Category: Boating

I’ve lived afloat for nearly 14 years, on two different boats. I’ve experienced live aboard life whilst moving around the system, off grid, and on a static mooring with facilities. I enjoy living on my boat and wouldn’t change it for the world. Here are a few things I wish I’d known before living on a canal boat.

1. Keeping up with boat chores takes as much time as a part time job

Even more so if you are moving around and need to find a new mooring every couple of weeks. There are so many extra jobs that you need to do to maintain and run a boat. For example, collecting and moving fuel, filling your water tanks and emptying toilet tanks. A fairly significant chunk of your time will be devoted to these daily tasks, so it’s important to think about how this will affect your life.

2. Small jobs become big jobs

All the systems on a boat are connected. If one thing fails, it’s likely to cascade and affect lots of other systems. If you have no power, then as well as no lights you’ll also have no water pumps. So it’s a good idea to have two methods of heating water, two ways to heat the boat, and several ways to charge your batteries!

3. Living on a canal boat needs Systems planning

How will you use the boat – will it match with existing systems? There is no standard way of setting up the systems you need to live comfortably on a boat. Decisions about heating and plumbing need to take into account whether the boat will be off grid or not, and whether it will be moving or in one place for days at a time.

For example, a boat that spends a lot of time in a marina and connected to mains power will likely have systems that rely heavily on electricity. Take that same boat off grid and you may struggle with hot water and space heating because these systems rely on power-hungry pumps. If hot water is generated by running the engine and stored in a tank, this is fine if you’re moving every day. However, if you’re in one place for days you may wish you had an instant gas water heater that doesn’t need you to run the engine.

4. It is possible to lose things on a boat

I imagined I would become some kind of minimalist with only useful possessions. However, I was never a minimalist before I moved aboard and after 14 years we have accumulated a lot of stuff. On the flip side it’s entirely possible to have a library on a boat!

5. Living on a canal boat takes some Defending

You’ll learn that you need to defend your lifestyle all the time and on several fronts. You’ll need to defend your decisions to friends and family but also to the various authorities we all need to interact with. Our way of life is not always well understood and I have spent a lot of time in meetings with local authorities advocating for the rights of my community. That said, I’ve made firm friends through campaigning and learned a lot along the way.

6. Having ‘No Fixed Abode’ is really annoying

Even if you have a mooring, many boaters don’t have an address the same way as land dwellers do. I spent a decade without an address and it affected me in so many annoying ways. Everything needs a postcode these days and many boaters end up struggling to vote as a result. I got by with two different addresses for different purposes. One in another county that a family member kindly let me use for “official” things. And another when I actually needed to get something delivered or show a local connection. Even now, on a full residential mooring with a post box, it took months of letters and phone calls to add our boat to Royal Mail’s official address list.

7. Setting a fire to keep in overnight is an art form

There is a certain timeless fulfilment that comes from heating your home all winter using wood and coal. But on a chilly night when you’ve run out of kindling and firelighters, and the coal is in a heavy wet bag on the cabin top, you do envy those with central heating. Actually I do now have central heating on our boat. But like everything with boats it’s never simple. You have to make sure there’s enough power to run the heating pumps and enough diesel (or HVO) in the tank. The answer to the eternal question that boaters get asked by land dwellers “does it get cold in winter?” is YES, but only if the fire goes out.

8. Living on a canal boat makes you feel like you’ve become public property

Spending time moored on the country’s network of navigable waterways, you often find yourself passing through tourist hotspots and holiday destinations. The sight of boats adds to the colour and vibrancy of the area. Which is great, and it’s quite satisfying to be living (for a few days at least) somewhere that other people visit for fun. Until those people start climbing on to your boat to take selfies, or asking you if you offer boat trips!

9. It isn’t always cheaper than living on land

It can be, especially in cities like London but licence, fuel and maintenance costs add up. Then there may also be loan repayments and mooring fees to consider. Boat breakdowns can also be unexpected and very expensive to repair. But with my mooring fees, council tax (which is sometimes payable depending on the mooring), fuel and maintenance it’s about the same as renting or paying a mortgage on a small place on land in a similar area.

10. Living on a canal boat Is more than a lifestyle

Living afloat has become more then a lifestyle for me, it’s an identity – I feel part of a community of people who support each other, and I love how close I am to the changing seasons and to wildlife. When I am in the kitchen, maybe preparing some food to share with my neighbours, I might look out and see one of the resident pair of cormorants diving into the water. And I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

Winterising your boat is particularly important if you plan to leave it moored up for the duration. But even if you’re using your boat in winter, it’s worth giving your boat an annual once-over.

Maintaining your boat externally and internally will keep your boat looking at its best, extend the life of its engine and other parts, and minimise any damage that could occur over the winter.

Have a checklist

It is a good idea to create a checklist before you start to ensure nothing is missed. With different boat sizes and types, come different systems to check. If your boat has a service manual, reading through it will help with tasks such as replacing fluids and parts properly. Information on winterising your boat should be provided in the section either called ‘lay up’, ‘cold weather’ or ‘extended storage’. Things to add to your checklist might include:

• Gather all tools and new parts, fluids to use to winterise your boat.
• Take out kitchenware, linen, blankets to wash and remove any food (if not using your boat over the winter.)
• Clean the inside of your boat
• Change the engine oil and replace oil filters
• Drain the coolant system and fill half water and the other half with antifreeze.
• Disconnect and clean the batteries
• Flush out the toilet with water and pump out the holding tank
• Drain and leave the freshwater tank empty (if not using your boat over the winter.)
• Drain and put antifreeze in radiators and sealed heating systems
• Allow air to circulate inside the boat.

Winterising your boat Tools & parts

Gather together all the new parts that may need replacing for example impellers, oil filters, and air filters etc. Make sure you have all the fluids that need replacing such as oil, anti-freeze and corrosion inhibitor.

