14. We share our 1st year costings living aboard narrowboat Thistle & Rose & answer Q&A

Ever wondered how much it would cost living aboard a Narrowboat?
We have just completed our 1st Year as continuous cruisers on the rivers and canals of England and we can now look back to see how much we have spent. We've made mistakes that have cost us so if you are looking to move aboard a narrowboat then it's worth watching and learn from our mistakes.
Hi we are Rozzie, Rob & Ralph the nutty cockapoo and we have given up the rat race, sold our house and have bought a new narrowboat, Thistle & Rose. Our vlogs are showing our learns as we go from bricks and mortar to life on the water. Join us as we literally learn the ropes of becoming continual cruisers on England's 2500 miles of canals & rivers.
Our vlogs are ideal if you have ever wondered what it's like to live on a narrowboat or are considering to make the leap and buy your very own narrowboat. There's always some humour, lots of mistakes and always a few drinks being poured. Subscribe to our channel, ask us a question or just watch our videos as there's something for everyone.
Our music is from KZbin Library & Storyblocks via Clipchamp
#narrowboat #canals #nature #canal #alternativeliving #goodlife #happy #cockapoo #continouscruisers #canallife #narrowboatvloggers #livingourbestlife #calm #relaxing #countryside #pubs #boatlife #canalrivertrust #narrowboatgoodlife #boatvolggers #barge #aintreeboats

[@tonyrobinson362]

Great vlog get yourselves a kettle to put on top of stove coffee or tea ready anytime no gas!

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Good idea, thanks for watching ☺️

[@jamesfoley6555]

Many thanks for your information, (my husband James is now working out the exchange rate) we just enjoy your vlog and appreciate the time,sharing your life on board with us all🙏✝️🙏🇨🇦

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Thank you 😊

[@dianeloy8879]

You are fast becoming my favorite narrowboat vlogger! So fun to watch you Rozzie, Rob & Ralph. First will always be David, Cruising the Cut - he was the first vlogger I got hooked on. I was so sad when he quit cruising the canals. And the inside of your narrowboat is so beautiful.

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Thank you! Very kind of you to say! 😊

[@thomashoward2170]

You have the BEST decorations of any narrowboat.

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Thank you 😊

[@deirdrespelman8212]

What a surprise to hear my name ! Thank- you. It was my pleasure to donate to your charity run. I admire your fortitude. Greetings from Pennsylvania ! I have become so addicted to the Narrowboat Vlogs I follow that I am planning to rent a cottage on the canal in Blisworth in the late summer or Fall. Good opportunity to see friends from the days I lived in Milton Keynes. Look forward to your Vlogs

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Amazing!! That will be lovely for you! Thanks again 👍🏼😊

[@trevorsbarkingmadchannel4501]

That’s really interesting. Great vlog. Love the interior of your boat too. Best wishes

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Thanks so much!

[@jacquelineryde7339]

Very helpful Vlog, our boat is being made this year and the marina comments were really helpful. Glad you are having a great time 👍❤️❤️

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Great, glad it helped! Thanks for watching 😊

[@thomasmackenzie7811]

Spot on Guys !!!! Thanks so much!!!!

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Thank you for watching 😊

[@davidhall4079]

Happy anniversary 🎉love your vlogs and wow on cost's and great 👍 for the run well done 👏

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@richardchidwick5439]

Super helpful vlog for our future plans - thank you ❤

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks

[@charleswagar7055]

Missed you - glad your back. Keep up the great videos I truly enjoy them. 🥰😊

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Awh thank you! 😊

[@mazdaram226]

Superb, thank you for sharing

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Thanks for watching 😊

[@Dalwhat]

Regarding drying clothes, have you considered buying a dehumidifier? Place it under a clothes horse of damp clothes and they will dry quite quickly.

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Good suggestion however would require plugging in and mean running the engine for the batteries. Thanks for watching

[@garyhollywell2112]

Cheap living I think and as you say plenty of opportunity to challenge future costs. Great interesting Vlog and questions.

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Thanks watching, and yes we expect a cheaper year following our learns. 🍻👍🏻

[@geoff-63]

Nice one guys, love your vlogs keep them coming, 2 a week maybe in the summer plz..😄

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

We’ll try! Thanks for watching 😊

[@victoria-dawn]

I am pleased you enjoy living on your boat, no boat is perfect there is always things we would like to be different. We have lived in a narrowboat almost 32 years we are marina based but do go out cruising are now in our second boat both being seconhand. We have followed your channel from day one keep up the good work thank you

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Wow 32 years! Hope we last that long! Thanks for watching 😊

[@lockingthroughlife2587]

Thanks for posting this vlog. So interesting to see everyone else’s costs as I’m due to move onboard my boat in the next 2 months or so. I am going all electric so won’t have gas or coal as I’m having diesel fire too so can’t wait to see what my costs will be. 👍

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

I bet you can’t wait!! Not long now. Enjoy! 😊 thanks for watching

[@ParabrisasMotocicletas]

That's not bad. We pay about 6000 euros per year just for mooring for a 42ft. Vessel here in Spain 🇪🇸. But we sit in warmer weather and have a lot of 🌞 sunshine. Thanks for sharing.

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Oh wow! Thanks for watching 😊

[@cotcottage2788]

Great vlog guys interesting what you spent money on. We are not continuous cruisers and spend a lot on marina fees. On your Internet I've got an EE prepaid card it was 240 for 24 months

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

That’s interesting about your pre-paid Wi-Fi. Is that unlimited? I’ll look into that when ours is done. Thanks. 👍🏻

[@rickytarbuck]

Saw you heading down the Grand Union the other day, would have shouted hello, but you seemed so tranquil.

