Living on a boat

[Punkstig]

My point!

[midden]

Aye Aye Cap'n Stig  :thumbup

[Punkstig]

Now, to think of a paint scheme,  lol

[Skippernick]

Now, to think of a paint scheme,  lol

As long as its not F**king blue with cream coach lines.  :wall

[fireblake]

I spent a week on the Norfolk Broads in a Fibreglass cruiser and the only negative I found was damp, the sides of the boats were dripping. We went in August so the ambient temperature was high so I'm assuming it was from breathing and bathing,I hate to think what it would it would be like in winter.
I went through divorce many years ago and getting restarted was a nightmare. I was very lucky my parents could help me out with the deposit for another place, something i couldn't do with my kids.
Good luck with your decision, it sounds like a lovely way to live and a great environment to bring up children.
All the best mate,  Mickey

[mr self destruct]

I spent a week on the Norfolk Broads in a Fibreglass cruiser and the only negative I found was damp, the sides of the boats were dripping. We went in August so the ambient temperature was high so I'm assuming it was from breathing and bathing,I hate to think what it would it would be like in winter.
I went through divorce many years ago and getting restarted was a nightmare. I was very lucky my parents could help me out with the deposit for another place, something i couldn't do with my kids.
Good luck with your decision, it sounds like a lovely way to live and a great environment to bring up children.
All the best mate,  Mickey

Got to admit as much as I love boating holidays, it's this very reason I don't think I could live on one. I've been on narrowboats and done the Norfolk broads in a cruiser, and every time we end up damp. It's just part of it I suppose.

[Arfa]

[quote author=Punkstig link=topic=12399.msg139025#msg139025 date=1396557542]
Haha, that submarine one is pure comedy!

I'm intrigued arfa - please give me some advice on how I get to buy property up north when my current living costs are higher than my income?
Obviously I don't have enough savings for a deposit to get a mortgage.
Bearing in mind my job, and daughter are here so moving up north isn't an option either!

The train of thought is you use mortgage allowance to buy house up north where prices are dirt cheap still. Not to move there but to rent thus not costing you a penny and giving you hopefully a monthly income while waiting for property to rise in value.


A couple of problems there


1. As you say your outgoings are more than your income so getting mortgage could be hard
      Although if going the not so straight way your rent here wouldn't come in to the calculation since in theory you'd be moving to the property


2. if doing it the legit way you would have to go for a buy to let mortgage and even if you could get the 100% mortgage buy to lets aren't available to first time buyers. Or so I am told.
[/quote]


First up, I kind of assumed you had a little pot of cash to cover purchase of said boat and cover all the fees, bills and such worth to get yourself setup on one. And hence a pot of cash that may cover a deposit for a buy-to-let mortgage up North. If you don't have this, how were you planning on moving onto a boat? Renting one? Is that any better than renting flat down here?


Yes, you really would have to go for a buy-to-let mortgage, yep you'd almost certainly need a larger deposit compared to a mortgage for somewhere you'd be living in. And yes, the bank would ensure a very conservative amount of rent more than covers repayments.


Didn't realise Buy-to-let mortgages aren't available to first time buyers though.

[Punkstig]

20% deposit required for a boat mortgage, difference between cost of a boat compared to flat shows where I am- plus the first time buyer position!
Atm, this is my only choice of owning somewhere to live, and I don't see this position changing in the near or distant future, so instead of paying rent for someone else to own property I might as well start paying towards what I can!

[MEM62]

In financial terms the argument for living on a boat doesn't really hold up.  A mate of mine liked the idea and looked into it a year or so ago but the costs were higher than living in his flat.  Apparently, it is the mornings that are the problem.   

Ignoring the financial considerations it does look like a great lifestyle choice though. 

[richfzs]

In financial terms the argument for living on a boat doesn't really hold up.  A mate of mine liked the idea and looked into it a year or so ago but the costs were higher than living in his flat.  Apparently, it is the mornings that are the problem.   

I live in a house, the mornings are the problem there too... :wink

[midden]

20% deposit required for a boat mortgage, difference between cost of a boat compared to flat shows where I am- plus the first time buyer position!
Atm, this is my only choice of owning somewhere to live, and I don't see this position changing in the near or distant future, so instead of paying rent for someone else to own property I might as well start paying towards what I can!