Cleaning Inside the Boat

If you are not using your boat over the winter season, take out any kitchenware to wash, empty the icebox and wash linens or blankets so that when you return to your boat in the spring there won’t be any nasty smells or moulds. Remember to remove any food or anything else that may attract rodents.

When everything has been cleared, clean the inside of the boat from the floor to the cupboards and even down in the bilge.

Cleaning Outside the Boat

Give your boat a good clean on the outside; getting rid of any vegetation and mould. Afterwards inspect your boat’s exterior checking for any damage or leaks. If anything is found get this checked by an expert.

Winterising Your Engine

This task will take the longest and will be messy. If you have been using your boat during the summer it is likely there will be a build up of by-products, water and acid which can lead to corrosion. Changing the oil is therefore important to decrease the chance of loss of power, poor fuel economy or engine failure.

Change your engine oil and replace the filters and it is also a good time to drain out the cooling system with clean water and fill up the antifreeze halfway and the other half fill up with water.

Thoroughly grease the steering and control parts, working into the joints and check it all moves easily.

Batteries

Disconnect the batteries and give them a clean because they can be expensive to replace. Some boat owners take the batteries away with them to charge over the winter others choose to leave them out in the boat fully charged. Some boats may need the batteries kept in for the bilge pump to continue operating.

Plumbing

Flush out the toilet with water and then pump out the holding tank.

Before flushing your fresh water tank, pull the circuit breaker or remove the freshwater pump fuse. Some freshwater tanks come with a drain on the bottom or a filter close to the water pump allowing the tank to drain out water. You may want to add some non-toxic antifreeze directly through the water tank and plumbing. If you are leaving your boat for the winter leave the fresh water systems drained down and empty.

Antifreeze

When winterising your boat, don’t forget to drain and put antifreeze in all radiators, air conditioning pumps, sump pumps and bilge pumps.

Leaving the Boat

It’s worth checking whether there are any liquids in containers around that may burst when frozen.

Remember to open any internal doors to allow air to circulate inside you may also want to add any moisture and odour absorbers just before you close up the boat.

Check your boat regularly

If you are away from your boat during the winter don’t forget to regularly check everything is ok with your boat as this will minimise the chances of any serious damage occurring over the winter, should something go wrong.

Things to check include:

• Making sure the engine is working and if needed, charge the batteries.
• Make sure the covers haven’t moved and that the boat is watertight.
• Ensure the mooring ropes are secure and loose enough for fluctuation in water levels when the boat is left unattended.
• Remove any build up of rainwater and leaves, clear any cockpit, handrail or well-deck drains
• Check the bilge pump is working.

Top Tip

When winterising your boat for the first time, why not make a note of what tools and equipment you have used during the process to make it easier next year.

The Inland Waterways Association celebrated its 75th anniversary year at Perdiswell Park in Worcester. The IWA Festival of Water during the August Bank Holiday weekend attracted thousands of eager visitors keen to join in the fun.

Close to 100 boats moored along the towpath for the festival. Traditional working boats and modern narrowboats decked with bunting, flags and flowers attracted a constant stream of admirers.

Visitors also enjoyed the Worcester heritage walk, following the waterways from the centre of Worcester to Perdiswell Park. This included a short length of the River Severn, Diglis Docks and the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.

Children had plenty to do in the ‘Find it Do it’ Worcester arena, ‘Wild over Waterways’ marquee and Victorian funfair. The quality of delicious food – from pizzas and doughnuts to stew and irresistible duck fat roasted potatoes – was excellent. The sun brought out queues of people to sample the real ale. Likewise artists in the Entertainments marquee, including local groups, played to full houses.

A fitting celebration

Councillor Adrian Gregson, Deputy Mayor of the City of Worcester, opened the festival on Saturday. He said he was delighted to welcome The Inland Waterways Association back to the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, where its formation was first mooted just a few miles away at Tardebigge. Since then, many hundreds of miles of waterways have been restored by the 75 years of campaigning work of IWA.

Volunteers worked tirelessly for the past two years to put on this event – despite it having to be cancelled in 2020 owing to Covid. Paul Rodgers, National Chair of IWA, said: “I am extremely grateful to the team at Worcester City Council for their unwavering support, to the caterers and stall holders who held the faith and to all the volunteers who gave their time and put in so much effort to ensuring the event was such a success.”

Castle Mills Lock – that gives access to the River Foss from the River Ouse in the centre of York – is reopen. Volunteers from IWA and River Foss Society once again now operate the lock.

The first pleasure boat through the lock since 2018, ‘Slipstream’, was a 16ft Norfolk crab boat. Castle Mills Lock is open thanks to the determination of local volunteers and the expertise of IWA. The new formal agreement between City of York Council, the navigation authority, and IWA means that volunteers can again operate the lock.

You can book a passage through Castle Mills Lock. (At least 2 days notice is needed).

Following an IWA campaign cruise in 2004, trained volunteers operated Castle Mills Lock on the River Foss. Thanks to a new formal arrangement in 2020, volunteers from IWA and the River Foss Society received training to operate the lock. However, the pandemic and two long stoppages on the lower river delayed the reopening. Further training took place in early August 2021 ahead of the York Walls Festival.

The River Foss up to Wormalds Cut is a recent addition to our Silver Propeller Challenge. The challenge aims to get more people out on the water and enjoy the far-flung reaches of the wonderful waterways.

1. An important industrial heritage

Our canals and rivers tell the story of Britain’s industrial past.

The 7000 miles of waterways are home to 2700+ listed structures, 70 listed ancient monuments and 5 UNESCO world heritage sites. Many are in conservation areas. Yet there are still stretches of waterway and buildings which have no protection at all.

The heritage of each waterway is unique to that canal or river, as each canal company found a different way to design their infrastructure.

2. It’s not a museUm

Britain’s canal and river heritage is not in a museum. Our waterways are a vast, open air network connecting city and countryside, alive with boats and enjoyed by millions.

