moving before it is is just wasted money. It is like keeping a leased car for a couple of days longer and expect not to pay premium for those extra days.
Lots of moans!!!! You can’t beat winter cruising.
yes winter cruising is great
I know right...wow if they hate it that much then sell and go to land again!
Townies!! baths in general should be banned, waste of a very valuable resource.....
Move the fire to the other end of the saloon
Or have it in the middle.
I think insulation is the problem here, older boat, less insulation.
They have built a stove, will be in upcoming videos
If it is that bad. Why do it.
LINK THE BATH WATER TO THE FIRE WITH A BACK BOILER
Will pass on, cheers
Woods free
:)
It's England haha cold is what it is sell it and be happy lol
Alan and Ayesha love it and they enjoy the adventure
After watching a few of your films, you come across as a couple with plenty of money, that doesn't really need to be on the boat, but doing it because you can. From listening to you, it seems you have very limited knowledge of canal life and waterway laws and bylaws, boat maintenance etc etc. To be honest, you come across a bit up yourselves.
If you do not like living on a narrow boat buy a house
thanks, thats a breakthrough idea!
Seen your solar panels, but burning diesel, coal and wood, doesn't sound very environmentally friendly. 🙄
OMG didn't you think of these things before living on board? A narrowboat unheated is absolutely freezing in winter. I have lived in camper vans and currently I am living in a hobby touring caravan. Install a new combi heating system. Heat is the one most important thing and not just around the fire. Gas central heating is the best and installing a large bottle of gas... as big as you can. Ours is outside as it can be in a caravan. Also a good composting toilet (emphasis on the word good) is the best since its very simple to empty and can be emptied...anywhere where there is land and a green field.. By the time its ready to dump, its beneficial to the land and does not pollute. So I never feel bad about dumping it and spreading it in the countryside....Never. They end this video on a positive note but boy oh boy do they paint a bleak picture of living on a boat, when it really does not need to be bleak at all. I have to say I ended up giving up a bath and now enjoy a nice long shower with the introduction of my combi 6E central heating hot air system and hot water tank of 14litres. I can have a nice long shower. A bath I am not interested in. Of course knowing where one can get water is important but that comes with experience. As for the moment I am in a caravan i have access to mains electric and mains water so its all good. I found whilst in a boat, getting a winter mooring was easier than touring in winter. Summer time is the time for touring and winter time is the time for settling somewhere nice and snuggling in for the winter. That would be my recommendation for anyone considering moving into a narrowboat...get excellent heating installed and a good water heater...and all the rest is simple gravy.
Gas central heating is outrageously expensive compared to coal and wood
Thanks for your comments and watching, there'll be an upcoming video on this, Alan and Ayesha now have two heaters, all will be explained!
H
Get electric. and wiñter moorin matter
Christ stop moaning,if you dont like it dont do it.ah the wind and rain.You not cut out fir outdoors life style.
Its good to show the problems, people enjoy watching it. Alan and Ayesha enjoy it very much! Watch a disney childrens film if you want it all to be all happy...
Waaaaaaaaaaaaah
I don't think the lady should live on a narrow boat all negative sorry use back boiler
thanks for letting us know, but Ayesha loves it!
This couple are obviously lacking the strength of character necessary for living afloat.
Not sure why you think so, if they are still on board, they have survived. Modern boats have better insulation. Liveaboard boats are different from "caravanning". Lots of people love it, but a lot of people [in london] see this as a cheap alternative to living in a room share in London.