Love your vlogs. It doesn't matter if you're in a house or on a boat, your troubles still have to be worked through. A boat does not instantly heal a troubled heart. Beautifully said.
We love the canal network, but we only walk the tow paths. Whilst we are seniors now, I honestly believe that whichever government we have, they should make it a priority to help young people to get on the housing ladder, and help them to stay on it! The health of the nation is reflected at all levels if there's no future to work for. Boat life is great, but it should be a choice, and not a reluctant 'only' choice. When I was young I worked hard long hours because I knew it would reward me with my own house. But now that possibility is out of reach for so many good young people. Things need to change..
In a way, I rejoined the rat race two years ago, but I don't see it as a rat race anymore. I did not come from boat life, but from years of involuntary unemployment. Instead of seeing my life as a rat race, I now see it as an effort to take on as much responsibility as I can towards contributing to the well-being of the world with all its people and the beautiful nature all around us. I want to do more, not less. I feel incredibly fortunate because, against every expectation that I had, I am back in science. I did work as hard as I could towards a positive outcome for years beforehand, but I largely don't owe my current job to my own efforts. Instead I owe it much more to a change in the laws of my country. I also owe it to incredibly hard working people who were willing to take a risk and give me some of their valuable time. What I have now is like balancing an egg on a spoon and I don't want to break the egg! Find as much meaning as you can in what you do, be the best person you can be and, suddenly, you are not in a race against rats, but one towards a deeply valued goal. Admire the hard-working people who "overtake" you in the "race". They are mostly not rats, but normal people with their strengths and weaknesses. They probably made sacrifices to get where they are now. Be grateful for what you have, where you are, and what you have accomplished. I think that that's the way to be content and bear the hardships when they come knocking on your door. Happiness is a fleeting emotion, finding and adding meaning is something you can do always.
I live in the high desert and yes, isolation is tough for most people but I have a great collection of dawn photos and a few sympathetic dogs. In fact, TH-cam is my way of getting out and about in the absence of civilization. The canals seem to be calling.. Happy cranking. 😊
Very measured video about so many aspects of the reality of boat life. Overpopulation has also had a huge effect on the quality of life in my 66 years. I have been holidaying on canals all my life but our rivers, canals and all waters are under huge pressure because of this. Also I have watched so many small pubs along the canals close over the years and they were such a wonderful part of a holiday on the boats. Cost and lifestyle changes have had that effect. Life has changed so much, especially in the past decade or two. Thank you for a great video.
Thank you, it is important to try and give people a sense of the reality of boat life, although it is often unpopular to break the spell and idea of escapism that these rural places bring. For me, seeing how ridiculously busy the canal was during 2020/21 and just how utterly selfish so many people were in the way they conducted themselves, was sadly a vision of the future. There are multiple marinas even just in my region that are in various stages of planning and proposal and I can already practically feel my boat getting ever more bumps and scrapes as the canal becomes ever more crowded. This was written off as Nimby-ism by a commenter on another video, which I think misses the point, it doesn't matter if its my back yard or not, it is an across the board shift in the world, the canals will get busier, and that will likely make them less pleasant, whether we like it or not!
I am 65 and live in a small town in the mountains of southern California. Been here since 95 and love it. During the pandemic, people from LA, San Diego and everywhere between suddenly decided we were a good place to escape the pandemic. Fast forward to today and we now have over 800 Airb&bs in a town with a population of 3000. The tourists come and wipe out our little grocery store, leaving locals without cars stuck without a way to get food. The closest town off the mountains is a 50 mile round trip. All of our events are now overcrowded and you can't get into one of our small restaurants on the weekend. Locals are now hiding in their homes on the weekends instead of being able to come out and enjoy the little village they choose to live in. Life has changed so much lately and I can't say that I like it at all. I was wondering if the English canals are becoming over crowded and if they will ever limit the amount of licenses they issue for continuous cruisers. It seems like everything wonderful is being ruined.
I’m 70 now and this is my 23rd year on my little 42’ Trad, I totally agree regarding the population of England, not only that but attitudes and respect have “drastically changed” from when I was a young man, I’ve seen so much rubbish just dumped in the hedges and “household” rubbish fly tipped onto CRT refuge points it makes me sick. Nobody seems to care anymore about anything. I can barely survive as a live aboard on a state pension, the licence, insurance, diesel,coal, gas and maintenance have gone through the roof! I have nowhere else to go as this is my only home….
A very personal account of narrowboat life. It is not for everyone, people looking for a narrowboat life should research, be prepared, and listen to those like you, with years of experience.
A very good and sobering video Dan, and I'm glad you are highlighting some potentially negative aspects of boat life. There are some vloggers who don't say very much about these challenges, and instead try to produce only the glamorous Hollywood style videos. People coming into boat life need to know the full story, warts and all.
I paid £540 for a tonne of Excel last Summer. This was more than 2021 when I paid £440 for a tonne but not the end of the world. I've always said though that a person has to want to live on a boat to make it work, if they do it just because they think it's cheaper than living in a house then it's potentially a pretty difficult life. Without wishing to sound harsh though Dan, I've always thought your biggest mistake was never actually going anywhere on your boats, spending ten years on the same short stretch of canal would be pretty uninspiring for anyone. The pleasure of narrowboating is in the things you experience, not just the vehicle you experience them in.
If canal life is getting too expensive, how about tunnel life? burrow into the ground.. its warm down there at network of tunnels and pockets of vast open spaces could be suitable for habitation?
When I was teenager, I worked and lived on a river boat and I really did mostly love it. But, I left it because I liked it so much I thought that I might never leave and see what else life has to offer. I did that more than once when I was young but eventually settled into a job and spent many years taking care of my parents and then my wife's parents and, now in my 70's, I don't know if that was the best way to go or not -- I just trust the universe that I traveled the right path. I was never able to see the future and just made decisions based on how I felt at that moment. If you did anything else in life, you would still be an outstanding person and I would watch any kind of videos you offered up. I liked your train videos, your walks on the barren hills, your bike explorations, your wonderful commentary and your thoughts. Whatever you do in life, I will be one of your fans.