Moreover, no other heritage system is as widespread or as accessible as the inland waterways. Anyone can walk along a canal in one of many cities and towns across Britain and help to operate a 200 year old lock mechanism with no training – just an enthusiasm to get stuck in and push a balance beam!

3. Good for economic growth

Canal regeneration is a catalyst for economic growth in previously deprived, urban areas. Canal and river heritage alongside the natural world can also give a much-needed boost to rural areas.

Similarly, the waterways tourism industry is thriving like never before. Because of environmental, health and financial reasons, many more people are choosing to holiday in Britain instead of abroad.

4. Better quality of life

Canals and rivers create green routes through cities and towns, supporting wildlife and improving the mental and physical health of everyone who lives beside them.

Heritage contributes to how good people feel about the places they live and their quality of life.

5. It builds communities

Our surroundings contribute to our ideas about who we are, where we live and how we feel about our local community.

Canal and river heritage builds communities around buildings, landscapes or cultural traditions and memories. It is vital we preserve this heritage for the future.

Keeping the use of red diesel for both private and commercial boats is fantastic news for the inland waterways. IWA has lobbied government about this issue for many years and it will be very much welcomed by boat owners, freight operators, boatyards and waterway-based fuel suppliers.

This is a successful outcome of our campaigning for many years around the use of red diesel and taxation. The only disappointment is that the Chancellor has not so far recognised the significance of alternative fuels with any form of tax break. Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) – identified by the IWA Sustainable Propulsion Group as a drop-in replacement for mineral diesel – is currently sold at around a £0.10 premium over its fossil fuel equivalent. At over 90% carbon neutral, its use can reposition inland boating close to the target carbon neutral goal.

The announcement in the Chancellor’s Budget of 3rd March coincided with the publication of the conclusion of last year’s Treasury consultation into the use of red diesel. It confirms that the current arrangement for private boat owners will continue. This means they can use red diesel and pay their fuel supplier the difference between the red diesel and white diesel rates on the proportion they intend to use for propulsion.

The document also confirms that all commercial boat operating industries will be able to continue to use red diesel. This is great news for inland waterways freight and getting more traffic off the roads.

The decision overturns the announcement from HMRC last July, which stated that privately owned pleasure craft would not be able to use red diesel from April 2022. Boat owners will welcome this change of plan, along with boatyards and boat-based fuel suppliers who would have had to invest in new equipment.

More details can be found in the government’s response document

TUNNELS – THE BASICS

Due to the history of the canal network that we have today, most currently navigable canal tunnels fall within Canal & River Trust’s jurisdiction.  There are exceptions however, such as on the Grand Western Canal, the Monmouthshire Canal and on waterways in Scotland.

Canal tunnels vary in length and width. Some can be very short, such as Dunsley on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal which is just 23 metres.  Alternatively they can be very long indeed such as Standedge and Dudley tunnels, at 5000 metres and 2900 metres respectively, where special arrangements are in place to allow passage. Some longer canal tunnels have one-way working systems, where passing two boats isn’t possible.  On the other hand, some, where they are wide enough, allow two way passage at any time.

Lifejackets (personal flotation devices)

We strongly recommend the wearing of lifejackets or buoyancy aids when travelling through tunnels, in any type of boat. All users of unpowered boats should wear a lifejacket. The skippers of powered craft are strongly advised to do so, particularly if travelling through single handed.

If a person falls in the water whilst travelling through a tunnel, the darkness will be disorientating in addition to the shock from the cold water. Tunnels also give added issues surrounding access and rescue. A buoyancy aid will help keep you keep yourself afloat. A properly fitted life jacket is designed to turn your body over and keep your face clear of the water, even if you are unconscious or injured.

SINGLE AND TWO WAY WORKING THROUGH TUNNELS

Single way working

In some tunnels you are unlikely to encounter an oncoming boat unless one of you has ignored the lights or signs!  Examples include Foulridge on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, which has a traffic light system, or Preston Brook and Saltersford tunnels on the Trent & Mersey Canal, which have timed periods for boats entering at either end.  On waterways where wide beam boats are more common, for example in London, one-way working needs to be in place.  This is true even if the tunnels are wide enough for two narrowboats to pass each other, as the boat coming the other way may be wider than 7ft.

Two way working

Many canal tunnels permit two way unrestricted passage, allowing narrowboats to pass in the tunnel.  Signage at the tunnel entrance will indicate whether two way passage is allowed, or whether there are time restrictions on entering.  When the tunnel is short and straight enough to see all the way through you simply need to wait for the tunnel to be clear.
Note: Passage by boats wider than 7 feet through tunnels which normally have two way working, needs to be arranged in advance with the navigation authority. With the increase of wide beam boats, particularly on the Grand Union Canal, there is an increase in cases of the tunnel being closed to other traffic to allow an authorised passage. The number of incidents of meeting wide beam boats in tunnels where permission has not been obtained is also on the increase.

ADVICE TO SKIPPERS OF POWERED CRAFT

All boaters should take great care and keep a good lookout when navigating tunnels.  Beware catching up the boat in front of you, and make sure to look out for any unpowered craft that may be using the tunnel.
A boat’s tunnel light should not be aimed straight ahead but slightly up to illuminate the roof so as to not blind the steerer of on-coming boats.
Users of powered boats should carefully read the noticeboard at the tunnel entrance for any specific instructions, and to find out whether unpowered craft are allowed to enter.
Except where two-way working is the general practice, wait until the tunnel is clear of other boats before entering.  Alternatively abide by the instructions of traffic lights or time restrictions.

Before entering a tunnel:

• Switch on your headlight and also some internal lights. Make sure that additional lighting in the form of a waterproof torch is available for the person steering.
• Check that there is no boat already in the tunnel coming towards you if it is too narrow for two boats to pass.
• Ensure nobody is on the roof or sides of the boat.
• Put on waterproofs as tunnel roofs are often wet with dripping water
• Put on your lifejacket (recommended), especially if you are boating alone.

