Boat stuff

12/8/2017


This is a boring sort of blog, written because visitors and correspondents have expressed curiosity about the practical side of boating, and its costs.

Our floating home is 58'6" long, 6'8" wide, carries 594L of fresh water, in a stainless steel tank in the bow, 2 gas cylinders, 220L diesel, and a septic tank 364L. All these except the gas, have gauges, so one knows when a fill or empty function is required. A photo of a towpath side water point is attached. With just the 2 of us on board, a tank of water lasts about 2 weeks. Water is 'free', or rather is provided out of our licence fees, which are around £900 pa.

Yesterday we returned to a boatyard at Apperley Bridge, to fill up with diesel. This is generally necessary every 4 weeks or so, depending on how much we are travelling. We also run the engine to charge batteries, run the washing machine, and provide hot water. A tank of diesel is around £200.

The septic tank also lasts the 2 of us about 2 weeks. The canals do have loos, showers in some locations.  There are also self operated pump out facilities, some of which work. Otherwise a boatyard or marina will do the pumpout, and charge about £20.

Another query is about mooring, where, how long, how much. Generally anywhere against a towpath mooring is available, and free. Of course one cannot moor near a bridge,  as this could block passage. There is also a default limit of 14 days on towpath moorings. Some indeed have much shorter times. At a water point, only 1 hour, for example. And near stores, there may be a few hours as a limit. Where a mooring may be in great demand, in the centre of Leeds for example, there is a limit of 48 hours.

Most towpath moorings are free.

Other moorings, in a marina, for example, must usually be paid for. The amount varies, depending on the services provided, and the location. We paid £15 a night in west London, in 2014.

I've attached a photo from imside a lock, showing the cascading water from leaky lock gates. The other photo is of a ground paddle mechanism,  with a horizontal handle which must be wrestled clockwise to open the paddle in the lock.

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