18 years on board now constant cruising. Sometimes good Sometimes not. Just like life. It's gonna be too busy soon. It's getting there. Less moorings, long queues for water. Too high expectations of some. Let's see where it goes.
Yes, I feel like we’ve definitely seen the best of times already. The sweet spot is just passing, the era of canal restoration that helped make them so pleasant is giving way to canal commercialisation where everything possible will be milked to death.
@ just stumbled across your channel. A very interesting video for me to watch as I fall into the category of a potential boat buyer after numerous hire boat holidays. I also lived in Whittington and Llanymynech 15 years ago so interesting to see you’re local to there too.
if your fortunate enough to buy your boat outright and don’t have to pay rent/mortgage council tax water etc that’s a saving in my case of £1200 straight away. That saving is what I’d pay for my food and car , insurances, fuel and phone for the month💰. Of course if you have a house paid off, that rent you receive you can live for free and you have the house as a nest egg!! Either way, If you like the lifestyle, it’s a no brainer😁 if your going to worry about 50 quid here and there then you’ll probably worry about everything
Thanks for a very thoughtful and mindful video, it is true what you say but life is always full of ups and downs, you never know whats around the next corner.Happiness comes in all forms and sometimes its just about appreciating the little things in life.
I think there are a lot of people looking to change their lifestyle at the moment. City to countryside, land to boat, boat to land, house to van. Everyone is searching for an 'anchor' in these unsettled times and a quick fix to their problems. I think in a couple of years a lot of people will go back to what they know and life will settle down again. The grass isn't always greener on the other side.
I know it is a huge value prospect, but believe me there are people out there who would be happier struggling on dry land than isolated on the canal. (I’m not one of them by the way! I love all this boat stuff!)
@@garymanders1273 this! £1100 mortgage, £400 gas/leccy bill, £200 council tax, £50 water bill, the list goes on! Buying bags of coal/wood to burn in a canal boat, even at the current prices is still cheap as chips versus living on land!
I would agree with a lot of what you have said. Perhaps to add work issues - being employed and living alone on a boat is difficult unless you are not cruising very far or work remotely. That I think is the hardest reality for new boat owners in working age, possibly a reality forcing them onto a marina (might as well.be in a flat) or alternatively playing dodge with the CRT CC rules on a small stretch of canal. Wishing you very well, I'm Leeds centre now, Skipton has youth trouble!
What a fantastic video imo. I have always pondered the statements about "being free" made by some of those who make videos or that they're living life on "their terms." In reality they're living in a small steel box that's limited by where it can go and the access it has to things like supplies, fuel, water, employment etc etc. I'm not trying to put it down as a way of life, far from it, but everything we do comes with compromises/costs and they need to be considered, especially in relation to our own mindsets, when making these sorts of major life decisions. I watch a lot of different types of "alternative living" videos from camping/caravanning, living in other countries such as Portugal, yachting/boating etc etc and they all have their good/bad points. Life is getting expensive however/wherever you live which now seems to be a major factor in a lot of these decisions these days.....................sad really. Thanks for the video, a lot of common sense/understanding in this one.
Have you ever thought of living abroad, somewhere different. I know Thailand's quite hot at the moment for digital nomads as its cheap. I was thinking somewhere more Mediterranean. I feel like I need a break from the uk. Boat life aint glamorous, nor is van life, nor is city living, but sometimes you just need a change of scenery and culture.
I love your videos Dan, ones like these especially as I have wanted to live on a canal boat for 18 years. I was born in Australia but moved to the UK when I was 20. I then encountered canals for the first time ever and instantly felt connected. I think it's in my DNA, like the UK is. My grandmother was from Oldham but died long before I was born. I feel so drawn to the north of England but also any canal. Your subscribers sound like they want similar things to you. I love long conversations about the meaning of life and death, not what's on tv. I watch videos like yours to truly investigate if canal boat life is still for me. I hear you when you say it's changed especially since 2020 but so much of modern life has. Maybe we just have to go further afield to find it.
Increased fuel costs on a canal boat, and other canal boat cost of living increases pale into insignificance versus a mortgage, council tax, gas & electric bills, water bills, etc etc Simply buying a boat and having no mortgage would free up £1000 p/ month for many people, £400 saved on gas/elec bill, £200 council tax, the list goes on. Boatlife is 100% a cheaper way of living, by a huge huge margin.
Yes I know, just buying a boat vs buying a house will save you untold tens of thousands, but once upon a time I used to live on a (tiny) boat for £1,000 a year including heating, license etc etc. The most important thing that people miss is that cheaper by no means equates to happier. There are people on the canal right now who can attest to that, I’d say these are probably some of the people who should be making videos to balance out the people like me who love the boating world!
Foxes Afloat did a direct comparison of all commodities for life on the canal in the past 2 years and its gone up about 20% just like everything else. Now 5 years ago maybe it has gone up quite a bit more. Sad really, thats inflation, the gap between simple living forever widening. Good luck out there and thanks for the vids!
Very interesting Dan we have a few local marinas and they are always chocka in the winter I've noticed it must be quiet expensive although always looks idyllic, cheers Glyn
I think boating is only good if you have the right mind set, I think the boat prices will at least double and in a year or two people will realize that it's not as easy and fun as they thought and people will set in mass leaving boat prices about pre pandemic or cheaper.
What beautiful footage in this video, Dan. So true that a lifestyle won't make someone happy if they aren't happy. I think that people need to be around other people far more than they realize. So isolation can take a slow heavy toll on people. Combine that with despair and you have a terrible combination. Your videos are honest, thoughtful and inspiring. Thanks for being true to yourself with your videos. Cheers.
Absolutely! It’s such a shame that we now live in a world where everything has to be boiled down to the easiest possible concept to be consumed by a “content overwhelmed” audience. So many people rarely think about anything on a deep level anymore and I feel that a lot of obvious easy lessons are missed, especially in the area of self reflection.
@@SortOfInteresting Agreed, and one reason I enjoy your channel. Self reflection is one of our best teachers in life. I value it more and more as I get older. Cheers.