ADVICE FOR SMALL UNPOWERED CRAFT USING TUNNELS

When planning your journey:

• Check the list on CRT’s website when planning your route to find out which tunnels you are allowed through:
• If tunnels that allow passage by unpowered craft are included in your route, arrange for others to join you on your trip so that you do not go through alone.
• Make sure you have a forward facing strong white light of a minimum of 80 lumens (which can be a head torch) and that you have spare batteries for it.
• Don’t forget your buoyancy aid/lifejacket and whistle.
• Consider fitting reflective strips to clothing and paddles to help your visibility whilst travelling through a tunnel

On the day:

• Do not enter any canal tunnel unless signage explicitly says that unpowered craft are allowed.
• Do not enter the tunnel if you can see any oncoming boats in the tunnel, even if two way working is allowed. Stay clear of the tunnel entrance if it is not clear to enter.
• Do not ignore traffic lights or timed passages – where these exist they apply to all craft, powered and unpowered.
• Turn on your headlight/headtorch
• Ensure that you are wearing your lifejacket/buoyancy aid and that you have your whistle to hand.
• Enter the tunnel as part of a group of two or more.
• Proceed directly through the tunnel, no loitering or turning around
• If you do meet a powered boat going the other way, keep to the right side of the tunnel and be prepared for turbulence as the larger boat passes.
• Avoid dazzling steerers of oncoming boats by not pointing your head torch directly at them.

Permissions for small unpowered craft to use tunnels

Canal & River Trust allows small unpowered boats to use some of their shorter tunnels and a list can be found on their website.
In general, CRT allow passage of tunnels by small unpowered craft if the tunnel is less than 400 metres long and there are good sight lines through the tunnel. Longer tunnels up to 650 metres long are included in the list if a single way traffic system is in place. Passage of other tunnels can be requested by groups for managed events which would involve closing the tunnel to other traffic for the duration of the event. Boats being towed are excluded from these requirement.
Canoeists and people in other small unpowered boats are reminded that they need to heed the instructions of the traffic lights or time restrictions in order to avoid coming face to face with an oncoming boat.

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO NAVIGATION AUTHORITIES REGARDING TUNNELS

We recommend navigation authorities ensure that clear signage exists at all tunnel entrances, and suggests that two sets of signage is desirable.  The signage should be:

1. Positioned for the steerers of powered boats – well back from the tunnel entrance so that the information on the sign can be taken in before getting too close to the tunnel, and in large enough lettering to be seen clearly).
2. Signage specifically for users of smaller unpowered craft can be closer to the tunnel entrance but should be positioned lower down so as to be visible by someone closer to water level

• Both sets of signage need to be kept clean and clear of vegetation.
• All tunnels should have chains fitted along the sides of the tunnel to allow people to hold on to and pull themselves out if necessary.

We suggest that Canal & River Trust’s current criteria for access to tunnels by unpowered craft should be maintained (ie passage allowed if the tunnel is less than 400 metres long and there are good sight lines through the tunnel, longer tunnels should only be included in the list if a single way traffic system is in place). Passage of longer tunnels should continue to be prohibited other than by special request for managed events which would involve closing the tunnel to other traffic for the duration of the event.  We encourage other navigation authorities to adopt similar criteria and signage for tunnels.

Guidelines on the use of VHF radio by inland pleasure craft on UK freight waterways, including advice on navigation lights, sound signals and navigational safety.

Download guidelines on the use of VHF Radio (PDF 616KB), prepared by John Pomfret.

Summary:

Marine-band VHF radio provides a means for vessel crew to communicate with other vessels and shore station (e.g. ports, locks, bridges and marinas) on operational, navigation and safety matters.

As well as providing an effective means of calling for help in an emergency, use of marine-band VHF radio can inform you of the presence of large vessels and their intentions, as well as providing a means to call for locks to be prepared or moveable bridges to be swung or raised in advance of your arrival.

Simply listening to the appropriate radio channel will provide a picture of vessel traffic, which may enable you to avoid meeting a large vessel in an awkward location, for example.

Availability of radio-communication and establishment of vessel traffic services (VTS) in some areas has contributed to the penetration inland of larger vessels than hitherto, presenting an increased hazard to small pleasure craft.

Marine-band VHF radio has become widely used on larger waterways, replacing flag signals and to some extent sound signals, so that if your vessels is not so equipped, you may be exposing yourself to unnecessary risks.

Marine-band VHF radio is obligatory on vessels navigating many tidal waterways, including parts of the Ouse, Humber, Trent, Witham and Thames.

Portable marine radio sets are now relatively inexpensive and the ship portable radio licence is free. Users will also need to attend a one day course, available in all parts of the country, to obtain the required operator’s certificate.

IWA strongly recommends that boaters carry marine band VHF radio on all major tidal waterways and on other waterways where locks and bridges are equipped with VHF radio.

Vessels navigating at night or in conditions of reduced visibility must carry full navigation lights except for narrow canal craft, which only need to carry a single light at the bow on narrow canals and some other waterways.  However, even narrow boats must carry full navigation lights on all tidal waterways and on many of the larger non-tidal waterways.

Boaters should also familiarise themselves with local signage before venturing onto a large waterway; some waterways use local signs not found elsewhere.

Article by boater Kate Saffin with additional contributions from the London boating community.

There are regular requests for boats to rent. However, be warned – this isn’t a guide to finding a boat to rent. It’s a summary of why you will find very few, what is realistic and what to be cautious of if someone offers you something that looks too good to be true.

Official renting

First, and most important, letting a boat is only permitted by Canal and River Trust if the boat has a permanent residential mooring, a commercial licence, insurance and boat safety checks (just like all the holiday hire boats you see around the system).

Read Canal & River Trust’s guide to renting or hiring your own boat.

