Narrowboats.

[ajlelectronics]

If it's for a few weeks a year, you're better off renting.

Here is a typical illustration Mat:

Boat Dark Star
Duration:
Party Size:
2
Pets: 1
Start Date:20/06/2025
End Date:23/06/2025
Nights:3
June Special:£-390.25
Hire Charge:£1115.00
Damage Waiver:£38.00
Cost of Hire:£762.75
Refundable Deposit:£125.00
Pet(s) charge:£32.00
Total payable:£919.75

I could pop over to see you cheaper than that! Purely for interest, what would a typical French hire cost?

 

[bert]

12.4m steel cruiser. Was at thames and kennet marina

 

[skotl]

Here is a typical illustration Mat:

Boatark StarDuration:Party Size:
Max 7 Pets:
Start Date:20/06/2025
End Date:23/06/2025
Nights:3
June Special:£-390.25
Hire Charge:£1115.00
Damage Waiver:£38.00
Cost of Hire:£762.75
Refundable Deposit:£125.00
Pet(s) charge:£32.00
Total payable:£919.75

I could pop over to see you cheaper than that! Purely for interest, what would a typical French hire cost?

Not sure that makes your case, after the deposit that's £832. If you paid £45k for a boat and £3k a year on mooring and maintenance (which is probably light) then you could have had 90 rentals over ten years at the same cost with none of the risk.

Renting seems way more appealing to me!

 

[ajlelectronics]

Not sure that makes your case, after the deposit that's £832. If you paid £45k for a boat and £3k a year on mooring and maintenance (which is probably light) then you could have had 90 rentals over ten years at the same cost with none of the risk.

Renting seems way more appealing to me!

Except that at the end of the money, there is nothing to show for it and renting is subject to availability. "Let's just go off for the day" is not an option either.

 

[ajlelectronics]

after the deposit that's £832

The deposit is part of the charge, so nearly a Grand to pay for a weekend.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Here is another thought, as I don't intend to live aboard. It might also be usable on "my" patch of the river perhaps...

Viking 26ft Wide Beam Cabin Cruiser

1999 Viking 26 Wide Beam Cabin Cruiser
Honda 40hp Outboard | Sleeps 6 | Excellent Condition

This beautifully maintained and tastefully renovated Viking 26 is a perfect inland cruiser for weekends away or longer river adventures. At 26ft with a wide beam, she offers spacious accommodation and a modern, airy feel throughout. Ready to cruise and enjoy immediately.

?

Key Features:
• Honda 40hp outboard engine – Serviced in the last 12 months
• Three leisure batteries for reliable off-grid cruising
• New inverter (short burst 240V – great for charging tools/devices)
• Air conditioning system – Provides both hot and cold air
• Sleeps 6 comfortably
• Recently renovated galley & heads:
• New fridge
• Fully refurbished toilet and shower room
• Modern galley space with excellent storage
• New carpets and oak boat table with classic compass design
• Cockpit with white leather seats, a new white leather steering wheel, and a redesigned dashboard
• Canopy in fair condition
• Hull recently jet washed

Solar panels installed for keeping the leisure batteries topped up

Additional Info:

• Ideal for cruising the Avon and Midlands waterways
• Turnkey condition – ready to cruise

 

[premmington]

WE as a family - with grandchildren and dogs - have had three narrowboat holidays.

All hired craft...

I fancied one - I started buying https://waterwaysworld.com/magazine/

With a view to buy into one - I researched moorings.

All that painting and diesel engines - dog walking and pubs - I reckon would suit me - down to the ground!

-------------

But as with a lot of things in life - I came to the conclusion somethings are best "rented in".

Unless you newly retired/fit with time to use the boat (live near the network) or living aboard...

Plus locks are hard work for the "wife" - my dogs liked the exercise - but it looked like it was killing my Mrs - as I was on the tiller (smoking cigars).

 

[MetalMonkey]

Except that at the end of the money, there is nothing to show for it

That would still be an advantage surely, as the other way what you have at the end of the day is a moneypit narrowboat.

 

[ajlelectronics]

I have a viewing tomorrow, se we will see.

 

[Morrisman]

Here is another thought, as I don't intend to live aboard. It might also be usable on "my" patch of the river perhaps...

