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Post by lollygagger on Oct 24, 2017 13:50:21 GMT
I lived perfectly comfortably for 8 months including a whole winter in a tiny 70's VW camper. I wouldn't recommend it long term though unless you drove it to somewhere hot! Then bought 50ft boat as I'd worked out that 48-50ft (45 at a pinch) was minimum length for a reasonably sized and comfortable "one of everything", not having to make up the bed every day style living. I still think that's a good comfortable size of boat for one or even a couple. Being too tall for a cross bed added a few feet for me, if you're a shorty it would be ok of course. Everyone living in a grp around here that I've chatted with is only doing so while they save for an insulated steel boat with a solid fuel stove. I do like GRP boats, nothing wrong with them, but a narrowboat is a leap up in comfort (in my opinion Phil, it's not rubbish, it's my view and I stand by it).
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Post by Jim on Oct 24, 2017 15:09:44 GMT
Highbridge cruisers are the nearest thing to a grp narrowboat, large rear cockpit, a well deck at the front. Solid build. Used to fancy one but the access over high gunnels was to much for Noreen's hips, arthritis. Worth a look, might not be big enough, but seen decent ones for 10 or 15k.
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Post by patty on Oct 24, 2017 15:29:02 GMT
Sorry your house sale fell through...thats a real stress test...selling houses is just horrible now days
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2017 15:30:56 GMT
It is worth just checking with the OP as it can make a big difference -
Do you have anywhere else to stay if for example the winter weather gets really shit and existing in a small box starts causing psychological problems?
I did spend a winter on a stupidly small boat once (24ft double ended sailing boat with open stern cockpit and a tiny cabin. On the thames without a fixed mooring) but I was able to stay with my sister in her house for a few days when it started to really get me down.
And obviously some people have partners who they don't live with - again a place to go if the boat gets too oppressive.
This sort of thing and also availability of a safe winter mooring (offside would be ideal) does have an effect on the practicality of different types and sizes of boats. And of course alters the costs of living on a boat.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2017 16:40:53 GMT
It is worth just checking with the OP as it can make a big difference - Do you have anywhere else to stay if for example the winter weather gets really shit and existing in a small box starts causing psychological problems? ... Yes. Although if I think that this will be necessary on all but the rarest occasions then I wont be buying any/that boat. Regarding moorings, even if I'm paying for a mooring I can still vacate it for a while unless I'm iced in - I have spent 5 days on my own in a 2 man tent at 5000m during a storm before it was safe enough to retreat to my base camp tent, so I can be fairly resilient on a temporary basis. Ongoing costs have been worked out to the nth degree.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2017 16:48:49 GMT
Sorry your house sale fell through...thats a real stress test...selling houses is just horrible now days Thanks. Never mind I'll just chuck another 25k on the fire...
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Post by tomsk on Oct 24, 2017 16:51:54 GMT
Sorry your house sale fell through...thats a real stress test...selling houses is just horrible now days Houses are for collecting not selling.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2017 17:37:15 GMT
I hate houses which is why I don't have any despite being in a position to buy. with cash. i disagree with ownership of property which you do not use as shelter.
/moral high ground taken/
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Post by Clinton Cool on Oct 24, 2017 17:43:41 GMT
My 35ft nb, 1998 build by a budget builder cost me 18,000, 4 years ago. This summer I had an engine breakdown that cost me 700 quid. Other than that it's just been maintenance and an odd water pump etc. etc. It has a fixed double, shower and w.c., kitchen and living space. The only thing it's really lacking is a dedicated dining space, I eat my meals off the table in my living space. Works quite well overall.
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Post by patty on Oct 24, 2017 17:50:21 GMT
Sorry your house sale fell through...thats a real stress test...selling houses is just horrible now days Houses are for collecting not selling. Ah no not for me...one Horror House is enough for any to cope with
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Post by Mr Stabby on Oct 24, 2017 18:42:49 GMT
My 35ft nb, 1998 build by a budget builder cost me 18,000, 4 years ago. This summer I had an engine breakdown that cost me 700 quid. Other than that it's just been maintenance and an odd water pump etc. etc. It has a fixed double, shower and w.c., kitchen and living space. The only thing it's really lacking is a dedicated dining space, I eat my meals off the table in my living space. Works quite well overall. Having been fortunate enough to have been invited on board Ricco's boat, I can confirm that it is perfectly adequate for a lone boater to live aboard, it is compact but has everything my boat has, just condensed down a bit. Certainly I'd have no problem living on it. Perhaps it helps that I've spent much of the last 30 years living in the cab of an articulated lorry, in which I have been away for months at a time on longer journeys, but it would be more than enough space for me.
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Post by phil70 on Oct 24, 2017 19:36:14 GMT
Absolute rubbish, Chrissy and I lived very comfortably on a GRP cruiser for 10 years, at the end of the day a boat's a boat. Phil What boat was that? I think lollygagger made a very valid point about heating. "A boat is a boat" is a bit simplistic. More detail needed 40' x 12' broads cruiser, forward drive, 2.2 BMC Commander on shaft. Heating via 4kw Mikuni plus a back up Propex 2000Heat,source and a 8kw Glembring drip feed heater. What else would you like to know, oh yes 500watt of solar installed about 12 years ago (when everybody was saying "that won't bloody work) Phil
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2017 19:43:10 GMT
Was that a Frank Wilde Carribean ?
That's a bit different to your average GRP and you seem to have sorted the heating too !!
(Edited to add second paragraph after phil70's reply)
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Post by phil70 on Oct 24, 2017 19:44:52 GMT
Yes
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2017 19:46:05 GMT
Nice boats they are.
Bit unusual to have a shaft?
A school friend of mine lived on one with a shaft drive (boat Called "chuffalumps") but AFAIK they usually had a hydraulic drive arrangement and the engine right at the back.
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