I have a dream......

[HumourMe]

Ok, dipping my toe in, first post, be gentle, hello all, looking to learn and.......yes.......just humour me.
So I'm just starting the journey.
Me and the Mrs planning on retiring in 5-7 years. Looking at buying a mobo, liveaboard in the next 24-30 months at some point, so very much in the early planning stage, no rush.
So plan is, we buy the boat, residential moor it, but will use it for day, weekend trips, not planning on it being a static all that time, So we live on it for around 3 years before sacking it all in and going thru France to the Med and then bimbling around either forever if the mood takes us or coming back and then getting a narrowboat and live on that more sedately. It's a fluid plan.
Budget will prob be up to £50k for the boat, but I'm a Yorkshireman so lesser priced quality vfm purchases would be viewed favourably.
Current fave is a Moonraker 350, but there's been previous loves and there will be others, I'm currently fickle like that.
Home and work currently is near Melton Mowbray so, first question...... realistically where can I moor something about 11m long and 3.5m high and wide that can navigate rivers in that area under bridges and get to the sea. Or am I looking at keeping it near the coast somewhere. Initially when we first considered a narrowboat we were looking at Sawley or Braunstone, are these feasible? I'm guessing Not.
Go on, chuck opinions at me please, I will have more questions..........

 

[Greg2]

You may well have considered this but you will be looking at older boats so ongoing maintenance is to be expected so knowing/learning how to do stuff will be important and your plans allow time for that before you head off.

if you plan to head to the Med through France then be mindful of air draft - you mention 3.5m, which is the maximum so don’t go any higher. I am not sure if there are any navigable waterways near you, but fairly confident that you wont get to the coast, so my guess is that the Broads or Trent (Lincoln / Newark areas) might be your best bet (both provide access to the sea).

It sounds as though you might be new to boating so training will be important, particularly if you intend to go to sea. RYA courses might be a good idea and you will need qualifications for European waterways - ICC with CEVNI endorsement as the minimum. A VHF licence will also be necessary. Some info here
.

 

[Martxer]

Only being allowed 90 days stay in 180 may spoil your plan to bimble around the med

 

[hinch]

you can keep it at farndon or burton waters both are driveable for you and both have sea access routes however its not a 1 day trip to go have a boat mess about on the water. if you want that then you're looking at probably boston being your closest sea port failing that you're goole/hull/grimsby on the humber

 

[Seastoke]

Welcome Mr and Mrs Planning, good luck with your venture it will be along journey so good luck and keep in touch n here.

 

[Megs20Burt!]

you can keep it at farndon or burton waters both are driveable for you and both have sea access routes however its not a 1 day trip to go have a boat mess about on the water. if you want that then you're looking at probably boston being your closest sea port failing that you're goole/hull/grimsby on the humber

I am at Burton Waters. If you want to get in touch when you are ready, it is an excellent location, we plan to stay here for another 12/18 months before we upgrade to a larger boat and disappear into the sunset.

There is some excellent advice on here with some really knowledgable people. Older boats are cheaper, but you will spend a lot of time and money getting it to standard.

If you want to go through France, take a look at a Linssen. I have chartered these on the French canals and they are excellent. used versions are a little more than your budget, but take a look...?

 

[Simi]

Megs20Burt
What are the thing that are so good about Burton Waters

 

[Megs20Burt!]

Megs20Burt
What are the thing that are so good about Burton Waters

It can be quiet or noisy you can choose, the marina staff are excellent, you can take a gentle cruise or explore the Trent in all its glory. Lincoln is 4 miles away, if you have decent engines, there are 'no speed limit' sections of the Trent close by to open her up and use the turbo's, diesel is £0.89p per litre, mooring fees are reasonable, excellent eating facilities onsite or close by, complete fitness centre onsite including tennis etc, good pub 100yds away, flood protection, angling, walks, bike rides. Access to the sea, York etc etc.
Check it out?

 

[jon and michie]

Only being allowed 90 days stay in 180 may spoil your plan to bimble around the med

Isnt that per country i.e max 90 days France then say to Italy for another 90 days ?

