If you are considering buying a narrow boat then now is a great time to take the plunge.

But before you start looking at your local marina consider what purpose the boat is going to be used for.

A narrow boat is mainly used for two activities leisure or living aboard. Once you know how often and how many people will be on board your boat, this will narrow down the search.

Liveaboard Advice

Space for living and storage is the main element when looking for a boat to live on permanently. Due to the small amount of space available for storage you will soon learn to become less materialistic, keeping and buying only what really matters to you and what you really need, which isn’t such a bad thing. I think we are all guilty of saying “I will put it in the loft we might need it”, but really if it’s going out of sight it probably isn’t going to be needed and when space is limited it isn’t possible to hang onto everything.

As for obtaining more living space, the longer the boat you can afford to buy the better. If you do intend to cruise you need to consider that some locks can only take a 60 foot boat. So check where you will be based and the locks in that area before you decide on the length or you may find you will not be able to move very far!

It has to be said that if you are buying a larger boat then this will have an impact on the running and maintenance costs going forward for example; moorings, licences and repairs such as blacking and painting, but that extra space you will gain will outweigh these costs in the long run.

If you and your family are going to be living on the boat then privacy is another area you should think about, everyone should have a space to relax, sleep, do homework etc. Some interiors have a very open plan layout this may not work well for families so consider looking at boats that have separate living, sleeping and dining areas.

The type of stern you go for is down to personal taste, but the traditional and semi traditional boats are popular for people living on board due to the small outside areas leaving the maximum footage of the boat to be used inside.

Just Cruising

Well really anything goes! a 30 – 40 foot narrow boat is more than big enough to use for mini cruising, but if you prefer to have a larger vessel then go for it. Once you get used to cruising, mooring, turning etc. then the length of the boat will make no difference, it’s a bit like driving a mini and an estate car the principles are just the same.

The cruiser style has to be high on the list when it comes to choosing the stern type. There is a larger outside space to socialise and relax whilst you cruise the system.

Buy Now!

With spring just around the corner now is a great time to get down to your local marina and start looking for the boat of your dreams. We meet many people who dream of owning a narrow boat but don’t think they can afford it, but we have successfully matched them with a boat that they can afford to buy and maintain.

Our marina is full of quality canal boats for sale; we change our stock regularly so if something doesn’t grab your attention today it doesn’t mean we can’t get it for you.

So whatever your budget start looking for your new boat today. Start here!