Unofficial renting

Unofficial renting, is where there is a boat without a home mooring, or one on a leisure mooring.  In this instance you are not renting a home, you are simply paying for the use of a ‘chattel’, a possession.  This means that none of the legislation designed to protect tenants applies. There is a good summary of the issues on the Landlord Law Blog.

^{Photo: Regents Canal – Tim Lewis}

Why it’s hard to find a boat to rent

You will rarely find boats advertised to rent because residential moorings are few and far between, even in London where there are more than on other parts of the system. However, boats to rent on residential moorings do turn up occasionally and are often managed by estate agents. These agents may not know very much about boats, so if you do find one, take someone with boat knowledge with you when you go to look, and don’t be fooled by nice decor. By going through an estate agent, at least you will have some recourse to law if you find something doesn’t work as you expected.

Then there are some boaters who want to let their boats but aren’t on a residential mooring and don’t have the appropriate licence, insurance and boat safety certificate. Those who know they are doing something under the radar fall into two categories:

• First, the boater who is going away for a period of time and wants to let the boat so that it is looked after and costs are covered.  They rarely advertise because CRT may become aware that the boat is being rented and refuse to renew the boat’s licence. They will tend only to let by word of mouth to trusted friends of friends.
• Secondly, there are a few exploitative individuals who own several boats and choose to run an illegal letting business – they too will have networks they operate through that they don’t publicise.

Then there are those who are looking for someone to look after their boat because they need to be away – perhaps working abroad for a few months. It is permissible to have a ‘boat sitter’ as long as they are not charging. They rarely advertise because the boat is their home, and they are very unlikely to let someone they don’t know live on it in their absence. They do not want to return to batteries that have been damaged or to letters from CRT because the boat hasn’t moved far enough. They will tend to look for a suitable sitter by word of mouth. Again it will be to trusted friends or friends of friends.

So, in a nutshell, you will very rarely see a boat advertised to let. And if you do, please check it out carefully. Be particularly careful of the person who implies that you will have the same legal deal as renting a flat (you won’t).

Some concerns about renting boats

These are the some of the concerns that experienced boaters have expressed about renting a boat.  These are particularly aimed at those who have no experience of boating and are renting from a stranger.

“Renting a boat which doesn’t comply is the same as someone driving a car without Tax, MOT, and Insurance. If a non-compliant rented boat explodes, catches fire etc. it is unlikely to be covered by the owner’s insurance which will have been declared null and void. Any third party damage or injury will also not be covered.”

“ ’I would be happy with a continuous cruiser licence’ – but CRT would not. It is therefore technically not legal [to rent a boat without a residential mooring], which you might get away with for a while, until something goes wrong and CRT decides to take the boat’s licence away for breaking the terms and conditions and you lose your home.”

“You have no recourse to letting law.  …I witnessed a girl working on one of the cafe boats bolt down the towpath screaming ‘That’s my boat. What’s it doing here! What have you done with my dog!?’ just this summer. Landlord dispute – took the boat (apparently abandoning the dog and either stealing all the girl and partner’s belongings, or dumping them on towpath).”

“If you do a share boat or rent to buy, please make sure you get a proper contract drawn up, preferably by a solicitor. Not going into fine detail, but …I’ve heard some very odd stories indeed – one where the tenant was made homeless and evicted from the boat he was two months from owning (see note regarding ‘rent to buy’ below) and another where the tenant sold the boat with no legal comeback.”

This is not to say that it will go wrong, just that it might.

^{Photo: Camden, Regents Canal}

Other considerations and options

There are some additional considerations and options for renting. These have also been supplemented with contributions from the London boating community.

If you still want to pursue the idea:

• Don’t do it because you think it will be cheaper – generally it isn’t, or not much, especially if you are renting legally.
• For most of us living on a boat is a lifestyle choice not primarily a financial one. You need to want to empty a toilet regularly (and worry about whether the facilities will be in working order to do so), manage a temperamental solid fuel stove, live with running out of gas at midnight, wonder what that strange noise from the engine/water pump/bilges is, worry about security on the towpath and whether your bike is still on the roof…
• You can try a long term commercial rental if you want to be on the move or can’t find a boat on a mooring. The rent (£940-£1400/mth) will be similar to a flat in London and reflects the level of maintenance, insurance and support that is needed. Google ‘long term narrow boat hire’ and you will find a few companies plus some other possibly useful links.
• Note: searching on terms like ‘boat’, ‘rent’, ‘London’ will bring up a number of old adverts that contain very out of date information – “When I lived aboard I generally lived in the East London area…” – try that now and you’ll be in trouble very quickly!
• Learn how to handle a boat– there are numerous centres that offer the RYA Inland Helmsman training. You can search RYA’s website for a centre near you.
• Walk the towpath, get to know boaters. Look for opportunities to volunteer and get to know people. There are a regular clean ups around the London waterways, some organised by boaters (watch for details on the London Boaters Facebook page), others by local groups on the River Lea or the Lower Regent’s Coalition or IWA London Branches.
• Check with any marinas in the area as to whether they allow their residents to rent and if so, keep an eye out for any opportunities.
• You might also find the occasional room advertised in a shared boat – these are usually on the bigger static houseboats to be found on the Thames. Search terms; ‘houseboat’ (actually a static structure that just happens to be on water), ‘rent’, ‘London’.
• Consider buying a boat.

Things to check

• Check whether you are being offered a legal rental – if so, make sure it meets the CRT requirements as above. Check that the licence, boat safety and insurance are legal for renting (because it they’re not, you may be the one to suffer).
• If it doesn’t meet the legal requirements and you still want to take the risk, get an agreement drawn up by a solicitor that is specific to the boat and your circumstances – an off the shelf shorthold tenancy agreement will have no standing in UK tenancy law.

