Living on board in the UK over winter

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SteveB_Sigma33

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I'm toying with the idea of selling the house and buying a nice big boat to live on. I have seen a lovely boat which I have instantly fallen in love with but she does need some work. What I am thinking of doing is buying the boat and then doing her up with an eye on sailing away in two years time.

What would be the main draw backs for being a live aboard in the UK climate etc?

I've started to think through all the pro's and cons but I'm sure there is a lot that you chaps can tell me before I make what I consider to be a bold step towards escaping the rat race.

All comments appreciated.
 
She is an old ocean racer with lovely flat tops and gorgeous lines. Think it's going to hurt like hell to sell my Sigma!! It's either that or run my own yachting fleet /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Well, I've done it.

Five rather boring things:

1. Don't rely on a blown air diesel heater - you will find that few liveaboards in the UK do. If you can get cheap shore power a fan heater is fine, o/wise fit a solid fuel stove (and make it a good one!)

2. You will be living under a winter cover; get a good one made early on. Trying to do without is a recipe for cold conditions, deck leaks and condensation. The solid fuel stove pipe needs to be accomodated (think double wall stainless central heating flue...)

3. Working on a boat whilst living aboard is VERY inconvenient. In fact almost impossible in winter.

4. Have slats under the mattresses not solid plywood

5. Sell, throw away or store almost all your possessions and be sure the ones you retain are of good quality.
 
A good idea I've seen is to buy a half-size shipping container and put it in an adjacent boatyard - waterproof & secure storage for all those things you need now and then and things like TVs you'll want to leave ashore when going for a sail. It also makes a good workshop. When you sail away, sell it on.
 
The worse thing about living aboard in UK in winter, is damp, if you can keep that at bay, you'll feel a lot more comfortable. Agree with mirelle about the fan heater, especially if you have free leccy. Why burn diesel in an eberthingy. I alsi agree about the solid fuel, if it can be incorporated. Overall covers are wonderful things, but a really good one is not cheap, but wonderful! Plenty of ventilation is also great.I lived in UK on boats for a few years, above is what I learnt. I also agree about the clothes possesions. Anything that can spoil, will.
 
I agree. We do not have full covers but a cockpit cover and boom tent on the fore main (we are schooner rigged). We used both oil filled electric heaters and the fan type. We installed an oil burning stove that heats four radiators. It was great but this winter it will be quite a bit more expensive to run now that oil has gone up so much. A dehumidifier was really helpful. Any cold surface gets condensation so it is best to store things away from the boat sides as far as possible. This is where a big boat really comes into its own.

Even look forward to a winter aboard. Last winter was our first and we prepared ourselves for a hard time. But it was not at all and has a few really lovely surprises. The empty river was beautiful. There was a fantastic peace and quite. The marina was empty and a number of other live aboard families arrived and we enjoyed their company. We slowed cooked almost every meal on the stove and caught and ate fish. We used lots of candles in the saloon.

Best wishes.
 
I spent 5 years living on a 70ft Narrow Boat. My best pal was the wood burning stove. Wood burners are best because thy warm you up twice, once cutting it up and then when you burn it. Insulation was the key on board. A metal coffin suffers with condensation regardless, but I managed to keep pretty dry by lots of air vents and thick loft insulation covered with pine T&G. I had a fan that was powered by the heat from the stove and that pushed the air around and I had another wood stove at the far end of the boat. Put vents in everything and have a facility for air to move freely about and things do last. Never suffered with mildew and totally agree with slatts under the bed, sofa, chairs etc.

Wish you well /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Mirelle

SWMBO and I are living on board from next April, although in the UK for only one year. I am interested in the slats idea under your bunks, which will be difficult to fit under mine. However, I have seen this "VentAir" stuff which seems to be a thick wiry stuff that allegedly allows air to flow through it.

Has anyone used or know anyone who has used it?
 
Scuse the \"plug\", but Kim won\'t mind this one...

There is an amazingly good article, written by, er, me, in a recent issue of Classic Boat on how to fit a coal stove... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
Re: Scuse the \"plug\", but Kim won\'t mind this one...

Do you have a link to a Faversham picture and spec? Amazingly the vendors web site doesn't have one. It's not for a boat and I'd prefer enamelled, just playing with an idea at the mo.
 
A working cover can be created with 25mm plastic conduit spanning across the boat in an arch ( much the same as an old type gypsy caravan) held to the stauncheons with cable ties, plus a central/lateral one at the highest point to create a spine/ridge in the centre and covered with cheap reinforced plastic tarps tied again with cable ties. works well and is economical.
Rob
 
If I was living in the UK on Englander, I would definitely have a solid fuel stove. Not just for the heat, but for the cosyness!!!
 
We have spent two winters aboard in the UK. Few additional points to all the good advice:

* use Ventair, at least to start with. Much cheaper than the slats and much more effrective than the coir matting. Also lift and air your mattresses at least once a week from September to April.
* we find the oil filled radiators brillinatly useful, in addition to our Eberspacher, supplemented by fan heaters in extremis. We don't have solid fuel because it would be very difficultt o install it in such a way we could use it at sea.
* we replaced our big dehumidifier with two tichy ones from Homebase last winter. Vastly preferable for both stowage and being able to put in different places. And you can take the transformer off and run straight off the 12v. Because you're living aboard, you can empty them often enough.
* Insulate, insulate, insulate. There have been lots of threads on this, including stuff we've posted. 6mm closed cell foam on as much of the hull as you can reach, and the underside of the lids of the hatches under bunks.
* Ventilate, ventilate, ventilate, whether dorade funnels, hatches etc. Condensation is much more of a problem than cold.

Don't forget you still may be able to get out sailing .... Frostbite cruising has its downsides but also a lot of fun.

HTH
 
IMHO The oftenmost neglected consideration is WHERE you intend to hull up for the winter ,eg the East coast can be pretty damn cold , Solent is probably the mildest winter , you will need easy(car/bycycle )access to supplies ,laundrette,good town or supermarket,etc ,pub . if you are going to be ashore , get the boat tucked in under a hedge/wall to keep the driving rain and wind off . If afloat ,there's no point in being the outermost boat on a pontoon . Snowleopards container workshop idea will save you so much aggro ,you can fibreglass and grind and paint all day long . You will love being away from life's modern inconveniences and bills ,i am sure!
 
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