Not all people like being around people. Speaking as an introvert myself I can tell you that it becomes unbearable when people refuse to back off and give me my own time and space. This world is far too busy and people would do well to stop and think who's plan they're actually following. The rat race isn't the most natural environment to live in. Some people like it but it's not for me.
Thank you Dan for your usual dose of common sense, it's refreshing to listen & appreciate everything you've said knowing you live the life a lot of people aspire to & that you tell it like it is, warts & all. So many folk getting themselves on the canals now it's not going to be the peaceful place it once was as time goes by or the answer to all problems financial or otherwise lovely though it can be. You come into my home on each video like a very welcome friend & I always look forward to hearing from you & seeing your videos & beautiful photos. X 🏴
Viewing you videos you keep a ‘ship shape’ vessel! Your ‘deck (roof) top is clear and clean; ship shape and Bristol fashion. A pure pleasure to view. Sail or steer, on lad! P.S. plan to get another pet?
Doubters of Dans message should refer to Foxes Afloat as they’ve recently compared cost of living narrowboat v house. Your small radius of travel Dan would cause extra issues for some who opt for live aboard life. Cheers lad.
@@SortOfInteresting We considered boat life for a while, but after doing some research, found the fixed annual costs a bit pricey for us (although still cheaper than owning a house), but we haven't completely ruled it out yet especially if the right Skûtsje Dutch barge came along! The main problem is selling the boat - some of the houseboats down our way have been on the market a very long time.
Guess Dan you cannot use a boat long term as a semi static home whilst needing to go to work. If you can work and make a good living regularly anywhere from a boat is much the only way it works for ordinary people. Around Bristol prices of everything to do with boating has gone sky high which of course will never seem to come down. Mooring fees in Bristol docks have nearly doubled and their are many barges moored up there which will maybe have to move. All around that area there is now a £9 / day for a car, Clean Air Zone just been set up, so if you have a small car for work and use it everyday will now cost you £63 / week to do so if you need to travel in and out of that zone, not to sure if bus fares have gone up as their a £100 / day so as you say the dream of living on water is not cheap anymore. At a good guess, wood burning / solid fuel stoves will be the next to be stopped in that area, followed by a charge for diesel / gas heaters. Same old story buddy the money boys want some more which in the end will kill it stone dead as a cheap way of living which it isn't anyway already.
I emptied the boat ages ago th-cam.com/video/VsUHoc6-hq4/w-d-xo.html Ready to sell… the decided not to sell it so refilled it 😂 more than once! I’m hoping the boat will be sold soon so I can get on with finding my next boat/boats so I actually removed even more stuff earlier in the week. The worst decision I made was taking the proper mattress off as the airbed gets very cold sometimes. So at the minute my time is split between the boat and various houses on dry land so am as minimal a nuisance as I can be 😂
Have you considered that the surge in people seeking alternative, lower cost and life fulfilling lifestyles is in the main because of the exposure and enticement by vloggers on platforms such as this? Vanlife is another over saturated alternative lifestyle, promoted by the likes of social media and is at the point where it's becoming regarded as anti social in some quarters. Almost every week on TH-cam there is another channel started by newbies celebrating their epic move from house living to boating or Vanlife.
I saw that same bbc article today and was imagining what you might make of it! Any Sam-friendly boats bobbed into view yet? I guess there aren’t as many for sale in the winter?
No such luck at the moment… right now on my “next boat, swingometer” I am feeling like just buying a little fun boat for the foreseeable future will be the happy medium until a sensible solution or sail away hull is found!
Dan. Your video's are great but your dialogue is very depressing. Canal's and Boating are hard, costs are getting higher..........everywhere. I'm nearer 80 than 70 and had quite a busy life with bouts of disappointment sometimes. I get what you are trying to convey but stick with the positives, interact with people and be thankful for your blessings.......Summer is coming you'll be wishing the loneliest you profess at this time comes back!
The running costs are one thing, but the biggest issue in my mind is the fact that you're living on a rapdily depreciating asset that will ultimately be worth nothing. That's never going to happen if you buy even the most modest house or flat. You can save as much as you like on daily life, but you need to look at the bigger picture over decades.
Yes, in the really cheap old days you could save enough to absorb big costs such as overplaying the hull etc, now though there are people buying some very expensive boats (hearsay suggesting with lower quality modern steel) and then potentially not making the great savings often associated with life on a boat!
So...Here's MY situation! I moved from Seattle to my family home in the remote White Mountains of New Hampshire, USA. My town has 459 people. The next closest, 1,089 with a Subway sandwich shop, laundry, 2 gas stations, and a small grocery...oh, and an coffee shop! 20 miles away is a town of 5,000... I live in the woods, adjacent to 5,000 sq miles of National Park. Bear, Moose, deer, wolf, beaver, coyote, bobcat. Kind of like Yellowstone... I get 6 months of winter, 3 of summer, It's a toss up on the other seasons...lol Fall is striking- every leaf is red or orange or gold. Tourist from England gawk in amazement. But I'm DONE here! It's lonely, and being holed up for 5-6 months because it's -33f with a 50mph wind and 4 ft of snow? Gets old. Shoveling my roof off so it doesn't collapse...gets OLD! Snowblowing my driveway for the 4th time in a week...old. digging out my mailbox to access my mail?!! OLD! I haven't dated through my entire 50s. I stopped at 50. I'm 58. No women here! I'm selling this fucking house, and coming to live on a narrow boat! At LEAST there's people...and festivals, and music. There's no pot...and that sucks! And I can't carry my gun..or even a little jacknife?! WTF?! I can't even have a slingshot or bow and arrow...they sure castrated you guys there! I figured, well...no carry, but at least I can have a 12g shotgun by my bed...? But noooooo...I remember a little skirmish in 1776 where you guys tried to take our guns away...lol. THAT didn't happen! 🤣 Anyway, I'm done here...at least for now. I love the USA...It was AWESOME, but under Biden? Fuck him! He's trying to collapse us in favor of Socialism...Communism. TRUMP 2024! Maybe I'll fly a big ol Trump face off my boat, whatdya think? I'd probably get arrested for breaking some stupid law...like freedom of expression or freedom of speech...🤣 !! Your channel rocks man. Just subbed!