Have you thought/looked into affordable homes where you buy a percentage of the property you can afford and I believe pay a rent (possibly as a lease holder) for the remainder
It'll get you on the property ladder and the beauty being you buy more of the property as your finances allow.
Once you own/mortgage something like 75% of the property you get the freehold.


Not fully sure on the details but a friend did it years ago and it worked for him, he is now in a much bigger house.
Worth looking at imo

[Punkstig]

[quote author=MEM62 link=topic=12399.msg139128#msg139128 date=1396610447]
In financial terms the argument for living on a boat doesn't really hold up.  A mate of mine liked the idea and looked into it a year or so ago but the costs were higher than living in his flat.  Apparently, it is the mornings that are the problem.   

I live in a house, the mornings are the problem there too... :wink
[/quote]
Haha, we all know what he meant!

The financial difference depends on where you live!
Boat living isn't cheap as chips as many initially believe, but without a mooring and moving every 2 weeks is cheaper than renting in the area I live, not forgetting that living cost will drastically reduce in 10 years when the boat is payed off!

[Punkstig]

Soooo,
Went to view two boats in Cambridgeshire area yesterday (Sunday) saw a black'n'grey fz6 on the A10 on way to Ely. Good start!
First one I viewed 'appeared' to be in good condition and was built entirely by the owner, 59’ long 10’ wide very nice size having a second bedroom for the kiddiwink, only 3 years old! (The boat, not my daughter)
Ticked all the right boxes before I went to view and those ticks confirmed with a good 2 hour visit and chat to the owner Trevor who seemed genuine enough.
Reason for sale? He'd recently finished his new boat for him to move onto, same length but 12’ wide, moored right next to the current boat so legitimate, plus within budget including transporting to the Grand union!


2nd boat was in a marina, owners already moved out and not on site to chat to.
Took the keys and walked round to it, externally in a state- needed completely repainting, it has a wooden wheelhouse which originally caught my eye as this creates an extra room on the boat, at the time of viewing it was raining and roof was leaking in several places, not only that but the whole wooden structure looked in disrepair!
At 57’ foot long it had a great living space but no 2nd bedroom, interiors can be refitted to accommodate but as the boat was already 'just' over budget I didn't see the point in making an offer so went home and enjoyed a lovely lunch!


Spent a few hours looking on internet on other boats on watch list and without viewing them personally they were already not up to the same standard as the first boat I viewed, older and smaller!


Deliberated for a while, had a positive chat to a guy who owns and lives aboard an 8 year old boat built by Trevor, made a phone call and placed a deposit with a third party marina He has used to sell his boats in the past!


So, it's being booked to be lifted out the water for a full survey at my cost (which is the norm for a buyer)
Trevor is so confident in the integrity he has said if anything negative comes back he'll pay for the survey and rectify the issue.
A new 4 year boat safety certificate is to be issued at the same time at his cost, then it will be craned on to a lorry and transported over to Leighton buzzard to be put on the Grand Union.




Well, that's the current plan anyway.


Big thanks to skippernick for enduring my constant questions, I daren't count the 'Re's Re's on the messages list!

[midden]

Sounds GRRRRReat hope all goes smoothly
Just one silly question why does it need to be transported by lorry to the grand union, can you not don the Captins hat and ride the waves round?

[Exupnut]

The second boats in a marina ? Mate...i know i heard an echo but that's just takin the piss lol. Post up some PICCIES

[Punkstig]

Sounds GRRRRReat hope all goes smoothly
Just one silly question why does it need to be transported by lorry to the grand union, can you not don the Captins hat and ride the waves round?

It's currently moored on the little ouse to which there is no direct link to get a widebeam onto the grand union so craning and lorry transport is needed!

[midden]

The second boats in a marina ? Mate...i know i heard an echo but that's just takin the piss lol. Post up some PICCIES

:thumbup

[lew600fazer]

This was my last boat and glad to see the back of them after 43 years at sea.



The day I retired from seafaring 43 years , would have got less for murder. lol

[midden]

So we gonna be having a lofo meet at little Venice?

[ChristoT]

So we gonna be having a lofo meet at little Venice?

Only if Punkstig puts tiger print on his narrow boat!  :lol :lol