Options
Would it be entirely mad for me to commute by boat?
thefairydandy
Posts: 3,235 Forum Member
✭✭✭
Seeing as it's the last day of silly season, I thought I'd put a less heavy question in advice, which may help me stop wasting my weekend.
Basically, I am looking at the option to commute to work by canal. We are moving offices in the next few months, and I will be close to canal moorings at both ends, with a direct route and no locks between here and there. Mooring would cost me £1000 a year, half that of car insurance, though obviously I couldn't just take the boat anywhere.
I have some little experience boating on lakes, but not canals.
Is there such a thing as a small motored boat with a little cabin - I've been looking at a few but none are under 14" and a smaller one would be better I think.
Do you need a license on a canal? Boat insurance? Basically is this idea totally nuts and should I give up even contemplating it?!
I think this could be quite a fun purchase, and it would definitely give me something to do of a weekend! Also, I blooming hate trains but can't quite afford a car.
Basically, I am looking at the option to commute to work by canal. We are moving offices in the next few months, and I will be close to canal moorings at both ends, with a direct route and no locks between here and there. Mooring would cost me £1000 a year, half that of car insurance, though obviously I couldn't just take the boat anywhere.
I have some little experience boating on lakes, but not canals.
Is there such a thing as a small motored boat with a little cabin - I've been looking at a few but none are under 14" and a smaller one would be better I think.
Do you need a license on a canal? Boat insurance? Basically is this idea totally nuts and should I give up even contemplating it?!
I think this could be quite a fun purchase, and it would definitely give me something to do of a weekend! Also, I blooming hate trains but can't quite afford a car.
0
Comments
I've got a little houseboat, it's great fun but not cheap, mooring fees are just the start of it.
http://www.boatsales-uk.com/running_costs.htm
Well, the commute is just over 3 miles, but I think the quality of life issue is the big one for me rather than the time. I grew up in the countryside, and where I live is so urban that a little boat would give me a reasonable degree of freedom as a hobby.
I really can't stress how much I loathe getting the train, and I can't see myself being any happier driving through traffic.
How did you get into boating may I ask? Is it 'easy' for a relative amateur to get involved in?
I found the boating community at the mooring to be incredibly helpful, and there's lots of info at www.canalboat.co.uk and http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/boating
I would go and have a chat with people at the place you will be mooring your boat and ask their advice - I have never regretted my lovely little boat, she's my escape route and my sanctuary.
No "entire madness" would be commuting by boat when there is no water connection between home and work. That would be "totally nuts".
£2000 for car insurance. Mine's about £300. Start building up a decent driving record and shop around and it'll come down in future years.
Anything smaller would probably be completely open and therefore cold and wet in bad weather. Unless you want a launch, I would expect 17' would be about the mark you'd want. Then you could take it on longer trips and overnight in it. Even small boats are pretty expensive compared to cheap cars though, you'd be talking a couple of thousand absolute minimum including an engine.
Yes, visit http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/boating/licensing it's the successor to British Waterways. You'll also need a safety inspection - not major, mainly to do with fire safety from gas cylinders and fuel escapes. If it's a privately owned canal it will have it's own licensing instead.
Yes, third party liability is required for the public canal licence, probably be dirt cheap as accidents tend to be light and low likelyhood of personal injury. You might want more coverage though. See the above site.
No, but remember there will be a speed limit of 4mph so even a 3 mile journey isn't going to be quick.
There is a potential security problem with unattended moored boats, particularly if it has an outboard engine which is quite easy to remove and get a fair price with the numbers filed off
Canals can also freeze over in the winter so you'll need an alternative then!
See above. It'll be fun but don't expect it to be much cheaper
Oh, and if I was in your position, I would
If they can break the ice at either end of their commute, perhaps a mini-submarine?
I agree! If I lived and worked on a canal with a 3 mile distance between them I would definitely be cycling! That would be fantastic - the fitness, the fresh air, the cheapness, the ease...
If it's a good towpath I'd go for the bike.
It depends on secure storage space at both ends, they do cost a bit more than normal bikes.
A bus ride might be wise in icy weather.
David
Yes, but you're talking about rivers, which flow quickly enough not to freeze. Canals are standing water, they'll freeze over in a bad winter.