does anyone know who i should contact with a view to buying a residential mooring in east anglia/cambridgeshire?
2007-04-30 20:07:02 · 8 answers · asked by jabberwocky 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Boats & Boating
As an ex residential narrow boat owner with British waterways I can only speak from experience,you will find if you take out a mooring with BW that it`s a case of dead man`s boots with regards to a residential mooring, you will pay full council tax for the time your boat is at its mooring,we used to have to pay nearly £700 /anum for 70ft of towpath in the country,it was a rip off.
Have a look at waterways world to get a list of boatyards that have moorings or just look on line,You will pay per length of mooring unless it is a designated footage. As for buying a residential mooring I think you may find that hard as the river banks are privatly owned. It is a mine field of problems as BW dont want linea moorings anymore,they would rather everyone were in marinas,
Go to WH Smiths and buy every canal orientated magazine and search, it will take ages but it will be worth it ,contact the local BW office.and don`t get the boat before you get the mooring as there are rules in place that will restrict you legaly on the time you can spend on your boat without the correct licence,ie continuous cruising, residential or just pleasure boating,It`s an expensive way of life and not as easy as it seams,Gas ,electric,dry docking,repairs,insurance,council tax,mooring fees,surveys etc the list goes on.
Hope I havn`t put you off but it really is a case of look before you leap
If you are succesfull then you will enjoy it. get more advice ,talk to other boaters join the residential boat owners association RBOA,read up, and as the answerer above me has said ,,,dont be swayed by the boat seller,... Boats are a hole in the water that you will throw money into.
The best bit of advice I can give you if you do get a boat is " If you make a mistake then make it slowly"
Just an add on bit for you...
you will learn a lot about yourself on the water,it will improve the skills you have and your a[ppreciation of the rivers and the wildlife,conservation and a lot about people.One thing I learnt was that there is nothing more miserable than a miserable boater, I met many new friends from a BBC news reporter to an ex army buddy of Henry cooper,I saw the photos.
Conserving your resources and managing your life,People will envy your lifestyle and in winter with the wood burning stove on all your clothes take on a wonderfull smoky smell that one person said to us " You smell like christmas"
2007-04-30 20:23:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I assume you are thinking of the Rivers Nene, Great Ouse and tributaries (e.g. Cam) and the fens (drains)?
These are the relevant navigation authorities:-
British Waterways
The Kiln
Mather Road
Newark
Nottinghamshire
Postcode: NG24 1FB
Tel: 01636 704481
http://www.waterscape.com
Conservators of the River Cam
11a North Terrace,
CAMBRIDGE, CB5 8DJ
Tel: 01223 560936
http://www.camconservators.org.uk/
Environment Agency
Waterways Team
Anglian Regional Office
Kingfisher House
Goldhay Way
Orton Goldhay
Peterborough
PE2 5ZR
Tel: 01733 371 811 (Switchboard)
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Middle Level Commissioners
Middle Level Offices
Dartford Road
MARCH
Cambridgeshire
England
PE15 8AF
Tel: +44 (0)1354-653232
Fax: +44 (0)1354-659619
http://www.middlelevel.co.uk/
Witham & Fourth District Internal Drainage Board
47 Norfolk Street
Boston
Lincolnshire
PE21 6PP
Tel: 01205 310099
http://www.w4idb.demon.co.uk/
You could contact their offices for information on residential moorings. Also http://www.rboa.org.uk/ may be able to help.
However, I doubt that there are many residential moorings for sale - most will be rented.
The hard work comes by either contacting every boatyard & marina listed in the canal/waterways mags and also in the guides to the area in which you are interested, or visiting the area and talking to the local boaters who often have knowledge which will never appear in print.
2007-05-01 00:24:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No but perhaps a boating magazine would have some info! Just please be careful, we foolishly bought a project 31 cruiser 4 yrs ago. we has nothing but trouble as the twin engines gave us loads of trouble and cost us so much money it was untrue! Don't go into it blind, we had a survey but the boat had been winterised, so the engines were just looked at!
Get real expert advice dont rush in ! And don't be charmed by the sales man at the marina! We have lost loads of money and still in debt over our boat, that in the end we had to sell!
Good luck, enjoy yourself but be careful!
Just looked up narrowboats on yahoo and found a couple of websites!
2007-04-30 20:21:30 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contact the Residential Boat Owners Association (RBOA). They have all the info on living afloat. Start by buying their book "Living Afloat". Membership is £15 per year.
http://www.rboa.org.uk
2007-05-02 09:15:38 · answer #4 · answered by Michael B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try the brokers at the back of CanalBoat and "Rivers and Waterways" and "Inland Waterways" magazines ( in smiths ).
residential moorings are few and far between, as are normal moorings.
The advice is always to get your mooring before buying a boat.
2007-05-04 04:46:10 · answer #5 · answered by Michael H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NARROW BOATS ARE OK, BUT TRY LOOKING AT "DUTCH BARGES" SAME THING BUT TWICE AS WIDE, A FRIEND OF MINE AS ONE, HE SWEARS BY THEM.
2007-04-30 20:18:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
buy a yatch, theyre far nicer
:)
2007-05-01 05:51:03 · answer #7 · answered by Fraser :] 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
try ebay
2007-04-30 20:14:58 · answer #8 · answered by DONNA M 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