It is not all roses

[vindiboy]

We too considered a Narrow boat to live on we met a couple in Spain who did 6 months in their Motor home and 6 months on their Narrow boat they had a a Marina mooring bankside We became great friends with them and spent some time cruising the canals with them on their boat, we almost bought a boat 60 feet complete with engine but not fitted out we thought we would fit it out ourselves, we did not want a mooring as we wanted to just wander the canals permanently but it soon became obvious that it was not possible to be permanently moving as Canal locks were closed during winter for maintenance so we could be stuck in one canal for months, not what we wanted so that was another rethink on our plans and we did not buy a boat but still hanker after the life. We love the canals and have followed the French etc canals in our van staying overnight where we could water side and cycling about 10 miles a day one way and then 10 miles the other and then moving on to another part in the van and doing the same again, loved it

 

[trevskoda]

Had boats for years, same old same old, up the pond down the pond, van, go anywhere I like and so far it has not sunk.

 

[mistericeman]

When we were house hunting Liz was seriously looking at a barge, I went on one and couldn't get off fast enough it was a narrowboat and just rocked about too much for me, we went on one of the double wide ones and I was much better but I couldn't see the attraction.

For me personally it was the total immersion in nature and the seasons....
You could 'smell' the changes...
Ducks pecking at the algea growing on the Hull first thing in the morning...
Sat with all the windows open in winter when the canal was frozen solid and 8 inches of snow, on the roof and the stove lit...
Peace and solitude and no mither from people...
Especially when the folks on the moorings all buggered off home at tea time...

Loved ever single second of it

 

[Robmac]

“Believe me my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”

Ratty to Mole 'The Wind in the Willows'

 

[trevskoda]

My wife did not like getting off and on the boat one tiny bit, wobbly leg syndrome LOL, some nice places on Lough Erne, full expensive, £70 for a few hrs cruise with a 2 stroke 35hp johnson pushing a 23ft Norman at 6 knots.

 

[Robmac]

My wife did not like getting off and on the boat one tiny bit, wobbly leg syndrome LOL, some nice places on Lough Erne, full expensive, £70 for a few hrs cruise with a 2 stroke 35hp johnson pushing a 23ft Norman at 6 knots.

My last boat had a Honda 20 Trev. Sipped fuel at about 1 litre an hour and whisper quiet.

 

[Robmac]

My present boat (A RHIB) has an electric outboard and is even quieter.

 

[trevskoda]

My last boat had a Honda 20 Trev. Sipped fuel at about 1 litre an hour and whisper quiet.

Noone here uses a Honda due to the bad build Q as they dissolve in salt water, lots down on the lough but the dealer gave up on them, also many of the 5hp units smashed off at the bottom where the leg joined the transom clamp.
Last one I had in here was about 4 years old and blew the head gasket as most did, when i opened it up the inside had dissolved like an alka-seltcer, two engines folk dont buy here are honda and susuki, merc/mariner or Tohatsu sell best and parts are cheapish, dont price yam bits as it would scare the life out of you, 599 bucks for a CDI unit on the 3 cyl 70hp.

 

[Robmac]

Noone here uses a Honda due to the bad build Q as they dissolve in salt water, lots down on the lough but the dealer gave up on them, also many of the 5hp units smashed off at the bottom where the leg joined the transom clamp.
Last one I had in here was about 4 years old and blew the head gasket as most did, when i opened it up the inside had dissolved like an alka-seltcer, two engines folk dont buy here are honda and susuki, merc/mariner or Tohatsu sell best and parts are cheapish, dont price yam bits as it would scare the life out of you, 599 bucks for a CDI unit on the 3 cyl 70hp.

They're fantastic engines Trev - certainly in fresh water. I've had several and never any problems.

There are thousands on our river and people swear by them.

 

[trevskoda]

They're fantastic engines Trev - certainly in fresh water. I've had several and never any problems.

There are thousands on our river and people swear by them.

I got £500 for the one we took in after sitting about 5 years, had two 7.5 old white ones with orange hoods which i sold after a while, no dealers here any more for them, or yamaha.

 

[Robmac]

I got £500 for the one we took in after sitting about 5 years, had two 7.5 old white ones with orange hoods which i sold after a while, no dealers here any more for them, or yamaha.

