Student living abord.

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Tomm

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Hi guys... I posted this thread in the thames section before I knew about this section.

I think that maybe I am being abit silly even thinking of this so people tell me if you agreee. But, I though its at least worth asking...

I start Drama school In London in september and have accomodation untill April. It was thinking if it would be fesable to live on a boat in the thames. I have very little money to spend but if I could get a reasonably priced plastic boat and live on that to avoid exstorshinate rent. I abosloutely love boating of any kind so if this could work it would be a dream... I'm being unrealistic?

How much would long term mooring fees ect. I would not mind living in the most basic's of boats if it worked out cheaper than renting.

As I say, tell me if im being stupid. Any help would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks

Tomm

EDIT: obvoiusly alot to think about. water,mooring,maintainece,heating,cooking. Im paying £150 rent each week untill April and what im trying to figure out is if after mooring, maintainence gas ect. Would it be cheaper than renting for that sort of price?

Here are some links of tatty boats I was looking at.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150890745555?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

This is bidding at £51 floats and thats about it so alot to think about.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150892128720?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140842022610?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120975750418?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Any advice would be great.
 
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If it's £150 per month, stay ashore!

If it's £150 per week, you could be on a winner.

IMHO the boats mentioned are too small (although Nathan Lee may disagree). The larger one will leak a lot and is a bit far gone for your purpose.

I bought my 40' 100 year old boat seven years ago comparing it with £100/week to rent a room. I broke even within 3 years and it now owes me nothing at around £300/month. I have however had to rebuild all the topsides above the original hull.
 
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daveyw said:
+1
Might be better to source moorings first.
Click to expand...
Absolutely! I lived aboard three times while working in London, in 1975-6, 1999, and 2004-5. The first time finding a really cheap mud-berth with access ashore was easy. The last time took a lot of persistence (and insider contacts) to let me queue-jump the 7 year waiting list for Limehouse Basin.

Mains power is a major consideration specially if you expect to over-winter, so a marina or mudberth with shore access is far more suitable than a swinging mooring, though the latter are easier to find, specially on the Medway. Other domestic arrangements are more straightforward.

As finding a mooring is your no.1 consideration, your boat must be planned accordingly. Absolute max 28', as this size can often be 'fitted in' when a larger boat will be turned away (to my mind, 24' is the smallest that is comfortable as a longterm liveaboard). Must be "seaworthy", i.e. able to arrive under its own power, as many places will turn away liveaboard hulks. Should be capable of taking the ground in a mudberth, as that will widen the mooring grounds. So no sailboat with a deep fin keel.

(PS You'll find that this forum is mostly of people who are liveaboards on the sea, so will offer advice applicable to below London Bridge, while the Thames forum is mainly about further up and the neighbouring canals).
 
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because of the general shortage of housing and thenprice of property anywhere that is habitable is in great demand. Your biggest problem will therefore be finding a mooring... and one where you can live on board withoug attracting complaints that get the local council involved and demanding a planning application for permanent residential use....

Whilst you can often tie up over night on the canal bank, or in a creek it becomes a different matter if you stay for any lenght of time... There is al so security to consider... any quite place will be likely to be full of local vandals and idiots willing to untie your lines.... coz it fun init... good luck
 
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