Boat Sitting

Some things to check when boat sitting:

• If you are boat sitting check:
  • that the owner has cleared it with their insurers,
  • when the last boat safety certificate was done, and that any recommended work has been done,
  • that you know how everything works, particularly the smoke and CO alarms,
  • that you have someone to call on for advice and help – on a day to day basis as well as in an emergency
• If the boat has no home mooring you must make yourself familiar with the current (and changing) rules about movement – if you don’t you could put the owner’s licence at risk (and thus your home). Currently this means covering a range of at least 20 miles in the course of a year and moving every 14 days (or more often).

Rent to buy

Finally a note on ‘rent to buy’ from London Boater, Paul Powlesland.

“There have been a few posts recently about people wanting to buy boats in instalments. However, you should be aware that where possession and full ownership isn’t exchanged at the same time, there are serious risks for both the purchaser and the seller.

From the seller’s point of view, if the buyer stops paying the instalments, they can sue the buyer. However, depending on the facts of the case, if the buyer has sold the boat on to a third party purchaser for value without notice (the so called ‘equity’s darling’), there is a strong chance that they will not be able to recover the boat and they will probably have a tough time tracking down the buyer who has made off with the cash.

It’s not all rosy from the buyer’s point of view either, as there have been cases where all the instalments were paid, but the seller then claimed that it was merely rent and demanded back possession of the boat.

In short, consider very carefully before entering into an agreement to buy or sell a boat in instalments.”

Please note, all of the information in this blog is meant to serve as general guidance rather than specific advice.  If you want proper advice on a specific case, please seek a lawyer or qualified person.

_{Photo-top: Little Venice on Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal by Adrian Rayson}

“Isn’t it Cold in Winter?” people used to regularly ask me, during the 7 years I spent living afloat.  “No”, I used to reply “It’s nice and snug with the stove going”.  That wasn’t the reality, of course, I used to gloss over the mornings when I would wake up shivering under the duvet with ice on the inside of the windows because the stove had gone out during the night, or because I’d arrived home too late the night before to re-light it.

People often have an image of life afloat as being idyllic and peaceful.  It’s nothing of the sort, in my experience.  It can be fun and exciting, but it can be cold, hard work and lonely too.

Photo: Mopping the decks

During much of my 7 years living on a narrow boat I travelled around a lot, and religiously moved the boat every two weeks.  For a lot of this time I was working as a secretarial “temp”, so was able to move from town to town and pick up work anywhere.

As well as wanting to comply with the rules, moving every 2 weeks was necessary for practical reasons, being an opportunity to fill the water tank and visit a boatyard to get the toilet pumped out and occasionally fill up with diesel and get gas bottles replaced. I would often plan this for a weekend and invite friends over for a day trip or a weekend on the boat, but the rest of the time I had to do it on my own, which could be challenging and wasn’t quite so much fun in the rain.

Photo: Moving from one place to another can often make for a lovely day out with friends

One winter the canal froze for weeks and I couldn’t move the boat anywhere.  I managed to obtain sacks of coal and a new gas cylinder by dragging then along the towpath through the snow from the nearest boatyard, but the available water in the water tank got less and less as it froze in layers above the reducing amount that was still liquid.

Photo: Snowed in at Uxbridge

One peculiarity of living on a boat is that unlike bricks and mortar it doesn’t necessarily stay where you put it!  I once woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of rushing water to discover the boat had come adrift (strong winds had pulled out the mooring pins) and the boat had drifted some distance along the canal into the lower entrance of a lock, with excess water pouring over the bottom gates.  Quite a shock when I opened the front doors to a cascade of water!  Another time the boat was purposefully set adrift from the mooring rings I had tied to, and I woke up to find the boat on the other side of the canal along with 2 or 3 other boats that had been untied.

As a female in my early twenties, my personal safety was something that other people, particularly my parents, used to worry about – walking home along a dark towpath late after a night out didn’t particularly worry me at the time, but looking back I realise that I was lucky not to have had any serious mishaps.  One time the boat was broken into and a camera and jewellery stolen – fortunately I wasn’t on board at the time.

Photo: You may decide to make modifications to your boat, these photos show a corner cupboard being replaced with a solid fuel stove.

Although I am a fairly practical person, I don’t think I would have survived at all without a circle of friends who used to come along and help me sort out flat batteries and an engine that wouldn’t start, or help installing a wood burning stove, or helping out in dry dock.  Of course often these events turned into social occasions, and I like to think that I hosted some pretty good parties during those seven years!

Photo: First dry docking of many – Tardebigge Dry Dock

When people heard that I lived on a boat, they would often ask me about it as a cheaper way of living.  My response was always that you should want to live on a boat for the right reasons, because you are interested in boating and the waterways, and not just because it might seem like a cheaper option than a flat or a house.

In my experience, barely a week would go by without some issue to deal with – a storm bringing a tree down on the boat, the engine not starting, going to moor up after moving one weekend to discover I’d left the mooring pins behind ten miles away, but the sense of satisfaction of owning and living on my own boat was something that for me made it all worthwhile.

Photo: The pleasure of steering your own boat down the cut

Living on a boat might seem cheap compared to living in a house, but instead of gas, water and electricity bills, and repairs to plumbing, roofs, boilers and the like, on a boat you have diesel and gas to purchase, toilet contents to get rid of (whether that is emptying it yourself or paying for a pump out), repairs and regular maintenance to the hull and superstructure, and maintenance, repair or replacement of equipment such as engines, generators, water pumps, bilge pumps, shower pumps, inverters ( there is an endless list of equipment that people can have on their boats).

Many people who live afloat these days rely heavily on the various trading boats who do a sterling service plying up and down our waterways selling solid fuel, gas and even offering toilet pump outs.  Although even these boaters have to fend for themselves if the canal ices over for weeks and the service boats can’t get to them.

