Narrowboat Living: Why its not as cute as it seems

[@Oscartherescuedog]

Very positive vibes from video, also the scenery is beautiful, thank you.

[@narrowboatliving8241]

@@Oscartherescuedog thank you

[@johngracey2000]

Good man! Considering it as just retired Love your helpful advice

[@narrowboatliving8241]

@johngracey2000 thank you and it's my pleasure. If you ever need any advice you can always email, [e-mail]

[@northernboy5427]

Crack on mate, loving the vlogs. Say it as it is, no editing👍

[@narrowboatliving8241]

@@northernboy5427 thank you

[@Oscartherescuedog]

I am a Bus Driver and it’s lovely to come home after a day of being verbally abused/screamed at/having rocks thrown through my windows on occasion and watch a video like this. Very calming and relaxing, thank you. Ps, in case anyone decides to comment saying ‘get a different job then’ - I am getting a different job! Handed my notice in yesterday.

[@narrowboatliving8241]

@Oscartherescuedog thank you and good luck with the future

[@TwoFingeredMamma]

I got a job throwing rocks at buses last year. It's a tough job, lots of torn ligaments and tennis elbow from exerting yourself too much. I was sent on a rock throwing course after being unemployed a few years by the job centre. It took me a few times to pass the rock throwing test to gain my CSCS card in hooliganism though.

[@Oscartherescuedog]

@ what’s the pay like? 😂

[@TwoFingeredMamma]

@ Any handbags i find on the bus seats i can keep 🤣 i'm working for some far left political group funded by George Soros i think. 😂

[@pootlingalong8928]

Woke at 1.00 am and found you 🙂 wasn’t intending to watch but got so interested I watched to the end. I’ve often thought about retiring to the narrowboat life, retirement coming up next year 2026. Anyway, off now to go find more of your videos, so thank you for making them!

[@IvannaJAwrey]

A great well-rounded vlog about the disadvantages of narrowboat life, although you spin them around to be positives. Cheers, happy travels.

[@narrowboatliving8241]

@IvannaJAwrey thank you. I've learnt over years that you can almost always turn negative situations into positive ones. It i's just a case of wanting to and finding a way to.

[@SteveMaggs]

A major disadvantage for seniors is operating locks on your own especially in the winter as there are less people around to help you if something goes wrong, health wise or safety wise. I would have thought it would be a lot safer for seniors to spend the winters in a marina and continually cruises Spring-Autumn. Just my thoughts.

[@narrowboatliving8241]

@@SteveMaggs good point and I know a lot of senior boaters that do that

[@johnhetherington7858]

Don’t forget locks in your physical disadvantages especially as a single handed senior. Although you could see this as an advantage in keeping yourself fit and mobile 😊

[@narrowboatliving8241]

@johnhetherington7858 Thank you. I thought of that after I made this video, so I will cover it when I make a one about locks

[@johnhetherington7858]

I thought I was doing well single handing locks at 70 until l met a single handed lady aged 86 who was fitter and more agile than me, she gave me a hand through a couple of locks as you do 🙂

[@narrowboatliving8241]

@johnhetherington7858 Good on her and I hope I'm still as active when I reach that age

[@petethegardener]

In another 2 and a half years I plan to be in your situation. I'm looking for a boat at the moment. There's absolutely nothing wrong with being a grumpy old man, I've aspire to that status for many years and after much practice I'm just about there😅. Your observations on narrowboat life as a senior are very useful, thank you.

[@narrowboatliving8241]

@petethegardener thank you. If you're not already doing it start looking on Apollo Duck to get an idea of what you can get for your money. Boat prices are quite stable at the moment.

[@petethegardener]

@narrowboatliving8241 I am, I went to look at a couple of boats yesterday. The one I thought I wanted just didn't feel right, but there was a very nice boat moored next to it so I had a look round that too. Not decided yet if it's the boat I want, but it looks interesting and ticks most of my boxes.

[@narrowboatliving8241]

@petethegardener yes you will get a feel for a boat. I nearly made the mistake at the beginning by buying the first boat i looked at, but it would of been a big mistake

[@garyb3816]

another great video, thank you for giving us both sides of narrowboat life I wonder if you could comment on security of your boat and have you had any incidents of vandalism or threats along the canals??

