Living On River Cruiser - Lifespan of Boat

[Bat135]

Hi

I am thinking of buying a 27ft river cruiser to live on.

Like an Elysian 27ft Broads cruiser.

As a single man the space is sufficient and will have all the stuff I need. Hearing and cooking ect. Toilets and electric ect.

My question is this… I am 43 and want a boat that will see me out. 35 years I guess.

Now the boats I see and like were mainly built as early as the 70s. I am not too concerned about engines as these can be fixed or worst case scenario an outboard. But how long do the actual boats last? Like, if I brought one that was made in the 70s it’s asking alot for it to last untill 2060. That’s nearly 90 years since it was built?

The same for narrow boats. I could never afford a new one.

Was just wondering what’s my best bet for longevity without serious structural write offs for both narrow and river cruisers to live aboard. Like I say… the engine not so much an issue.

What needs to be done service wise regarding river cruisers? I know barge boats need blacking ect.

Just trying to weigh up the pros and cons of longevity between barrow boats and river cruisers with regards to living on for 30 odd years.

And with regards to servicing pros and cons between the two aswell. Given my limited ish budget

Like I say I can’t afford a new one. Hence why I like the idea of the river cruisers… cheaper.

Any advice would be really helpfull. Thanks. P

 

[Tranona]

Welcome to the forum

A GRP hull will outlast you. It is all the other bits that will need regular replacement as they wear out and fail. Living on a 27' boat is only one step above camping (I did it for a year when I was younger) and boat gear is never intended for full time use,

There are many other things to consider when thinking of living on a boat on the inland waterways such as where are you going to moor? Can you live with being a continuous cruiser? what are you going to do in the winter when a boat like that becomes a cold damp prison. Do you need to interact with land based society for example for work or social reasons?

Little boats like that were designed for occasional use, not as a substitute permanent homes. It might be a good way of sampling whether that life is for you but I suggest not for the rest of your life. However things change if you move up to a 35'+ narrow boat where you get sufficient space for a single person to live comfortably, but unless you can afford to buy a newish one you will spend a good part of your life fixing things.

There are plenty of youtubes and TV programmes showing people living on boats on the inland waterways waxing lyrical about the freedom and watching egrets out of the window, but rarely talk about the downsides, particularly the long cold damp winters. Very few do it for extended periods, and thinking of deciding at 43 to buy a boat for the rest of your life stretches reality!