I wouldn't worry about the canals being flooded with folks seeking a cheaper lifestyle. Truth is that the vast majority of the population would find the lifestyle unworkable. CRT have also started the process of gentrification with their 'consultation' on boat licence fees. You can expect the licence to go up 20% a year for the forseeable until all us real boaters are ethnically cleansed. 😉
Senior Slaphead said: "You can expect the licence to go up 20% a year for the forseeable until all us real boaters are ethnically cleansed." Source please.
TH-cam is not helping you get your point across. There I am, listening to you calmly and peacefully try to explain things when TH-cam suddenly cuts in with a loud, obnoxious, and, quite frankly, insulting ad. Is it no wonder that people want to run off to the peaceful canal life? Not that it appears that it is that way anymore
Living on a boat is very hard, lots of disadvantage's, cold wet weather even snow to start with along with cost's of fuel insurance and boat licence and also mooring fees before you get to engine maintenance fees. Then if your cruising the cut can also get vandals who seem to enjoy been annoying on the towpath and can also cost through damage from holiday boaters who don't care if they hit you, they just carry on regardless, boat life is NOT to be taken lightly, may look all sweetness & light but reality is very different reality. More expense can be had from not getting a boat surveyed at the start of owning a boat, not all boats are the same and need to be checked by a pro surveyor, if future problems to be avoided. Hope this helps if your looking to buy a boat, many more things after you buy one, main one been Lock operation can be very dangerous especially in the wet, slip hazards/ trapped fingers and hard to open especially if in need of repair/damaged, swing bridges can seize up and be difficult to open in summer as well.
Hi Dan, I cant find a way to email you about something I'd like to send to you, you can get in touch with me from my about page if you are interested with something that is sort of interesting! 🤣
Dan what’s happening to you. ? Pick Yourself up mate. This is t you. Yes you are pointing out some very important things. I think I know what, but not me to say. Aren’t you now living in a marina ? I’d live to come and meet you. You have done this for many many years. And you have been so happy. You have many fans and world wide as well. There is doom and gloom about. I myself am finding myself stuck in it. You need to step above it.. You have a car now. That also might be costing a lot. But if not why don’t you stick a tent in it an go wild camping ? Leave the home. Take the friend that can be with you. Push away the ones that might try to change you. Can’t you start doing those cooking videos again. They was fantastic.. And with the live chats. There are lots of people that would live to be in your position. And what your saying also happens in home life. And right now prices are going way up for people on energy bills. All of that could be stopped if people stood up. Don’t give in Dan. I don’t think you are. Perhaps I’m missing the point. But it’s your voice to me. You sound saddened. Rise above my friend. Rise above…
Actually, I think it WILL make me happier...I currently live in what MOST people consider "paradise"...4,000 foot mountains surround me, no neighbors, gardens, bear, moose, deer, wolf...all the fishing, hunting, skiing, snowshoing one could want! But NO real interaction with people. Its remote. My village has 600 people...spaced on average 1 mile apart. ...When its winter? Its 40 below zero, and 6 feet of snow....try going 22 miles to work in that shit! 1/8" of ice coating your vehicle, cant get to work? Oh well... wait. It'll thaw. Maybe...
To be fair running the engine to charge batteries and heat the water isn't too bad, running in neutral doesn't take too much diesel over the long term. I have a portable solar and battery pack setup which is great for the summer though but not really suited to the off season.
Lonely = depends on your character Expensive = depends on your lifestyle Not enough room = depends on the size of your boat and your lifestyle. I find narrowboat life neither lonely nor expensive and I have more than enough room.
th-cam.com/video/ywoAEvmpucM/w-d-xo.html Hi .... I admire your way and presentation and feel you're sentiments on the way life is changing for us all . I was wondering if a slight change to your vlogs etc might lift your mood . As far as I have seen most if not all of your videos are obviously about boating , that s your thing . But I have just, straight after watching this video , watched another by a man ( Voge, ..sorry forgot his first name ) who has a similar delivery to yourself but on about other things , I could see you two becoming good friends as 2 of a kind from different scenarios . Just a thought . I leave the link . Stay well and strong, keep up the great vlogs
Nice one Dan folk don’t get it it’s romantic to live on a boat but when you put it into practice it’s bloody hard ...when you had Tilly bk in the day 2015 it was well cheaper for you Cheers zDan lad 🙂🦢🦆✌️
![15 Reasons Why Living on a NARROWBOAT is the Best Decision I Ever Made - Boat life [Ep 94]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gYa8D-3ahQE/mqdefault.jpg)
My Boat Life Book! (Kindle & Paperback) amzn.to/3lB2NmT
"Where ever you go ,there you are" That sums it up perfectly Dan.
Totally agree.
It's not easy or cheap.
Also, manners have gone right out the window over the last 2 years.
Love your vlogs. It doesn't matter if you're in a house or on a boat, your troubles still have to be worked through. A boat does not instantly heal a troubled heart. Beautifully said.
My energy cost is £280 per month to run my house and that’s only having the bloody central heating on for 1 hr a day.
We love the canal network, but we only walk the tow paths. Whilst we are seniors now, I honestly believe that whichever government we have, they should make it a priority to help young people to get on the housing ladder, and help them to stay on it! The health of the nation is reflected at all levels if there's no future to work for. Boat life is great, but it should be a choice, and not a reluctant 'only' choice. When I was young I worked hard long hours because I knew it would reward me with my own house. But now that possibility is out of reach for so many good young people. Things need to change..
In a way, I rejoined the rat race two years ago, but I don't see it as a rat race anymore.
I did not come from boat life, but from years of involuntary unemployment.
Instead of seeing my life as a rat race, I now see it as an effort to take on as much responsibility as I can towards contributing to the well-being of the world with all its people and the beautiful nature all around us. I want to do more, not less.
I feel incredibly fortunate because, against every expectation that I had, I am back in science. I did work as hard as I could towards a positive outcome for years beforehand, but I largely don't owe my current job to my own efforts. Instead I owe it much more to a change in the laws of my country.
I also owe it to incredibly hard working people who were willing to take a risk and give me some of their valuable time.
What I have now is like balancing an egg on a spoon and I don't want to break the egg!