[@narrowboatliving8241]

@garyb3816 thank you for the comment. In the 3 years of living on the boat , I can honestly say that I have not experienced any theft or damage from my boat. I have only had one occasion in the Leicester area where some rowdy people walking by late at night banged on the side of the boat. From my past experiences, I know that having dogs and being on board a lot of the time deters any incidents. The boats that do get damage or theft tend to be those that are left unattended by the owner for a period of time. I think people notice the boat is unattended, so it might attract things. As far as security goes, all the stuff on the outside is locked up, and the doors have good locks on them. Some boats have CCTV fitted, but as I have mentioned before, if someone is determined to do harm, they will find a way. It's OK having an alarm system, but if no one is around to do anything, then it doesn't really help. How often do you hear car or house alarms going off and no one does anything. I fully agree that there is always the risk, especially as the boat is exposed to passers by on the towpath, but you have to do all you can to deter. I hope that helps?

[@Sim-c8n]

Good video and advice ignore the trolls on here don’t reply just delete.

[@narrowboatliving8241]

@Sim-c8n thank you. I do ignore and delete, but when someone complains that my videos are boring, then a simple reply of "don't watch them" is better than ignoring them.

[@mcpjohnson]

You mentioned the car? How does that work? Where do you park in relation to where the boat is?

[@narrowboatliving8241]

@mcpjohnson I have discussed the car in previous videos, so have a look at those if not already done so. Basically the car is parked as near to where I'm moored as possible. When I move the boat. I then have to go back and get the car. You get to learn on the routes you do where you can and can't safely leave your car. I hope that helps.

[@nathanberry4339]

Iv got an Ebike and trailer which has been a godsend on the canal since I don't drive

[@narrowboatliving8241]

@nathanberry4339 yes i agree, apart from when the towpath is very muddy

[@nathanberry4339]

Iv also got an solar air-conditioning system on my boat so she stays at 16 degrees all summer and I bought her a year ago she's a 96 boat and has a beta marine engine never gone wrong also I had white mould under my bed using strong bleach and I used a hole saw drill bit and drilled a few more holes around the bed frame and so far haven't had any more mould there

[@nathanberry4339]

@narrowboatliving8241 that's the only downside but my bike has fat tyres and I don't bring it inside the boat in winter

[@narrowboatliving8241]

@nathanberry4339 yes that's what Amy and Wes did on KZbin channel Boat Time

[@nathanberry4339]

@narrowboatliving8241 also with Ebikes always remember to bring the battery inside during winter as they dont do well in the cold

[@tab150]

Good vid, but when talking to us, try not having the sun in the camera lens.

[@vanessaboman8143]

Great info, thank you. It's SO fun watching KZbin and dreaming... Reality needs to be the anchor even in dreams ... Heat and cold in a boat is much like vanlife.... I had condensation in my van on any metal, but mopping up was part of daily life in the morning... Dehydrator damp catchers pots are essential ... Lol my bedroom as a kid had that wonderful thing called Window ice, I drew in it before my mum scraped it off ... We bathed in a tin bath in front of open fire .. Picked icicles from the outside of the window too... I grew believing in winter you were meant to be cold ... In summer you were meant to be hot and cool off in the river, or with dad's garden hose... But older bones need warmth so they don't lock up and you feel like the tin man lol ...

[@321ozzy]

Don´t give trolls a stage, do as Cruising The Cut does, delete them and pretend they never appeared. Good luck with the winter over there

[@narrowboatliving8241]

@@321ozzy thank you

[@geobolt8788]

My feeling is with anything, a thing or a situation, it is what it is. Everything has good and bad parts. Enjoy the good aspects and endure the bad. Think about the situation and possibly do something different next time. Life is what it is.

[@narrowboatliving8241]

@@geobolt8788 good point

[@bobgilhooley8822]

Hi There. I’ve watched your vids a few times now . Very interesting. Very informative. I am in my late 70s now and would love to swap land for water. Unfortunately my wife is not of the same persuasion. Please keep on entertaining us and just ignore the little minded people.. Kind Regards 😊

[@narrowboatliving8241]

@bobgilhooley8822 thank you, and dare I say it, but being single does have some advantages. Say hi to your wife for me 🤣🤣

[@paulramsden196]

Show narrowboating and stop yacking,getting boring

[@narrowboatliving8241]

@paulramsden196 no one askes you to watch my videos. There are plenty of other videos about narrowboating. Feel free to watch them instead