Photo: Some parts of the waterway system have a trading boat offering solid fuel, diesel, gas and even pump-outs

There are many things to consider when contemplating a life afloat:

• Licence – you will need a licence for the navigation authority for the river or canal that you plan to be based on, and visitor licences for any waterways in different navigation authority ownership that you may wish to visit.
• Mooring – if you want to live in one place, so you can attend college or get to your place of work, for example, and not be continually moving your home around, you need to find a mooring (preferably before you take the plunge and buy a boat). Suitable moorings in popular areas such as London are scarce and can be very expensive.
• Alternatively, on Canal & River Trust waterways  you can declare yourself as ‘continuously cruising’, which means you don’t have to pay for a mooring, but you will need to move your boat at least every 14 days (sooner if moored at a visitor mooring which specifies a shorter period).  And this doesn’t just mean moving round the bend to the next road access point.  If you have a job based in one place, or other local commitments such as school for your children, this isn’t a practical option, and you should look for a permanent mooring.
• Insurance – in order to obtain a licence you will need to take out at least third party insurance.  However, if all your worldly goods are on board you may wish to take out full insurance on the contents too.  Boat fires and boat sinkings are both things that can and do happen.  Boats also tend to be less secure than houses and boaters often find things stolen from their roofs or decks even if the cabin hasn’t been broken into.  If the boat is more than 20 years old then most insurance companies will insist on regular hull surveys (out of the water) – a considerable expense.
• Are you practical?  Can you fix the engine (or bilge pump, water pump, etc) when it breaks down, or will that be an additional expense?
• Can you actually steer and manoeuvre the size of vessel you are contemplating?  Why not book yourself on an RYA Helmsman course to learn some useful skills.
• Boat safety – boat fires and carbon monoxide poisoning occur on board boats for various reasons – you need to be aware of your own safety and not block air vents or escape routes. Every 4 years you will need to pay for a Boat Safety Examination – and heed the advice of the examiner in keeping your boat safe for you and other users of the waterway.  Boat fires happen more often than you might think, and could happen on a boat moored next to you, however safe your own boat is.
• Water – filling up the water tank is something that you will have to do more frequently than you might think if you are living aboard, and it could be some hours boating to the nearest water point.  You’ll very quickly become conscious of the amount of water you use washing up or having a shower.
• Heating – How is the boat heated – it’s a good idea to have two sources of heat so that one can be a backup in the event of running out of fuel or something breaking down.  Diesel and gas can be used for heating systems, and most boats also have a solid fuel stoves which can burn wood as well as solid fuel (smokeless fuel is not required by law even in a smokeless zone but is a good idea to avoid annoying local residents).  You will have to think about how you will transport solid fuel, gas and diesel if not moored at a boatyard which sells them.
• Toilet – What type of toilet does the boat have, and is it the best type for you?  A pump out tank needs emptying less often but can only be emptied at certain places, with a cost involved.  A “cassette” style toilet has a small portable tank that you can empty yourself, at “sanitary stations” provided by the navigation authority, at no cost, but will need emptying more often.  It’s a smelly job and not for the faint hearted!  It also has the benefit of being more portable so if you can’t get the boat itself to a disposal point you can still take a full cassette there.
• Internet access and mobile phone signal are things everyone takes for granted these days, but you will need to think about how these are going to work for you on a boat, particularly bearing in mind a steel cabin’s tendency to affect signal.  There are various solutions available and you should research them if technology of this type is important to you.

Some additional things to consider if going down the “continuous cruiser” route:

• Planning ahead – You will have to think about where you are going to move your boat to every time you move, and plan your progressive journey ahead. Some parts of the country, notably London and the Bath/Bristol area, are getting extremely overcrowded, making it very difficult to find a mooring when you do move.
• Transport – If you own a car you will have to work out where you will keep it, and how you will retrieve it each time you move (a bicycle comes in very handy here).  You may also find that you will be using public transport a lot more – another added expense.
• Electricity – These days electricity is needed for everything from lighting the boat to running the pumps so you can have a shower, and for charging your mobile phone or tablet. Where is your electricity going to come from?  You will need to either run your engine or a generator (both noisy) in order to keep your boat batteries topped up.  Wind generators and solar panels can be useful additions to top the battery up, but both rely on certain weather conditions so cannot be relied upon solely. Finding a mooring which comes with an electricity supply is the best solution to this problem, if you think you are going to spend most of your time moored up and not travelling around the system.
• Being a good neighbour – Do be considerate to your neighbours on land or water. Excessively smoking chimneys, generators or engines running for long periods and belongings spread across the towpath will not endear you to the local community.
• Groceries – Think of all the food (and drink!) that you consume, and then bear in mind that you are more than likely to have to carry it some distance from where you bought it.
• Winter months – What will things be like in the winter?  Make sure you have made plans for how you are going to cope.  Not all areas benefit from the services of a coal boat regularly plying up and down selling coal, diesel and offering pump outs.  A spare portable type toilet (or extra cassette) in case you can’t get your tank pumped out, is a good idea, but bear in mind you will have to carry it along the towpath (although a wheelbarrow or trolley can come in handy here).
• Personal security – Your personal security getting to and from the boat – will you feel safe walking along unfamiliar towpaths in the dark as you move around from place to place?  Or would you be better off with a permanent mooring in a secure boatyard or mooring site?
• Health services – You will need to consider what you are going to do if you need medical attention – while getting access to GP surgeries, dentists and hospital appointments is possible, it will always be harder if you are just passing through an area, and may hold up your planned schedule while you have to wait to be seen or for follow up appointments.
• Voting – You can register to vote even if you do not have a permanent mooring or home address, by registering a “declaration of local connection”.  This can be the place you were last registered, a boatyard you have used for maintenance, or somewhere you spend a lot of time. 
• Emergencies – When moored up in the middle of anywhere its always a good idea to know your exact location so that you can advise the emergency services should they be required due to an injury, illness, accident or fire.
• What happens when you want to move back to the land – Living on a boat should not be seen as a first step onto the housing ladder.  Unlike property, even well built and maintained boats will not appreciate in value and are likely to lose value each year.
• Over-staying – If you are tempted to ignore the rules and over-stay in one place, you will find yourself extremely unpopular with fellow boaters, which is a pity as the camaraderie between boaters is one of the special things about living afloat.  More importantly, Canal & River Trust can and will take action against offenders and you may ultimately end up in court and/or lose your boat.