Viking 26ft Wide Beam Cabin Cruiser

1999 Viking 26 Wide Beam Cabin Cruiser
Honda 40hp Outboard | Sleeps 6 | Excellent Condition

This beautifully maintained and tastefully renovated Viking 26 is a perfect inland cruiser for weekends away or longer river adventures. At 26ft with a wide beam, she offers spacious accommodation and a modern, airy feel throughout. Ready to cruise and enjoy immediately.

?

Key Features:
• Honda 40hp outboard engine – Serviced in the last 12 months
• Three leisure batteries for reliable off-grid cruising
• New inverter (short burst 240V – great for charging tools/devices)
• Air conditioning system – Provides both hot and cold air
• Sleeps 6 comfortably
• Recently renovated galley & heads:
• New fridge
• Fully refurbished toilet and shower room
• Modern galley space with excellent storage
• New carpets and oak boat table with classic compass design
• Cockpit with white leather seats, a new white leather steering wheel, and a redesigned dashboard
• Canopy in fair condition
• Hull recently jet washed

Solar panels installed for keeping the leisure batteries topped up

Additional Info:

• Ideal for cruising the Avon and Midlands waterways
• Turnkey condition – ready to cruise

View attachment 500457

You could also go out to sea, over to France, or on a lake in one of those.

 

[premmington]

You could also go out to sea, over to France, or on a lake in one of those.

40hp - open sea.

 

[brightspark]

40hp - open sea.

 

[brightspark]

did it once with a 40hp on a speedboat and crapped myself and came back in

 

[premmington]

did it once with a 40hp on a speedboat and crapped myself and came back in

Only thing a 40hp motor is good for in a fast running tide is an "anchor on a really long chain rope".

 

[addjunkie]

Not sure that makes your case, after the deposit that's £832. If you paid £45k for a boat and £3k a year on mooring and maintenance (which is probably light) then you could have had 90 rentals over ten years at the same cost with none of the risk.

Renting seems way more appealing to me!

In the words of Felix Dennis….if it flys, floats or fornicates, it should be rented

did it once with a 40hp on a speedboat and crapped myself and came back in

Over to France, or Holland and into the canal network is a great idea. Motor cruiser over the ocean isnt too bad if you pick your weather and neap tides. A 40hp outboard pushing a big boat will be thirsty. Depending how old it is 2 stroke or 4? Though plenty folk cross the channel in big rubber dinghies with little out boards, Id not cross either without a spare engine of sails. If I was going on the rivers and canals it would need to be a diesel.
When I was much younger and dafter I raced a 90hp monohull….Imagine ripping up £20 notes 40 years ago! Nothing quite like big air wave jumping at 50 knots till something breaks.

 

[ajlelectronics]

You could also go out to sea, over to France, or on a lake in one of those.

And up your way.

Only thing a 40hp motor is good for in a fast running tide is an "anchor on a really long chain rope".

So is the hull capable of a channel crossing with better engines then, or a calm sea? Just for interest.

 

[timgunn1962]

no but im curious on how much they are to have one done

so what is the cost of getting one done ?

 

[addjunkie]

And up your way.


So is the hull capable of a channel crossing with better engines then, or a calm sea? Just for interest.

How a boat performs in a seaway is down to many factors but the shape below the water is the most important. Deeper the V the more stable it will be. Flat bottom, no ballast itll roll about on a wet flanel. You also need to consider its ability to right itself if its rolling, or how far it'll roll before it barrel rolls….. consider the limit of positive stability, sometimes called the angle of vanishing stability.

Itll cross no problem, but might not be so comfortable. A diesel would be better!

 

[AVI_8]

so is a house but at least with a house you get most of your money back compared to a canal boat

It’s not about money it’s about creating memories, there are no pockets in a shroud

 

[ajlelectronics]

It’s not about money it’s about creating memories, there are no pockets in a shroud

This is exactly my point. With both my parents passing in the last few weeks, it has made me wonder why I am saving money, instead of doing what interests me. HMRC are getting not a penny of my estate if I can help it, so I have two lots of inheritance to spend now, after the dust settles. I have a PPL so it's an HGV (what would I do with it?) or a boat of some sort.