Find as much meaning as you can in what you do, be the best person you can be and, suddenly, you are not in a race against rats, but one towards a deeply valued goal. Admire the hard-working people who "overtake" you in the "race". They are mostly not rats, but normal people with their strengths and weaknesses. They probably made sacrifices to get where they are now. Be grateful for what you have, where you are, and what you have accomplished.
I think that that's the way to be content and bear the hardships when they come knocking on your door. Happiness is a fleeting emotion, finding and adding meaning is something you can do always.
I live in the high desert and yes, isolation is tough for most people but I have a great collection of dawn photos and a few sympathetic dogs. In fact, TH-cam is my way of getting out and about in the absence of civilization. The canals seem to be calling..
Happy cranking. 😊
Best boat blogger on TH-cam no question
Thanks, I’m not sure I’d say that though!
Definitely in my top 5!
You talk a lot of sense Dan, and I can tell, from a lot of your personal experience. Keep going, Spring is coming.
Very measured video about so many aspects of the reality of boat life. Overpopulation has also had a huge effect on the quality of life in my 66 years. I have been holidaying on canals all my life but our rivers, canals and all waters are under huge pressure because of this. Also I have watched so many small pubs along the canals close over the years and they were such a wonderful part of a holiday on the boats. Cost and lifestyle changes have had that effect. Life has changed so much, especially in the past decade or two. Thank you for a great video.
Thank you, it is important to try and give people a sense of the reality of boat life, although it is often unpopular to break the spell and idea of escapism that these rural places bring.
For me, seeing how ridiculously busy the canal was during 2020/21 and just how utterly selfish so many people were in the way they conducted themselves, was sadly a vision of the future.
There are multiple marinas even just in my region that are in various stages of planning and proposal and I can already practically feel my boat getting ever more bumps and scrapes as the canal becomes ever more crowded.
This was written off as Nimby-ism by a commenter on another video, which I think misses the point, it doesn't matter if its my back yard or not, it is an across the board shift in the world, the canals will get busier, and that will likely make them less pleasant, whether we like it or not!
I am 65 and live in a small town in the mountains of southern California. Been here since 95 and love it. During the pandemic, people from LA, San Diego and everywhere between suddenly decided we were a good place to escape the pandemic. Fast forward to today and we now have over 800 Airb&bs in a town with a population of 3000. The tourists come and wipe out our little grocery store, leaving locals without cars stuck without a way to get food. The closest town off the mountains is a 50 mile round trip. All of our events are now overcrowded and you can't get into one of our small restaurants on the weekend. Locals are now hiding in their homes on the weekends instead of being able to come out and enjoy the little village they choose to live in. Life has changed so much lately and I can't say that I like it at all. I was wondering if the English canals are becoming over crowded and if they will ever limit the amount of licenses they issue for continuous cruisers. It seems like everything wonderful is being ruined.
I’m 70 now and this is my 23rd year on my little 42’ Trad, I totally agree regarding the population of England, not only that but attitudes and respect have “drastically changed” from when I was a young man, I’ve seen so much rubbish just dumped in the hedges and “household” rubbish fly tipped onto CRT refuge points it makes me sick. Nobody seems to care anymore about anything. I can barely survive as a live aboard on a state pension, the licence, insurance, diesel,coal, gas and maintenance have gone through the roof! I have nowhere else to go as this is my only home….
A very personal account of narrowboat life. It is not for everyone, people looking for a narrowboat life should research, be prepared, and listen to those like you, with years of experience.
A very good and sobering video Dan, and I'm glad you are highlighting some potentially negative aspects of boat life.
There are some vloggers who don't say very much about these challenges, and instead try to produce only the glamorous Hollywood style videos.
People coming into boat life need to know the full story, warts and all.
I paid £540 for a tonne of Excel last Summer. This was more than 2021 when I paid £440 for a tonne but not the end of the world. I've always said though that a person has to want to live on a boat to make it work, if they do it just because they think it's cheaper than living in a house then it's potentially a pretty difficult life. Without wishing to sound harsh though Dan, I've always thought your biggest mistake was never actually going anywhere on your boats, spending ten years on the same short stretch of canal would be pretty uninspiring for anyone. The pleasure of narrowboating is in the things you experience, not just the vehicle you experience them in.
Damm good statement. I know what both cost of living is like. If weak, don’t boat, if strong, set sail. Or canal.
Mondays always roll round every week, no matter where you live.
Thank you for your honest account of living on a boat .
Be well Dan 🙏🏽
You too!
If canal life is getting too expensive, how about tunnel life? burrow into the ground.. its warm down there at network of tunnels and pockets of vast open spaces could be suitable for habitation?
Haha I've certainly heard worse ideas!
When I was teenager, I worked and lived on a river boat and I really did mostly love it. But, I left it because I liked it so much I thought that I might never leave and see what else life has to offer. I did that more than once when I was young but eventually settled into a job and spent many years taking care of my parents and then my wife's parents and, now in my 70's, I don't know if that was the best way to go or not -- I just trust the universe that I traveled the right path. I was never able to see the future and just made decisions based on how I felt at that moment. If you did anything else in life, you would still be an outstanding person and I would watch any kind of videos you offered up. I liked your train videos, your walks on the barren hills, your bike explorations, your wonderful commentary and your thoughts. Whatever you do in life, I will be one of your fans.
Thank you for an absolutely lovely and thoughtful comment!
18 years on board now constant cruising. Sometimes good Sometimes not. Just like life. It's gonna be too busy soon. It's getting there. Less moorings, long queues for water. Too high expectations of some. Let's see where it goes.
Yes, I feel like we’ve definitely seen the best of times already. The sweet spot is just passing, the era of canal restoration that helped make them so pleasant is giving way to canal commercialisation where everything possible will be milked to death.
What a truly honest, informative and thought provoking vlog 😊 thanks for sharing
Thank you! I am glad you found value in my ramblings!
@ just stumbled across your channel. A very interesting video for me to watch as I fall into the category of a potential boat buyer after numerous hire boat holidays.
