Best UK place to live ABOARD

[PabloPicasso]

This aspirational at the moment. Given the various factors of weather, near by cruising grounds, cost, berth availability, and so on, where is the best place base a live aboard sailing boat in the UK?

Oh yes, and why?

 

[maby]

On most criteria - apart from cost - the answer has to be somewhere around the Solent. Generally the best weather on mainland UK, central and hence easy to get to almost anywhere along the Channel in both the UK and France, easy access to more exotic places like the Channel Islands, Brittany and the western coast of France and loads of well equipped marinas.

The downside, of course, is the cost - the most expensive marinas in the UK - probably in Europe....

 

[johnalison]

Some people we met had a whale of a time living aboard in London during the winter at St Katts.

 

[Tranona]

No one place is "best" place to live on board. As you see you already have 2 suggestions, for very different reasons.

You have listed some factors that might influence your choice, but there are so many places that would have those factors. People live on boats in just about all locations around the UK. For some circumstances such as work or cost dictate where they live, but suspect that most would claim they are in the best place - for them!

Only you can determine what is best for you.

 

[alan_d]

Where's the best UK place to live ashore?

 

[yachtorion]

Where's the best UK place to live ashore?

Scotland.... for about another year I reckon.

As for living aboard... if you need to be in a particular place for work etc then that settles it. Otherwise, why pick a particular place? Sail around.

 

[MikeBz]

Where's the best UK place to live ashore?

As near as possible to your boat

 

[yachtorion]

I've noticed that a lot of people in Swansea also have a holiday home... all of which are also in Swansea. Must say something about the place. The marina and the Gower Peninsular are very nice. Good sailing grounds and an easyish trip to Ireland / Isle of Man / Scotland

 

[LadyInBed]

If I were a full time live aboard in the UK I would move around, but to be honest it would work out too expensive and I like the sun, so I would head for warmer clims.

 

[Fantasie 19]

This aspirational at the moment. Given the various factors of weather, near by cruising grounds, cost, berth availability, and so on, where is the best place base a live aboard sailing boat in the UK?

Oh yes, and why?

According to Google - warmest place in the UK is the Isles of Scilly - I can't imagine you'd complain much at the available cruising from there either - no idea on mooring and the like though.... so my guess to your answer is there, or the Channel Islands

 

[PabloPicasso]

No one place is "best" place to live on board. As you see you already have 2 suggestions, for very different reasons.

You have listed some factors that might influence your choice, but there are so many places that would have those factors. People live on boats in just about all locations around the UK. For some circumstances such as work or cost dictate where they live, but suspect that most would claim they are in the best place - for them!

Yes, it's these opinions and the "whys' I'm interested in

Only you can determine what is best for you.

 

[Tranona]

Well, not sure how that will help you make your decision. You seem to miss the point - it is your decision!

You can construct a sound argument for living on a boat just about anywhere in the UK - obvious as people already do. Draw up the list of YOUR priorities - just as in buying a boat - then look at the vast amount of information that is available on all the areas where boats are kept, draw up a short list, then investigate in more detail. However just as with buying a boat you will have to compromise as there is no "best".

It might be more productive, again just like choosing a boat, to have your short list and why they meet your criteria and ask people who live there on boats for their opinion. A word of warning though you are likely to get many conflicting opinions as the small number of people who actually live on boats in any one area are likely to be very individual people!

 

[GHA]

This aspirational at the moment. Given the various factors of weather, near by cruising grounds, cost, berth availability, and so on, where is the best place base a live aboard sailing boat in the UK?

Oh yes, and why?

Forget sailing grounds, living aboard you won't go sailing. No one does

A few I've spent at the very least a month in, some much longer...

London-
St Kats, not the place for cruisers it was a few years ago but then not that expensive for a berth in the middle of london. Thames clipper nearby. Brick lane for sunday brunch. Waitrose for the deli counter sell by date cheap food
Limehouse - nice, DLR right next to it. Walks up the canal, nice pubs, clipper not too far.
Southdock - roughish neck of the woods, clipper right there. Greenwich just a cycle down the road.
Burnham - train station nearby, nice town.Pretty.
Faversham- nice town, quick train to london, pretty walks.
Brighton. Funky town, nice walks along the seafront.
Gosport. - Hmm, plenty of pound shops.
Dartmouth - Pretty town, friendly chilled out people. Awful weather in the winter.

Other side of Biscay - Now you're talking

 

[viago]

there are many thousands of live aboards in the uk and as property prices continue to escalate that trend will continue to grow.
living aboard is not conducive to moving around but a few do.
i know a good few locally who have lived aboard for many years and it seems mobo's provide better homes than sailboats. the best are widebeam canal boats of course. people have them on marine moorings in torpoint and on the hard in plymouth. basically it's £1/foot/week for hard and £1.40/foot/week on a pontoon.
plenty to think about. i know of a cheap colvic 28 mobo that would make a good liveaboard for one.

choose a place within easy walking distance of a supermarket and garage. best not to run a car but a bike or moped instead.

 

[Niander]

ID like a list of where Marinas allow it ... a few liveaboards here in Whitby.

 

[fisherman]

There is quite a community of liveaboards on the beach opposite Penryn quay, seem fairly happy. Boat (HW) down to Lidl/ fleshpots of Falmouth, buses nearby fairly busy now with the Uni.

 

[Saguday]

I'm surprised Falmouth wasn't mentioned earlier, would probably be my choice if I had to pick only one place.

Why is Dartmouth awful for weather over winter? Can't see how it's any worse than anywhere else along the western half of the south coast. It will be warmer but wetter that side so if you don't like rain head for the east coast where it is much dryer but definitely colder over winter. If you like it both wet and cold there's always the north west of Scotland

 

[GHA]

Why is Dartmouth awful for weather over winter?

Cos the weather is awful in Dartmouth in winter
Was last winter anyway, one front after another for months on end.
Sod that, no more UK winters.
Faversham is actually a bit drier, the rain gets dumped over the downs on the way.

 

[GHA]

ID like a list of where Marinas allow it ... a few liveaboards here in Whitby.

Doesn't really work like that, it's not really something which gets advertised. Not all the time anyway, some marinas do have a liveaboard policy. You'll get away with it in quite a few places as long as you keep a lowish profile and pay the bills instantly

 

[viago]

Cos the weather is awful in Dartmouth in winter
Was last winter anyway, one front after another for months on end.
Sod that, no more UK winters.
Faversham is actually a bit drier, the rain gets dumped over the downs on the way.

we get big winds every winter. last winter wasnt too bad iirc.

the centre of faversham is full of liveaboard barges. great location but i would opt for oare creek for the wildlife, tranquility and a great pub that sells masterbrew.