You're not looking hard enough Trev!

I can find Honda and Yamaha dealers in Northern Ireland.

 

[Heppy]

We lived on this for 6 years cruising the rivers and canals with a winter mooring at West Stockwith at the end of the Chesterfield canal.View attachment 113026

Will miss this till the day I die.

 

[trevskoda]

You're not looking hard enough Trev!

I can find Honda and Yamaha dealers in Northern Ireland.

Where, most shut up shop as its a back yard biz here, no fortunes to be made, hence im poor.

 

[Robmac]

First Outboard dealers I looked at Trev;

Honda - Sands Marine

Genuine YAMAHA Outboard & Stern Drive Parts - Genuine YAMAHA Outboard Parts - Flood Marine Services

Browse YAMAHA Parts Manuals Browse Service Parts by Engine Basic Service Kits Water Pump Kits Oil / Lubricant / YAMALUBE Products Propellers Oil FIlters Spark

www.yamahaoutboardparts.co.uk

Several boats with Honda engines for sale here;

Honda boats for sale in Northern Ireland - April 2024

See 8 results for Honda boats for sale in Northern Ireland at the best prices, with the cheapest boat starting from £2,500. Looking for more boats? Explore Honda boats for sale as well!

www.newsnow.co.uk

Loads over the border too.

 

[caledonia]

First Outboard dealers I looked at Trev;

Honda - Sands Marine

Genuine YAMAHA Outboard & Stern Drive Parts - Genuine YAMAHA Outboard Parts - Flood Marine Services

Browse YAMAHA Parts Manuals Browse Service Parts by Engine Basic Service Kits Water Pump Kits Oil / Lubricant / YAMALUBE Products Propellers Oil FIlters Spark

www.yamahaoutboardparts.co.uk

Several boats with Honda engines for sale here;

Honda boats for sale in Northern Ireland - April 2024

See 8 results for Honda boats for sale in Northern Ireland at the best prices, with the cheapest boat starting from £2,500. Looking for more boats? Explore Honda boats for sale as well!

www.newsnow.co.uk

Loads over the border too.

It’s because they’re to expensive for Trev. He would have to take too much out the mattress to buy a quality motor. When Trev lies flat on his back in bed his nose is only six inches from the ceiling he has that much money under his mattress.

 

[RichardHelen262]

It’s because they’re to expensive for Trev. He would have to take too much out the mattress to buy a quality motor. When Trev lies flat on his back in bed his nose is only six inches from the ceiling he has that much money under his mattress.

Six inch from the ceiling?
He must have been on a spending spree

 

[jagmanx]

Most of us on this forum have no needto live like this.
We are lucky lucky lucky
This peron had little chioce and no backup
(Family Cash etc)
A bit like the film "Nomadland"
The article may not have been well written but for me that does not matter.
Many of the posts have higlighted the logistical issues of such a step.
Then there are the Psychological and financial problems.
I believe many in the uk are in similar situations and difficulties
No Travellers comments please !
If I remember correctly the respected former member @channa spent his final months "of no fixed abode@ or similar
RIP @channa

 

[Fazerloz]

Most of us on this forum have no needto live like this.
We are lucky lucky lucky
This peron had little chioce and no backup
(Family Cash etc)
A bit like the film "Nomadland"
The article may not have been well written but for me that does not matter.
Many of the posts have higlighted the logistical issues of such a step.
Then there are the Psychological and financial problems.
I believe many in the uk are in similar situations and difficulties
No Travellers comments please !
If I remember correctly the respected former member @channa spent his final months "of no fixed abode@ or similar
RIP @channa

Channa had a flat in Dewsbury and I saw him regularly we even had the same gp and as far as been lucky lucky lucky I have found the longer and harder I have worked the luckier I seem to have become.

 

[RichardHelen262]

Channa had a flat in Dewsbury and I saw him regularly we even had the same gp and as far as been lucky lucky lucky I have found the longer and harder I have worked the luckier I seem to have become.

I think towards the end he spent quite a bit of time with his caravan at the Blacksmiths at Kirkheaton,
I know I used to pass there many times a week, and saw his caravan parked up there for many weeks

 

[mistericeman]

I'm quite partial to a 2 stroke v8 Evinrude personally...