I also lived in Whittington and Llanymynech 15 years ago so interesting to see you’re local to there too.
if your fortunate enough to buy your boat outright and don’t have to pay rent/mortgage council tax water etc that’s a saving in my case of £1200 straight away. That saving is what I’d pay for my food and car , insurances, fuel and phone for the month💰. Of course if you have a house paid off, that rent you receive you can live for free and you have the house as a nest egg!! Either way, If you like the lifestyle, it’s a no brainer😁 if your going to worry about 50 quid here and there then you’ll probably worry about everything
Absolutely fantastic that was - so true too
Beautifully put. You have many years experience and know what you are talking about. I think too many wear rose tinted glasses.
Thanks for a very thoughtful and mindful video, it is true what you say but life is always full of ups and downs, you never know whats around the next corner.Happiness comes in all forms and sometimes its just about appreciating the little things in life.
Thanks
Wherever you go, that's where you are (or words to that effect). So deeply true
I think there are a lot of people looking to change their lifestyle at the moment. City to countryside, land to boat, boat to land, house to van. Everyone is searching for an 'anchor' in these unsettled times and a quick fix to their problems. I think in a couple of years a lot of people will go back to what they know and life will settle down again. The grass isn't always greener on the other side.
Beautiful vlog. Your voice is so calming and relaxing. Thank you
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Savings you make when you consider the cost of a mortgage with the average house price is around £314'000...it far out weighs the downsides
I know it is a huge value prospect, but believe me there are people out there who would be happier struggling on dry land than isolated on the canal.
(I’m not one of them by the way! I love all this boat stuff!)
@@hamshackleton Peanuts compared to the £1100 per month mortgage i was paying
@@garymanders1273 this! £1100 mortgage, £400 gas/leccy bill, £200 council tax, £50 water bill, the list goes on! Buying bags of coal/wood to burn in a canal boat, even at the current prices is still cheap as chips versus living on land!
I would agree with a lot of what you have said. Perhaps to add work issues - being employed and living alone on a boat is difficult unless you are not cruising very far or work remotely. That I think is the hardest reality for new boat owners in working age, possibly a reality forcing them onto a marina (might as well.be in a flat) or alternatively playing dodge with the CRT CC rules on a small stretch of canal. Wishing you very well, I'm Leeds centre now, Skipton has youth trouble!
What a fantastic video imo.
I have always pondered the statements about "being free" made by some of those who make videos or that they're living life on "their terms."
In reality they're living in a small steel box that's limited by where it can go and the access it has to things like supplies, fuel, water, employment etc etc.
I'm not trying to put it down as a way of life, far from it, but everything we do comes with compromises/costs and they need to be considered, especially in relation to our own mindsets, when making these sorts of major life decisions.
I watch a lot of different types of "alternative living" videos from camping/caravanning, living in other countries such as Portugal, yachting/boating etc etc and they all have their good/bad points.
Life is getting expensive however/wherever you live which now seems to be a major factor in a lot of these decisions these days.....................sad really.
Thanks for the video, a lot of common sense/understanding in this one.
Love your footage Dan your so honest
Thank you for your poetry. xx
And thank you for tuning in!
Have you ever thought of living abroad, somewhere different.
I know Thailand's quite hot at the moment for digital nomads as its cheap.
I was thinking somewhere more Mediterranean.
I feel like I need a break from the uk.
Boat life aint glamorous, nor is van life, nor is city living, but sometimes you just need a change of scenery and culture.
Well said 👏
I love your videos Dan, ones like these especially as I have wanted to live on a canal boat for 18 years. I was born in Australia but moved to the UK when I was 20. I then encountered canals for the first time ever and instantly felt connected. I think it's in my DNA, like the UK is. My grandmother was from Oldham but died long before I was born. I feel so drawn to the north of England but also any canal. Your subscribers sound like they want similar things to you. I love long conversations about the meaning of life and death, not what's on tv.
I watch videos like yours to truly investigate if canal boat life is still for me. I hear you when you say it's changed especially since 2020 but so much of modern life has. Maybe we just have to go further afield to find it.
The only real way to escape the hustle and bustle of life is to become financially stable , so you do not need to worry about money
Increased fuel costs on a canal boat, and other canal boat cost of living increases pale into insignificance versus a mortgage, council tax, gas & electric bills, water bills, etc etc Simply buying a boat and having no mortgage would free up £1000 p/ month for many people, £400 saved on gas/elec bill, £200 council tax, the list goes on. Boatlife is 100% a cheaper way of living, by a huge huge margin.
Yes I know, just buying a boat vs buying a house will save you untold tens of thousands, but once upon a time I used to live on a (tiny) boat for £1,000 a year including heating, license etc etc.
The most important thing that people miss is that cheaper by no means equates to happier. There are people on the canal right now who can attest to that, I’d say these are probably some of the people who should be making videos to balance out the people like me who love the boating world!
Foxes Afloat did a direct comparison of all commodities for life on the canal in the past 2 years and its gone up about 20% just like everything else. Now 5 years ago maybe it has gone up quite a bit more. Sad really, thats inflation, the gap between simple living forever widening. Good luck out there and thanks for the vids!
Very interesting Dan we have a few local marinas and they are always chocka in the winter I've noticed it must be quiet expensive although always looks idyllic, cheers Glyn
I think boating is only good if you have the right mind set, I think the boat prices will at least double and in a year or two people will realize that it's not as easy and fun as they thought and people will set in mass leaving boat prices about pre pandemic or cheaper.
Thank you for your view, a wonderful insight to life…. beautiful vlog🙏✝️🙏
Thank you for watching!
What beautiful footage in this video, Dan. So true that a lifestyle won't make someone happy if they aren't happy. I think that people need to be around other people far more than they realize. So isolation can take a slow heavy toll on people. Combine that with despair and you have a terrible combination. Your videos are honest, thoughtful and inspiring. Thanks for being true to yourself with your videos. Cheers.
Absolutely! It’s such a shame that we now live in a world where everything has to be boiled down to the easiest possible concept to be consumed by a “content overwhelmed” audience.
So many people rarely think about anything on a deep level anymore and I feel that a lot of obvious easy lessons are missed, especially in the area of self reflection.