 

[jon and michie]

Apart from getting experience training wise - as and when you do find the boat you want get it surveyed and sea trialled by a marine engineer

 

[Simi]

I have checked it out and wasn’t to impressed but it depends what you want to do with your boat

 

[Seastoke]

Megs20Burt
What are the thing that are so good about Burton Waters

What do you want from a base and marina .

 

[[2574]]

Isnt that per country i.e max 90 days France then say to Italy for another 90 days ?

No, it’s 90 days in any Schengen country (which is most EU countries). After 90 days you have to leave Schengen for 90 days before you can return. So for 90 days out to Turkey, Morocco or Croatia for example. Then you can return to Schengen. Bimbling around the Mediterranean is no longer possible since Brexit

 

[fred247]

I thought it was a rolling 180 days, leave Schengen for 24 hrs another 180 days begin on your return

 

[Simi]

There is nothing wrong with Burton Waters marina its a day from sea (Hull/Grimsby) and when you get there you are another day from anywhere Whitby Wells Yarmouth Lowestoft 3-6 hrs at 20knts
The fosse dyke is very shallow has had no maintenance for years low bridges at saxilby 2 hrs to Torksey the lock only opens a few hrs either side of high water
York is nice but a hard day to get there and that’s only to Naburn difficult on one tide the Ouse is a shitty river with lots of floating timber
Being at Newark or Farndon is similar but there is more river and places to visit locks can be operated yourself any time
Inland marinas are ok if your not looking to go to sea but being inland only 2-3 hrs to sea is better and it does give the option to go out if the weather at sea is poor if your in a costal marina and the weather is bad you can go no where
It’s easier to travel a few hrs in your car to your boat

 

[[2574]]

I thought it was a rolling 180 days, leave Schengen for 24 hrs another 180 days begin on your return

Afraid not, wish it was so.......

 

[Martxer]

I thought it was a rolling 180 days, leave Schengen for 24 hrs another 180 days begin on your return

You can stay for 90 days out of 180 . Leaving for 24 hrs does not give you another 90 days

 

[luke collins]

We are in Leicester and used to keep our boat at Fosdyke Lincs. Quick access to the Wash. we now add an hour to our drive and are on the hamble. The sea is so much calmer and so many more places to visit.

 

[hinch]

We are in Leicester and used to keep our boat at Fosdyke Lincs. Quick access to the Wash. we now add an hour to our drive and are on the hamble. The sea is so much calmer and so many more places to visit.

how on earth do you get from leicester to the south coast in only an hour

 

[I’m no expert]

There is nothing wrong with Burton Waters marina its a day from sea (Hull/Grimsby) and when you get there you are another day from anywhere Whitby Wells Yarmouth Lowestoft 3-6 hrs at 20knts
The fosse dyke is very shallow has had no maintenance for years low bridges at saxilby 2 hrs to Torksey the lock only opens a few hrs either side of high water
York is nice but a hard day to get there and that’s only to Naburn difficult on one tide the Ouse is a shitty river with lots of floating timber
Being at Newark or Farndon is similar but there is more river and places to visit locks can be operated yourself any time
Inland marinas are ok if your not looking to go to sea but being inland only 2-3 hrs to sea is better and it does give the option to go out if the weather at sea is poor if your in a costal marina and the weather is bad you can go no where
It’s easier to travel a few hrs in your car to your boat

Burton Waters is more than 2-3 hours to the sea, it’s 2 hours to Torksey and then another hour before you can open the taps at Gainsborough.
Its not possible to make it to Hull on one tide either so you would need to stop off somewhere.
Burton Waters is a nice marina it’s just in the wrong place.
From Melton Farndon Marina is a better option, it’s about 30 minutes from Melton and your not as limited on boat size.

Going back to the OP I think if you intend to live on a boat then you need something bigger, a wide beam narrowboat is ideal but will stretch that budget.
For travelling around the med a sail boat would be better than a MB.