Liveaboard in Portugal

[Jamese]

I have been investigating living aboard a barge in Portugal. In particular the River Douro which seems like a perfect place to live to me ! I already live in Portugal but so far I have found absolutely nothing on the subject. Lots of stuff on liveaboards in the Algarve but nothing on rivers !
It seems a bit odd to me given the popularity in England, Holland , Germany and France.
Does anybody know if there is an obvious reason for this ?

 

[DownWest]

I once went to Setubal to look at an old Tejo barge. Afloat, open except for tiny cuddies for and aft. Complete with mast rigging and a huge cotton sail. At 80ft loa it would have made a fine conversion fot living. And, at about £250 (then) not expensive! It was intended to sail her round to Vila Real de St Antonio for conversion. Unfortunately the bow was the wrong shape for sea work, being like a turned up flat shoe. There was another type of bow, more suitable, but we didn't know which before we got there.
I don't think there is any reason why you could not live on a river up north. Douro is lovely, but can be pretty cold in the winter, which maybe is why you hear of the Algarve?

An inquirey at your local Capitania might be useful. Also, EDP have some control over the Douro due to the dams.

 

[RobbieW]

I have been investigating living aboard a barge in Portugal. In particular the River Douro which seems like a perfect place to live to me ! I already live in Portugal but so far I have found absolutely nothing on the subject. Lots of stuff on liveaboards in the Algarve but nothing on rivers !
It seems a bit odd to me given the popularity in England, Holland , Germany and France.
Does anybody know if there is an obvious reason for this ?

Having visited Porto today and done the port tour round Taylor's lodge; one reason, to quote from the guide's talk, might be 'the Douro valley is ideal for growing the port grapes being very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter'.