@@SortOfInteresting Agreed, and one reason I enjoy your channel. Self reflection is one of our best teachers in life. I value it more and more as I get older. Cheers.
Not all people like being around people. Speaking as an introvert myself I can tell you that it becomes unbearable when people refuse to back off and give me my own time and space. This world is far too busy and people would do well to stop and think who's plan they're actually following. The rat race isn't the most natural environment to live in. Some people like it but it's not for me.
The best boat videos by far excellent photography all the very best to you Dan
Thank you! You are too kind!
Dan your very talented with filming and brilliant audio you have the voice that embodies stunning countryside
Thank you Dan for your usual dose of common sense, it's refreshing to listen & appreciate everything you've said knowing you live the life a lot of people aspire to & that you tell it like it is, warts & all.
So many folk getting themselves on the canals now it's not going to be the peaceful place it once was as time goes by or the answer to all problems financial or otherwise lovely though it can be.
You come into my home on each video like a very welcome friend & I always look forward to hearing from you & seeing your videos & beautiful photos.
X 🏴
Viewing you videos you keep a ‘ship shape’ vessel! Your ‘deck (roof) top is clear and clean; ship shape and Bristol fashion. A pure pleasure to view. Sail or steer, on lad! P.S. plan to get another pet?
Doubters of Dans message should refer to Foxes Afloat as they’ve recently compared cost of living narrowboat v house.
Your small radius of travel Dan would cause extra issues for some who opt for live aboard life. Cheers lad.
Very true words!
Sadly so, times are definitely changing!
@@SortOfInteresting We considered boat life for a while, but after doing some research, found the fixed annual costs a bit pricey for us (although still cheaper than owning a house), but we haven't completely ruled it out yet especially if the right Skûtsje Dutch barge came along! The main problem is selling the boat - some of the houseboats down our way have been on the market a very long time.
Guess Dan you cannot use a boat long term as a semi static home whilst needing to go to work.
If you can work and make a good living regularly anywhere from a boat is much the only way it works for ordinary people.
Around Bristol prices of everything to do with boating has gone sky high which of course will never seem to come down.
Mooring fees in Bristol docks have nearly doubled and their are many barges moored up there which will maybe have to move. All around that area there is now a £9 / day for a car, Clean Air Zone just been set up, so if you have a small car for work and use it everyday will now cost you £63 / week to do so if you need to travel in and out of that zone, not to sure if bus fares have gone up as their a £100 / day so as you say the dream of living on water is not cheap anymore.
At a good guess, wood burning / solid fuel stoves will be the next to be stopped in that area, followed by a charge for diesel / gas heaters.
Same old story buddy the money boys want some more which in the end will kill it stone dead as a cheap way of living which it isn't anyway already.
Hi Dan, I was wondering why you haven't been filming inside your boat. Are you living aboard or staying on land?
I emptied the boat ages ago th-cam.com/video/VsUHoc6-hq4/w-d-xo.html
Ready to sell… the decided not to sell it so refilled it 😂 more than once!
I’m hoping the boat will be sold soon so I can get on with finding my next boat/boats so I actually removed even more stuff earlier in the week. The worst decision I made was taking the proper mattress off as the airbed gets very cold sometimes.
So at the minute my time is split between the boat and various houses on dry land so am as minimal a nuisance as I can be 😂
@@SortOfInteresting Thanks Dan........ good luck with the sale!
Have you considered that the surge in people seeking alternative, lower cost and life fulfilling lifestyles is in the main because of the exposure and enticement by vloggers on platforms such as this? Vanlife is another over saturated alternative lifestyle, promoted by the likes of social media and is at the point where it's becoming regarded as anti social in some quarters. Almost every week on TH-cam there is another channel started by newbies celebrating their epic move from house living to boating or Vanlife.
Words of wisdom here.
Well said👍👍.
I saw that same bbc article today and was imagining what you might make of it! Any Sam-friendly boats bobbed into view yet? I guess there aren’t as many for sale in the winter?
No such luck at the moment… right now on my “next boat, swingometer” I am feeling like just buying a little fun boat for the foreseeable future will be the happy medium until a sensible solution or sail away hull is found!
Hitting awfully close to home there. 😕
Dan. Your video's are great but your dialogue is very depressing. Canal's and Boating are hard, costs are getting higher..........everywhere. I'm nearer 80 than 70 and had quite a busy life with bouts of disappointment sometimes. I get what you are trying to convey but stick with the positives, interact with people and be thankful for your blessings.......Summer is coming you'll be wishing the loneliest you profess at this time comes back!
Life in the UK is Frostpunk irl. I'm a Londoner, and I emigrated to central Europe in 2015.
Frostpunk! What a game!
Hi Dan ,I love your accent, is it North Shropshire?
Yes! This is an oswestry born and bred accent!
Now I'm all depressed.☹️.
The running costs are one thing, but the biggest issue in my mind is the fact that you're living on a rapdily depreciating asset that will ultimately be worth nothing. That's never going to happen if you buy even the most modest house or flat. You can save as much as you like on daily life, but you need to look at the bigger picture over decades.
Yes, in the really cheap old days you could save enough to absorb big costs such as overplaying the hull etc, now though there are people buying some very expensive boats (hearsay suggesting with lower quality modern steel) and then potentially not making the great savings often associated with life on a boat!
Have the Narrowboat #TH-camrs KILLED 'The Golden Goose' ??
The swinging camera action is making me dizzy!
So...Here's MY situation! I moved from Seattle to my family home in the remote White Mountains of New Hampshire, USA. My town has 459 people. The next closest, 1,089 with a Subway sandwich shop, laundry, 2 gas stations, and a small grocery...oh, and an coffee shop! 20 miles away is a town of 5,000...
I live in the woods, adjacent to 5,000 sq miles of National Park. Bear, Moose, deer, wolf, beaver, coyote, bobcat. Kind of like Yellowstone...