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Ah shame! Say hello next time, we love to chat 😊

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

good vid on the channel thanks l;ee

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Thanks Lee 😊

[@nathanberry4339]

Thank you so much for doing a more up-to-date costings video , I have seen other videos but they were years old and theirs not that many newer videos but it's really handy since I'll be selling my house next year to buy a boat and I also understand the crt are putting the licensed up aswell

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Thanks, stay tuned we will do another at our 2 year mark for comparison. 👍🏼

[@nathanberry4339]

​@@thenarrowboatgoodlifewill do , I'd imagine this year's cost will be higher and next year's costs will be considerably higher , it seems to be the way of the world at the moment sadly

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

It certainly is 😢

[@cotcottage2788]

Our boat is a 62 foot cruisers stern we put carpet tiles in our bedroom on top of the hard floor

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Yes good idea! I can’t wait to do the same 😊

[@tims7793]

Useful, thanks. I've watched many of these, most which will allow something for food/travel/clothing/health/incidentals, and they seem to range from 8K up to 14K. Yours is cheaper but again, you're not including other normal living costs.

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Glad it was useful. We didn’t include those costs as you’d have them regardless of how you live. Thanks for watching 😊

[@nellymac6764]

hi guys - love to watch your adventures. we are excitedly awaiting our new 60' build completed in a couple of months, so making arrangements. Really useful to see your costs, as we imagine our CC lifestyle to be very similar ;o) - - can i ask about the yearly quote you gave of £215 for Insurance (as something we need to sort out); who is that with, and full cover ?- thanks ... keeping blogging

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Thank you! Our insurers are Craft insure. It’s a little extra this year as we’ve got more contents cover and added some itemised belongings. Still very good value though 👍🏼

[@joesoy9185]

Good that you didn't use the term "sinking fund".

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Thanks for watching

[@Emma-it6yb]

Great video, I work out that it would be just under £600 a month, that is my rent and a bit of my council tax.

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

But that cost includes all our maintenance, service and utilities. Thanks for watching 😊

[@shandywriter]

Honestly, even if you spent £6,000 a year (£500 of which is a savings against future costs), that is so small against the basic costs of a house. Just property tax and insurance plus utilities on our house are about $1,000 a month, never mind the mortgage and repairs and everything else. It seems super reasonable!

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Certainly is! Don’t have all the conveniences of a house! But we love it 😊

[@stevecapper9321]

Some of these figure are similar to mine but I use Diesel not wood costing me around £140 per month to fill the diesel tank that's having the wabasto running for the last six months gas one 13 kg bottle lasted us 6 months we have been in the marina since last October with the cost of the diesel there was £18 included in the diesel price for the pump out toilet once a month .

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Good to know they are similar. Not everyone will be exactly the same. Thanks for watching 😊

[@stevemerrick6520]

Love the videos Guys. Especially your boat. May I ask. How often do you empty your toilet tank? I don’t own a boat as yet. But we’re interested in the lifestyle. Steve & Julia. Keep them coming. Best wishes to you both.

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Thanks for watching. We have a compost toilet so there’a no tank. We empty it probably once every 5days and have access to safe disposal. 👍🏻🍻

[@chrisclark7667]

hi love your colour scheme what colour is your walls and wood Chris and Maralynn

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Unfortunately we don’t know the specific name, we just chose samples and they matched as close as they could. Thanks for watching 😊

[@lacyoflittlerobincottage1403]

I'm sure you must have mentioned it before, but what is it you both do for income? We'd love to see more of your precious (not allowed on the sofa) pup 🐶🐾💕

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Work from home jobs part time 👍🏼 thanks for watching!

[@spudwynk1]

We have a semi-trad boat and definitely don't have 2 doors to the outside. We're you thinking about a trad stern where you have doors either side of the engine room?

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Must have been. Thanks for watching

[@Idle-Days]

Discounting marina costs our annual cost worked out about the same as yours.

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Good to know! Thanks 😊

[@philb5188]

Just curious. Normally having a 2 pak blacking lasts quite a while. Have you done it because you wanted to or needed to??

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Hi, I think you’re asking why we’ve planned for blacking to be done after 2 years and not 4, which is the expected time with 2pac. If so we just want to over commit on our budget. The sides do get a little bashed as we move so much and it’s possible that we may want/need to have it done sooner than the 4years. Hope that answers. Thanks for watching. 👍🏻🍻

[@kellyk5946]

Would I be correct that a litre of Diesel, runs the engine for approximately one hour?

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Thanks for watching. It’s hard to measure but We buy less than 1ltr diesel per hour of of engine running. It would depend if we are charging the batteries by having the engine on or moving. So blended I think it’s about 3/4 litres per hour. 🍻👍🏻

[@chrishirst6193]

Curious- what boat builder built your boat?

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Aintree boats 👍🏼

[@bobhaze5324]

What is the general cost of a newly built narrowboat like yours?

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Depending on spec roughly £150k

[@loredepalo4080]

So, you do not have a car? How do you get around when off the boat? Thanks

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

We do have a car. Didn’t include in costings, as we’d have one wherever we live. Thanks for watching 😊

[@kurt8759]

How much was the boat

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

A new boat will cost anywhere between £120,000 and £160,000

[@TOBY_AND_LUCYS_ADVENTURES]

Lol. Sinking fund.

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Thanks for watching

[@mralekito]

It’s not cheap to keep a boat going, if you want to live a comfortable life. Even if you take out the costs for next year. However if you enjoy it then it’s worth it. 😊

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

Boats do need lots of maintenance so I agree. Thanks for watching 👍🏻🍻

[@alistairmoffat1307]

Are you guys getting a Dog?????

[@thenarrowboatgoodlife]

That would be telling! But you maybe right. Check back later as our new vlog is nearly finished being edited. 😜👍🏻🍻