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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2020 6:58:41 GMT
Boats are a much more relaxed lifestyle. But they don’t suit everybody. Thanks Kris- I think this is the key decider for many people who might on the fence for a while. If there is a strong need for travel in your blood, you basically have to choose a motorhome (assuming you can only have one). A boat can be a nomadic lifestyle, but you're generally tied to within 5 or 10 mile range of these aquatic highways (by bike, foot etc)- and that constraint (as generous as it is) is clearly not enough for those of a travelling bent, or who want to spend more time in wilder places- mountains, shores etc. In my case I love the concept of long distance full time motorhome travel, but I'm not convinced I'd love the reality quite so much, what with the physical lifestyle constraints and (relative) lack of comforts. A boat offer a more constrained version of nomadic living, but with an enormous payoff in comfort, and in a relaxing mindset. Maybe the boat is too close to a normal domestic house living for some travel-lovers?
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Post by naughtyfox on May 29, 2020 7:20:16 GMT
Europe was never my thing ... but the NC500 in Scotland ... ah now that's still tempting Rog I must say Rog, Scotland has always been my favourite holiday destination- always. The combination of being accessible and having such incredible scenery and great people draws me back time after time. Ben Nevis!
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2020 7:20:30 GMT
I have a campervan and the boat, their are cheap ways to go camping, but its does involve buying beer and sometimes food. In the end this is my third camper and second boat, I might have more campers but I suspect this boat will be with me until I die as I love the my way of life so much Thanks Peterboat, and this also brings to mind the significant financial issue of depreciation and degradation of motorhomes. Whereas a well-maintained narrowboat bought at around £40k will not lose too much money over a 20 year ownership, a motorhome in that time will probably depreciate to perhaps 10k, and besides that its vintage will be clearly visible, as waves of newer models appear. So at some point there are going to be increasing numbers of problems with engine, transmission, suspension, steering or whatever that will complicate the life of someone living in such a vehicle. That said, you also see loads of run-down old boats still chugging around... My ideal world choice would be similar to yours- I would have a nice boat and a compact motorhome (not so keen on a camper), but going that way would leave me with very little contingency/emergency cash. It also feels a bit wasteful paying for a boat to be sat in a marina for half of the year whilst I took off on two 3 month trips around Europe... There seems to be something about boat life that has a bit of extra magic, as you imply. The motorhome is a tool to get you to the places you want to see- its the places that are important. But living on a boat, a big part of the appeal seems to be that lifestyle itself- the ducks, the quiet landscapes, and gentle waters etc- and the proximity of Tesco, of course!
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Post by naughtyfox on May 29, 2020 7:22:59 GMT
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Post by naughtyfox on May 29, 2020 7:26:32 GMT
The thing that always put me off living in a vehicle is that you will generally always be somewhere on a public highway. On a boat you can get off the highway. Ok so usually you are on a towpath which will have zombie cyclists and other idiot type humans on it but it's not a road vehicle highway. I just think you would get far more trouble from other wheel based infrastructure users in a vehicle than you do on a boat. Might be wrong, and boats do have that awful limiting factor of only being able to go two ways. I suppose the whole beer situation makes a difference as a single male. If you like to relax with a drink at some point during the day this can take out your options for moving if agro turns up. It's more likely the Rozzers will hit you if you are driving on a road than wrecked in charge of a boat. Probably less of a problem for someone who does not bend the elbow much. I used to follow discussions on a wild camping forum a few years ago. forums.outdoorsmagic.com/
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Post by naughtyfox on May 29, 2020 7:30:49 GMT
The thing that always put me off living in a vehicle is that you will generally always be somewhere on a public highway. On a boat you can get off the highway. Ok so usually you are on a towpath which will have zombie cyclists and other idiot type humans on it but it's not a road vehicle highway. I think its worth adding on this that the Camping and Caravan Club (CCC) manage a network of up to 2,000 locations for camping, typically in rural areas, part of a farmers field etc, and usually with only 5 or 6 places, and plenty of space. So they are often very quiet, but even better they are very cheap, most around £15 per night or less. You can stay for up to 28 days at a cost of about 300-400, mostly in really nice quiet locations, and well away from the road and its many associated nuisances. Its still not cheap compared to a CC license say, but if you do that for half the year, it could be affordable and give you a lovely quiet retreat. The penny drops! Your name is Richard Parry and I claim my £10!