I get 6 months of winter, 3 of summer, It's a toss up on the other seasons...lol Fall is striking- every leaf is red or orange or gold. Tourist from England gawk in amazement. But I'm DONE here! It's lonely, and being holed up for 5-6 months because it's -33f with a 50mph wind and 4 ft of snow? Gets old. Shoveling my roof off so it doesn't collapse...gets OLD! Snowblowing my driveway for the 4th time in a week...old. digging out my mailbox to access my mail?!! OLD! I haven't dated through my entire 50s. I stopped at 50. I'm 58. No women here! I'm selling this fucking house, and coming to live on a narrow boat! At LEAST there's people...and festivals, and music. There's no pot...and that sucks! And I can't carry my gun..or even a little jacknife?! WTF?! I can't even have a slingshot or bow and arrow...they sure castrated you guys there! I figured, well...no carry, but at least I can have a 12g shotgun by my bed...? But noooooo...I remember a little skirmish in 1776 where you guys tried to take our guns away...lol. THAT didn't happen! 🤣 Anyway, I'm done here...at least for now. I love the USA...It was AWESOME, but under Biden? Fuck him! He's trying to collapse us in favor of Socialism...Communism. TRUMP 2024! Maybe I'll fly a big ol Trump face off my boat, whatdya think? I'd probably get arrested for breaking some stupid law...like freedom of expression or freedom of speech...🤣 !! Your channel rocks man. Just subbed!
I wouldn't worry about the canals being flooded with folks seeking a cheaper lifestyle. Truth is that the vast majority of the population would find the lifestyle unworkable. CRT have also started the process of gentrification with their 'consultation' on boat licence fees. You can expect the licence to go up 20% a year for the forseeable until all us real boaters are ethnically cleansed. 😉
Senior Slaphead said: "You can expect the licence to go up 20% a year for the forseeable until all us real boaters are ethnically cleansed."
Source please.
@@chrisbodum3621 The source is me... it's a prediction. You can come back and comment when I'm proven right or wrong.
@@seniorslaphead8336 *Gentrification
I like the UFO @ 9.37 🛸
Haha, finally come to take me home!
TH-cam is not helping you get your point across. There I am, listening to you calmly and peacefully try to explain things when TH-cam suddenly cuts in with a loud, obnoxious, and, quite frankly, insulting ad. Is it no wonder that people want to run off to the peaceful canal life? Not that it appears that it is that way anymore
Living on a boat is very hard, lots of disadvantage's, cold wet weather even snow to start with along with cost's of fuel insurance and boat licence and also mooring fees before you get to engine maintenance fees. Then if your cruising the cut can also get vandals who seem to enjoy been annoying on the towpath and can also cost through damage from holiday boaters who don't care if they hit you, they just carry on regardless, boat life is NOT to be taken lightly, may look all sweetness & light but reality is very different reality. More expense can be had from not getting a boat surveyed at the start of owning a boat, not all boats are the same and need to be checked by a pro surveyor, if future problems to be avoided. Hope this helps if your looking to buy a boat, many more things after you buy one, main one been Lock operation can be very dangerous especially in the wet, slip hazards/ trapped fingers and hard to open especially if in need of repair/damaged, swing bridges can seize up and be difficult to open in summer as well.
7 locks on a 3 mile stretch was enough for me to say no way to this shit.
House/Narrow boat, one of them is a deprciatating asset, the other is a house.
Hi Dan, I cant find a way to email you about something I'd like to send to you, you can get in touch with me from my about page if you are interested with something that is sort of interesting! 🤣
Wow, now that does sound intriguing! Thanks, I will be in touch!
Dan what’s happening to you. ? Pick
Yourself up mate. This is t you.
Yes you are pointing out some very important things.
I think I know what, but not me to say.
Aren’t you now living in a marina ?
I’d live to come and meet you. You have done this for many many years. And you have been so happy.
You have many fans and world wide as well.
There is doom and gloom about. I myself am finding myself stuck in it.
You need to step above it..
You have a car now. That also might be costing a lot.
But if not why don’t you stick a tent in it an go wild camping ?
Leave the home. Take the friend that can be with you. Push away the ones that might try to change you.
Can’t you start doing those cooking videos again. They was fantastic..
And with the live chats.
There are lots of people that would live to be in your position.
And what your saying also happens in home life.
And right now prices are going way up for people on energy bills.
All of that could be stopped if people stood up.
Don’t give in Dan. I don’t think you are. Perhaps I’m missing the point. But it’s your voice to me. You sound saddened.
Rise above my friend. Rise above…
Actually, I think it WILL make me happier...I currently live in what MOST people consider "paradise"...4,000 foot mountains surround me, no neighbors, gardens, bear, moose, deer, wolf...all the fishing, hunting, skiing, snowshoing one could want!
But NO real interaction with people. Its remote. My village has 600 people...spaced on average 1 mile apart. ...When its winter? Its 40 below zero, and 6 feet of snow....try going 22 miles to work in that shit! 1/8" of ice coating your vehicle, cant get to work? Oh well... wait. It'll thaw. Maybe...
Looks like you don't have solar, so you'll likely be spending a fortune on fuel.
To be fair running the engine to charge batteries and heat the water isn't too bad, running in neutral doesn't take too much diesel over the long term. I have a portable solar and battery pack setup which is great for the summer though but not really suited to the off season.
good vid thanks lee
Lonely = depends on your character
Expensive = depends on your lifestyle
Not enough room = depends on the size of your boat and your lifestyle.
I find narrowboat life neither lonely nor expensive and I have more than enough room.
Me too! This video is aimed at trying to dispel the growing number of people with an unrealistic fairytale view of boat life!
th-cam.com/video/ywoAEvmpucM/w-d-xo.html
Hi .... I admire your way and presentation and feel you're sentiments on the way life is changing for us all . I was wondering if a slight change to your vlogs etc might lift your mood . As far as I have seen most if not all of your videos are obviously about boating , that s your thing . But I have just, straight after watching this video , watched another by a man ( Voge, ..sorry forgot his first name ) who has a similar delivery to yourself but on about other things , I could see you two becoming good friends as 2 of a kind from different scenarios . Just a thought . I leave the link . Stay well and strong, keep up the great vlogs
👍
Nice one Dan folk don’t get it it’s romantic to live on a boat but when you put it into practice it’s bloody hard ...when you had Tilly bk in the day 2015 it was well cheaper for you Cheers zDan lad 🙂🦢🦆✌️