Many of these problems are overcome if you have a permanent mooring, or if you are genuinely travelling around the waterways network.  If you are continuously cruising your electricity will be generated as you boat along, and you will frequently pass shops, water points and boatyards.  Some Navigation Authorities such as Canal & River Trust offer winter mooring permits to boats that are otherwise “continuously cruising”, which mean that you can base yourself in one place for the colder months.

Living aboard can be a hugely enjoyable and rewarding experience for those who have a passion for boating and the waterways environment – but it’s a labour of love. It’s not an easy or particularly cheap option, so it’s important to seriously consider all the implications before making a decision.

To find out more, do look at the living afloat section of IWA’s website

Alternatively you can consult the Residential Boat Owners Association website

Or see the advice given to people contemplating continuous cruising on the Canal & River Trust website (PDF).

Owning your own boat can be hugely rewarding, with the freedom to travel the UK’s waterways at your own pace, closeness to nature and sharing your love of the waterways by entertaining friends with day trips.

Some initial things to consider include the costs, types of boat, getting a boat licence and boat maintenance.  Unless you intend to continuously cruise the network throughout the year, you need to give some serious thought to finding a permanent mooring for your boat.  Generally finding the right boat at the right price is fairly straightforward, but finding somewhere to berth it can be a little more tricky. It is therefore a good idea to find a permanent mooring before buying your boat.

Choosing a Waterway

Firstly you’ll need to know what area and on which waterway you would like your boat to be based. If you intend to live on your boat, this might be close to your place of employment, family or friends. Otherwise, you might choose to moor your boat on the other side of the country from where you live. Things to consider would include the size of the boat you intend to buy – you’ll need to check whether it will fit through the locks on the waterways you intend to use! Do you like to eat out or enjoy a swift pint? If so you’ll want to check out nearby pubs and restaurants.

Once you’ve got an idea about where you’d like to moor your boat, you can start to look at what moorings are available in the area. You may already have a very clear idea, but if not, you can take a look at our waterways route map or see the individual waterways pages.

Online vs Offline Moorings

Permanent moorings can be found within marinas or basins (offline) or along the main line of a canal or river (online).

Marinas are usually large purpose made water spaces but moorings can also be found at boatyards and the wharves, arms and loops left from the commercial days of the waterways.

Offline moorings are generally run by businesses, and can be more expensive than online moorings. However, you are more likely to benefit from facilities such as water, toilets, sanitary disposal, showers, a diesel pump, electricity, coal, gas and Wi-Fi. Some marinas also have boatyards and chandlery shops on site and there may even be some basic security against vandalism and other crime. Marinas and basins often have transport links and car parking, which is something to consider if you need to travel. Apart from the cost, possible downsides include the fact that some marinas may have a waiting list for their berths.  Some marinas will have residential moorings, and a few marinas may offer a ‘caretaker’ (residential) berth, but these are rare.
Image: Braunston Marina

Online moorings along the main line of a canal are usually run by the navigation authority, or in some cases local farmers who set up moorings along their land, and tend to cost less than offline moorings because there aren’t as many, or any, facilities. Apart from the cost, advantages of online moorings include being closer to nature, heritage and often beautiful scenery.

Some moorings are available along the towpath side but these lack privacy and any degree of security. Those on the non-towpath (off-side) are preferable and will have some security depending on the access, fencing and gating arrangements.

You could buy or lease a length of land alongside the waterways but remember that this does not necessarily mean that you have rights to moor a boat there. There may be planning restrictions and on canals you will still have to pay the navigation authority for mooring. These can be referred to as ‘end of garden moorings’ or ‘farmers’ field moorings’.  On rivers the situation is different as riparian owners generally have the right to moor alongside their land if they own their side of the land under the river. Remember that rivers go up and down, so you will need suitable mooring arrangements to allow for this and you may not be able to get to your boat in flood conditions.  In either case, you should consult with the navigation authority first before committing to a mooring.
Image: Online moorings, Shropshire Union Canal

Boat Clubs

Boat club moorings may be online or offline. These clubs often have club-houses and host social events. Many clubs require their members often pitch in with maintenance of the site, which saves money.
Image: Longwood Boat Club, Rushall Canal (photo by Angela Acott)

Residential Moorings

If you intend to live on your boat, there are additional things to consider. For a start, unless you intend to continuously cruise the waterways you’ll need a suitable mooring.  Most residential moorings require planning approval, so you should always take advice to ensure your proposed residential mooring is legitimate. Some residential mooring operators require boats to be away from the mooring for a certain time each year or require you to have an address elsewhere.  In some cases you may be required to pay Council Tax, but Housing Benefits could contribute towards the mooring fees.

You’ll also need to think about the facilities that will be available in winter, for example if you’re moored online and the canal freezes, how would you go about emptying sanitary facilities or getting fuel and water? Take a look at our features on the pros and cons of living afloat and ten things I wish I knew before living on a canal boat for more information.

Finally, it’s useful to be aware that many residential berths are based on short term mooring agreements, which can easily be terminated by your landlord – it is important to read and understand the ‘small print’ of your mooring agreement.

Next Steps

Once you’ve got an idea about where you might want to moor, you can refer to our individual waterway pages to find details of navigation authorities, boat clubs and marinas to get in touch and find out about the availability of long term moorings.

Some navigation authority websites provide information on finding residential and permanent moorings on their waterways:

• Canal & River Trust (finding a home mooring plus long term and visitor moorings)
• Environment Agency
• Essex Waterways Ltd.
  

Other links

• Residential boat licences
• Buying a boat
• Renting a boat
• Living afloat