Liveaboard in London Marinas, any experiences?

[seanfoster]

Hope someone can help, it's possible that I may have to work in London for 6 months or so (may be even longer, possibly up to 2 years) I really don't like the idea of having to pay extortionate rents (I'd be returning home most weekends) and also keeping my home running. I was thinking of mooring my boat up (currently a 25 ft yacht, but will probably be moving up to 36-38 ft in the near future) somewhere towards central London.

Can anyone suggest good places to consider? My friend told me about St Katherine's dock, as he did the same thing but many years ago.

I really need to look at cost, security, convenience, parking (although I may ditch my car and use my motorbike).

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Roaring Girl]

It slightly depends what you want, and in particular will you be there 7/52 (or only in the week) and whether you need to receive post there, and whether you need parking. Assuming you stay downstream of Tower Bridge, the main choices are St Katherines, Limnehouse, South Quay and Gallions Reach. I don't know South Quay but someone else might.

All of them have waiting lists, so get started asap. St K's will not allow UK-flagged liveaboards but there are people using their boats as week-time residences and not a lot of notice seems to be taken. Limehouse has liveaboards, and a huge waiting list. If you are a CA member, you can get post sent there. Both of them have very restricted or very expensive parking.

Gallions Reach is right under the City Airport flight path and deep into the still-being-regenerated docklands. It would be a weird place to be, but might be achievable and cheap(er).

25' is small if you have to manage business clothing - ie hanging up, any ironing, keeping shoes nice. Otherwise it sounds a good plan if you can find a spot.

 

[seanfoster]

Thanks for that, I was looking at Gallions Reach on Google earth, actually I wouldn't be too bothered about the planes coming in, (but would need some hefty earplugs to get some sleep!).

I agree 25 ft is very 'cosy' luckily I wouldn't need many formal clothes as most of my work is outdoors (I'm a civil engineer) and a big yellow coat will hide any wrinkled shirts!

My Idea is to live on board Monday to Friday, do you know what most marina's attitudes are to that?

 

[highandry]

If you really get stuck, Brighton Marina is an hour plus from Central London. Regular trains, no problems living aboard at the marina. Buses Marina-Railway Station about every 10 minutes (or use your M/C)
Minus points...expense and the dreaded daily commute. There's a few there that do it though.

 

[dt4134]

I knew some full-time liveaboards in the marina in South Dock a few years ago. I don't know if they've changed their policy since but there was quite a community there then.

The Jubilee Line is nearby so easy transport.

 

[Roaring Girl]

Si long as you keep your boat seaworthy and you're not there full time few UK marinas seem to mind if you're there quite a lot of the time. (Not so true in the US I gather where there are more often restrictions on numbers of nights spent aboard.) Check on electricity prices or whether included in berth.

I've lived aboard in both Brighton and Ipswich. Brighton is a far more fun town, but it is a 15 minute bus rideto the station. Once there you have a choice of two lines. Ipswich you can walk to the station but it's only the one service to L Street. Alternatively Tollesbury (Saltings very cheap) or Fambridge and your motorbike, if you were prepared to be out of London.

 

[AndrewB]

I'd agree South Dock is probably your best bet. I lived there for a while some years ago. Also lived in both Limehouse Basin and St Katherine's, but the first would take major queue-jumping while the second is now very anti-liveaboards.

 

[seanfoster]

I'd agree South Dock is probably your best bet. I lived there for a while some years ago. Also lived in both Limehouse Basin and St Katherine's, but the first would take major queue-jumping while the second is now very anti-liveaboards.

Thanks for your reply. I haven't seen South Dock in person but l;looking at it from google earth it looks ideal. I noticed that its run by the local council authority. Does anyone know about waiting lists (is there one, if so how long?)

 

[Paul_G]

If you really get stuck, Brighton Marina is an hour plus from Central London. Regular trains, no problems living aboard at the marina. Buses Marina-Railway Station about every 10 minutes (or use your M/C)
Minus points...expense and the dreaded daily commute. There's a few there that do it though.

Premier have changed their policy on liveaboards. Previously they allowed it subject to a premium. This year they have excluded liveaboards from all their marinas that I have checked.

 

[highandry]

That's interesting, wonder what brought about the change in policy?

I must have been lucky, when I lived there they gave me a discount for paying the yearly premium in advance..

 

[nimbusgb]

If you really get stuck, Brighton Marina is an hour plus from Central London. Regular trains, no problems living aboard at the marina. Buses Marina-Railway Station about every 10 minutes (or use your M/C)
Minus points...expense and the dreaded daily commute. There's a few there that do it though.

An hours train ride but call it 2 hours door to door. 3 or 4 times in the 6 months will get you home at 22:00 or later since the train will be late/delayed or run into the wrong kind of rain. Once in the 6 months you will have to either stay at a mates, find an alternative route home or book in to an hotel.
initially 3 out of 5 times you will end up standing all the way on the train, eventually you will shove your grandmother out of the way to get a seat.

Your GSM modem wont work all the time on the ride.

You will have to forego Friday evening drinks and other office do's unless you want to get home at 1:00 am.

Isn't commuting fun!

 

[nimbusgb]

Premier have changed their policy on liveaboards. Previously they allowed it subject to a premium. This year they have excluded liveaboards from all their marinas that I have checked.