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2020 7:32:48 GMT
Council run towpath moorings with fees for staying more than 24 hours?
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2020 7:34:36 GMT
We have a boat and a tin tent, we use CL from C&CC for the tin tent there are some very quiet and cheap ones if you look. Costs is an interesting thing, tin tent cost £3000 its 19 years old and in excellent condition. Costs per year are less than £500 including storage, insurance and a yearly service. Boat is 27 years old and running costs over time are 10 times that plus £43k we paid for it. The boat will be going in the next few years as its no longer our home and the way that navigation systems are going we have had the best years.
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2020 7:35:42 GMT
In Norway, Denmark & Sweden you can find zillions of places to stop in a camper van. I was having a shufty on Google Maps last night for possible overnight places for us next week, but it's a bit of a waste of time as you only need to keep your eyes open Driving on roads is easy and can be tedious, boating is always full of adventure and rarely dull. But, of course, you at the mercy of stoppages on the water. Mr Fox, I have to agree that there is something much more special about the very act of travelling by boat compared to a motorhome. I can't explain it but its definitely a thing. The act of the travelling itself is a pleasure, at least most times- whereas in a motorhome it is a neccessary chore to get you to destination- albeit often with the benefit of great views. I can see why many boaters have campervans, and I agree with Rog's comment about there being a lot of crossover between the types/groups of people who own boats and those who own campervans. These people have that feeling that they dont want to be full time in bricks and mortar, and both offer an alternative- a sense of freedom in fact, at the risk of sounding melodramatic. Its that dissatisfaction with normal house living that probably fuels both kinds of person. And if in the future I move on to motorhome living, I will be 100% certain to visit the Scandinavian countries. Having beer at such high prices will definitely help to keep me abstemious and healthy.
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Post by naughtyfox on May 29, 2020 7:38:22 GMT
Obviously this: if you get a boat you can go boating, and if you are hit by a sudden wander-lust for driving and camping, rent a car for 2 weeks, buy a tent from eBay, and zoom off to Scotland!
Also: buy Loddon's boat??!!
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Post by kris on May 29, 2020 7:39:20 GMT
Boats are a much more relaxed lifestyle. But they don’t suit everybody. A boat offer a more constrained version of nomadic living, but with an enormous payoff in comfort, and in a relaxing mindset. Maybe the boat is too close to a normal domestic house living for some travel-lovers? I’ve lived a nomadic lifestyle for most of my life. Including living “on the road,” in vehicles. I find living on a boat in no way constraining in fact quite the opposite in fact. Living on a boat allows me to keep living a nomadic existence, but in comparative luxury as where ever I am I have my home with me. Yes I have had this before whilst travelling by bicycle, carrying a tent, tarp and hammock etc. But now my home includes a workshop and a music studio. Much less constraining than living out of a rucksack or off a bicycle or even out of a van. In my opinion anyway.
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Post by kris on May 29, 2020 7:39:59 GMT
Council run towpath moorings with fees for staying more than 24 hours? shut up😳
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2020 7:44:01 GMT
Council run towpath moorings with fees for staying more than 24 hours? Mr M, as a vision of a possible future, one can only hope that never comes true. It is obviously a current and unpleasant reality for motorhomers, but one can still find quiet places to park, although they seem to be becoming more difficult to find, in England at least.
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Post by naughtyfox on May 29, 2020 7:50:22 GMT
I looked at motor home before i got the boat but abandoned that idea for number of reasons...didn't think I'd feel safe as solo woman..hated idea of driving on busy roads..just wasn't for me I loved my boat and its the biggest mistake I made letting her go. Loved and still do our waterways... And my God yes, the roads are getting worse by the year. 1:32 - I would have been out like a shot to grab that toilet paper!!
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2020 8:04:17 GMT
Further to kris 's good point ... we've spent a week in major cities on the boat, including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Liverpool without problem other than the general noise ... don't think you could stay very long in Paddington for example, in a road vehicle. But it's personal preference in the final analysis. Rog
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