27ft river cruiser for liveaboard UK? Advice on this boat and small boat living?

[Yoghurtpot]

Hi all,
I'm looking at GRP cruisers for a compact liveaboard in UK which would be my base in between stints of working away. I'm looking for any thoughts on the below Elysian 27, and also any experiences of people living in a small GRP boat. I'm aware of condensation/heating/small space issues from living in a small touring caravan and van living previously, although my roughing-it van days are behind me so I'm looking for some comforts in my floating little home. Dream would ultimately be a steel narrowboat but funds don't allow at the minute so looking into GRP. I really like the Highbridge Crusader and Nauticus' but haven't seen many that don't need a lot of investment for hot water/heating systems etc. I only have basic DIY skills and no longer near my old tradey mates, so any big projects would get expensive.

Recently saw this Elysian 27 and was wondering peoples thoughts on it? Was originally only considering narrowbeam due to widebeam licence/mooring surcharges and for full network access, however realistically other than a cruise to the pub and mini missions I won't be going so far for the foreseeable and will be based between Lincoln and Nottingham (still to be decided where exactly) due to elderly parent nearby. Although a little rough around the edges it has gas instant hot water, diesel heater, 12v and 230 electrics, wet-room/shower, all the things I was calculating to install on other boats I've seen to make them more liveable, plus a diesel engine for charging batteries. I was wondering if the cupboard space in the bedroom would be big enough for a little pipsqueak type solid fuel stove, but maybe a little overkill on a boat like this?

This will be my first boat so other than online research I'm going in fairly blind. This was a DIY restoration- they said the top coat of paint reacted with the undercoat so needs repainting and a couple of windows are leaking which need to be sorted. The paint job makes me a little concerned about any other potential bodge jobs on her. Also worried about resale as I've seen tonnes of Elysians for sale for long periods and I know people tend to prefer the traditional look on these old boats.

Any thoughts/blindingly obvious concerns on this boat? It ticks all the things I need for comfortable periods on her, but is it a bodge?
Has anyone got any positive tales of living on a small GRP boat? Getting on the water has been a decades long dream which was shelved due to various reasons, but I'm now free and keen to make it happen before I lose any more life.

Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[Seastoke]

First you need a resident mooring , where are you getting your 240 volt from, has the boat got a safety license , just a start.

 

[Yoghurtpot]

Thanks. I've been looking at leisure moorings as I'm away for work so will use the boat as my base in the East Mids whilst checking in with my dad in between work and being away in the van. I have a registered address where all my post goes so hoped all of this would meet the leisure mooring rules.

Was looking at winter moorings with electric, the rest of the year the solar and engine charging (which will need to be upgraded) should do me as my leccy needs are fairly minimal: lights, laptop/phone/speaker charging, low power 12v fridge, pumps, diesel heater. I have a jackery which I'm able to charge at family/work which goes a long way with my basic charging needs when offgrid in the van, so the diesel heater start up and pumps are my main concern.

The boat has a BSS and is in a Marina, although the BSS runs out soon, which means the work's been done since the last BSS. But the seller said they will put a fresh one on if they get close to the asking price, so unless they're bluffing they seem confident their restoration work was to the regs.

 

[Lucy52]

You could ask on Canal Wold Forum. They know a lot about small boats on the inland waterways, though their advice might seem quite direct, they do know their stuff.

 

[Flynnbarr]

As post 4 says you’d be better on the canal world forum plus I’d keep looking for a Highbridge Crusader as they seem to have a ok reputation for what you propose.
Good luck….many people do what you want to do on all sorts of craft.

 

[kingsebi]

I lived on a Senior 32 for five years. Your boat looks similar. I installed a solid fuel stove in the salon and 300w solar panels on the roof. Worked well. Never cold in winter and more importantly no humidity. Solar panels kept batteries charged all year through. Never went to ports. Didn’t have a fridge though and was on the canals in the South of France. A very different climate I imagine. Just saying it can be done.