I must tell my mate who is a live aboard in a premier marina on the South Coast!

 

[highandry]

An hours train ride but call it 2 hours door to door. 3 or 4 times in the 6 months will get you home at 22:00 or later since the train will be late/delayed or run into the wrong kind of rain. Once in the 6 months you will have to either stay at a mates, find an alternative route home or book in to an hotel.
initially 3 out of 5 times you will end up standing all the way on the train, eventually you will shove your grandmother out of the way to get a seat.

Your GSM modem wont work all the time on the ride.

You will have to forego Friday evening drinks and other office do's unless you want to get home at 1:00 am.

Isn't commuting fun!

Excellent...I suspect "there speaks the voice of experience"..

I often wondered why the bloke down the jetty from me who worked in "The City" was such a miserable sod. As a retired wrinkly I never had to suffer the daily trek..

 

[Paul_G]

I must tell my mate who is a live aboard in a premier marina on the South Coast!

your mate should check the current rules and regulations. I have looked at Chichester (where I am ), Port Solent and Brighton, all the same.

Extract below

12. No Living Aboard Boats
12.1 No person or persons shall be permitted to reside aboard any Boat nor shall a
Boat be used as a houseboat. This restriction shall not prevent residence aboard a Boat during a period of holiday for the purposes of that holiday. In any event, no person may reside aboard any Boat for more than forty days in any twelve month period unless with the express permission of the General Manager

As the general manager can give permission I wonder if this is to keep council tax etc issues away from the marina and put it back to the berth holder.

Previously it was in the rules that liveaboard was permitted with a 20% premium.

 

[nimbusgb]

Excellent...I suspect "there speaks the voice of experience"..

I often wondered why the bloke down the jetty from me who worked in "The City" was such a miserable sod. As a retired wrinkly I never had to suffer the daily trek..

Oh yes! But I only kept it up for about 5 years. There were blokes on the Hastings line that had been doing it for 30 years or more.

It wasn't too bad on Friday evenings a few people would get a small party going around a table occasionally.

Always wondered why no-one got into forming 'commuter clubs'. One could learn a language, discuss philosophy, football or any of a number of things in an hour. With a bit of organising the train companies could set up a car or two tacked on to the ends of the train and not required platform access with gym equipment or a coffee shop. Bet you a proper Starbucks car would make money too.

An opportunity?

 

[highandry]

30 years commuting!! That's not a job...it's a sentence.

I vaguely recall there was some "Association" formed by Brighton-London commuters for a time and uproar when the train company altered a route or time table which ruined it. So your idea is not without possibilities, anything to alleviate the daily monotony I suspect would be most welcome.

 

[nathanlee]

I agree 25 ft is very 'cosy' luckily I wouldn't need many formal clothes as most of my work is outdoors (I'm a civil engineer) and a big yellow coat will hide any wrinkled shirts!

My Idea is to live on board Monday to Friday, do you know what most marina's attitudes are to that?

I did 18 months on a 21footer in St Kat's. My mate did the same on a 23ft motorboat, and another friend has done two years on a Leisure 23.

They don't like liveaboards, so don't tell them and you'll be fine, especially if you're going home at the weekends.

NB: I was visiting a friend in Jan, and all the showers at St Kat's are screwed. West basin shower block is totally out of order, and the east basin's showers are all knackered. It's like having a mouse pee on you.

Oh, cost was £2100 for 6 months. There's a minimum length of 27ft, so you'll be paying the same as me, price hikes excluded.

 

[magic-martinh]

It may not be what you are looking for, nor have spaces, and it's tidal, but, Nine Elms Pier, Kirtling St, Vauxhall is residential.

 

[V1701]

Premier have changed their policy on liveaboards. Previously they allowed it subject to a premium. This year they have excluded liveaboards from all their marinas that I have checked.

That's interesting, wonder what brought about the change in policy?

I must have been lucky, when I lived there they gave me a discount for paying the yearly premium in advance..

your mate should check the current rules and regulations. I have looked at Chichester (where I am ), Port Solent and Brighton, all the same.

Extract below

12. No Living Aboard Boats
12.1 No person or persons shall be permitted to reside aboard any Boat nor shall a
Boat be used as a houseboat. This restriction shall not prevent residence aboard a Boat during a period of holiday for the purposes of that holiday. In any event, no person may reside aboard any Boat for more than forty days in any twelve month period unless with the express permission of the General Manager

As the general manager can give permission I wonder if this is to keep council tax etc issues away from the marina and put it back to the berth holder.

Previously it was in the rules that liveaboard was permitted with a 20% premium.

You can live aboard at Brighton and use it as a postal address and still get a discount for paying 12 months up front. There's no 20% surcharge whether you pay in advance or monthly as far as I know. It was also an exclusion on my insurance and when I told them I would be living aboard they added it in at no extra cost. You needn't worry about council tax though that could be part of the reason for the "official" Premier policy on liveaboards. Water is free, electricity charged per unit & billed monthly, diesel at cost to them of supplying (just over 80p/L at the moment). For 30 foot boat works out £250/M so smaller a bit cheaper. A damn site cheaper than renting a flat!