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Spitfire
Regular Member
114 Posts
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 Posted -
26/03/2008
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12:49
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Mrs Spitfire and I are thinking of buying a small boat. We'd like a narrow boat, but they're pretty expensive (and I'm not selling the Spitfire to buy one!), so we'll probably start off with a small cabin cruiser (24ft-ish), and "work our way up" to a narrow boat.
Finding a tub won't be a problem, but finding a mooring is a different matter. Is there any truth in the rumour I've heard that they are planning to dig out a marina at Salterforth? I know they have a waiting list of around 60 down there, but a marina would satisfy the waiting list plus a few more if it's a decent size...
Anyone know of any private moorings available locally?
Seems to me that buying a field next to the canal and digging out a big marina would be a good money-spinner, plus it would reduce the number of boats moored canalside...
Thanks.
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Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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Posted - 26/03/2008 : 14:30
Nay, Spitty - have you not been following the Frabjous Day saga?
First off - the planned marina isn't at Salterforth. Lower Park Marina are planning to extend the existing facilities at Barlick, possibly for 52 berths. We've had our name down for ages and I know some people have had theirs down for 4 years. We're hoping that the narrowboats will all go in the marina and the existing linear moorings will accommodate widebeams like us.
The marina was supposed to have been completed by spring 08 (ie now) but bad weather over winter held up the digging. Also the grants haven't been completely finalised, I believe, though a little birdie tells me the funds should be in place by end March (ie financial year).
However, it could be over 2 years before the marina is completed - I'm not holding my breath!
You'll certainly get a tupperware boat quite cheaply if you don't mind it looking crap. No matter how you try to clean them, they go green and gunky even after a few days, and I've yet to see one that doesn't list when unattended. Also, the older it is the more likely it will have succumbed to osmosis (ie the plastic has degraded).
We looked at quite a few plastic cruisers before deciding on FD. They are probably great for day trips or short holidays, but for us to live on, no way. However, there ARE some good ones around. There's one for sale on the marina noticeboard (£1500) but I don't know whether it's OK or not.
There are plenty of steel narrowboats around, but take advice from us, Travis and Thomo before you part with any brass. If I've learned one thing, it's that nothing is as simple and straightforward as you think it will be.
And the golden rule is: Do Not, Under Any Circumstances, Buy A Boat Without Having A Mooring, Unless You're Happy To Continuously Cruise And Won't Use Much Water Or Electricity.
We're hanging on by the skin of our teeth here on the public towpath, but as winter turns to spring British Waterways will move us on. However, we're on a promise for a temporary mooring till November so we think we'll be OK.
As for private moorings - yes there are a few farm ones around, but each has an incredibly long waiting list. We've been on them all for nearly 2 years and we're nowhere near the top.
If you decide to buy some canalside land and develop it into a marina, let me know! However, British Waterways won't make it easy for you - they seem to hate boaters with a vengeance!  |
Travis
Regular Member
91 Posts
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Posted - 26/03/2008 : 15:34
Hello Spitfire,
BW do have moorings available locally I'm sure, contact them.
The type of moorings we have and Cally urgently needs are different to the type you will need. Our first boat, a 23ft cabin cruiser was moored happilly at the top of Barrowford locks, very nice up there. We had no need for electric hook-up or tiolet pump-out facilities as we only used the boat during summer weekends. If life was so simple now!
And beware....it's very addictive.
Andy.
Deeds not words. |
Spitfire
Regular Member
114 Posts
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Posted - 26/03/2008 : 15:48
The boat advertised down at Lower Park Marina is located down at Barrowford, on private moorings (the mooring is available). We walked down there last week from Barrowford to have a look. The boat looks a bit of a wreck, but it might be worth buying (for less than the £1500 they are asking) just to secure the mooring that is available with it...
I've registered with the BW moorings website (had 3 emails today about moorings available, but not local, unfortunately) - hopefully something will come up, but we're in no hurry. In fact, if it takes a couple of years we might be in a position to buy a proper narrow boat.
I can totally understand how it becomes addictive. Classic cars are the same. Even though I already have 2, I'm always watching eBay...
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Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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Posted - 26/03/2008 : 16:04
I'm also registered with the BW moorings website, but so far no suitable ones have come up - for us. However, as Andy says, your requirements are different from ours. There was a mooring going at Greenberfield a few weeks ago, but it was only for a 25 footer, and no lecky etc.
Now I'm not one to gossip, as you know, [yeah right!] but I heard something about a private mooring site in the vicinity of Barrowford. It may not be the one where the advertised cruiser is moored and it IS only gossip so I won't divulge on a public forum what I heard.
All I would say is that you must ascertain whether the mooring is guaranteed long term and that BW are happy with the situation... |
moh
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Posted - 26/03/2008 : 21:51
Reedley Hallows seem to have plenty of moorings available - contact Barden Mill - but not cheap.
Say only a little but say it well |
Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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Posted - 27/03/2008 : 09:09
Moh, Reedley looks absolutely superb in the architect's drawings and general bumph. Fantastic view of Pendle, lecky and water points for each boat, a laundrette, clubhouse and shop on site - very tempting. We're going to the open day in May to check it out a bit more.
BUT ... the berths seem to be crammed together like a holiday caravan park AND it's over £2000 a year (inc VAT). That would be OK for liveaboards (which the guy wants to encourage) because you wouldn't be paying council tax, but very expensive for the casual boater with a permanent house. |
marilyn
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Posted - 27/03/2008 : 09:24
Cally...Febby and I enjoy a house-boat holiday every year. (And I can see you scratching your head saying there couldn't possibly be any comparison....). We go for a week at a stretch with whatever we have on board, in terms of fuel and water, and we moor every night (out int middle'o nowhere) without power.....the house-boats have a generator. Noisy old devils but it enables the use of 240volt appliances like microwave/TV/Stereo etc. 12 volt from the battery provides lights/ toilet pump. I've been trying to imagine how it must feel to not have a permanent mooring but all I can come up with is the thought that if there is somewhere to get fuel and somewhere to pump waste and deposit rubbish (say fortnightly) would one need a permanent mooring?
(Yeah right Maz....you live like this for one week a year and think it is so simple!)
get your people to phone my people and we will do lunch...MAZ |
marilyn
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Posted - 27/03/2008 : 09:40
I've been meaning to ask if you have to pay to go thru locks? Our locks are really big affairs (well our river is very very wide) so we have men who operate the locks and water needs to be pumped etc. It can take twenty minutes to get thru, as your boat may need to be raised as much as six metres. Our locks are free, but it is customary to pay the lock master in beer....which we dutifully do so as to avoid aggression from the Bunyips!
get your people to phone my people and we will do lunch...MAZ |
Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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Posted - 27/03/2008 : 10:14
Maz, it IS possible to live happily without a permanent mooring but if you want a bit of comfort & luxury it's difficult. Our engine charges the batteries and we have an inverter so we can use 240v (TV, microwave etc) but the engine has to be on up to 6 hours a day - very noisy and uses up diesel.
Without a permanent mooring you have to move every 2 weeks - and not just a few metres up the cut and back. They insist you travel a reasonable distance on the grounds that you're claiming to be a Continuous Cruiser. You can't just buy a boat and leave it moored anywhere you feel like it (though some do...) BW have the right to remove a boat if it's contravening the regulations.
No, you don't have to pay the lock keeper. You pay British Waterways over £600 a year for a licence to use the canals which presumably includes the lock keeper's wages. Most often you have to work the locks yourself anyway. I imagine if everyone paid the keeper in beer, the operation would become more and more slapdash as the day wore on...
The ideal mooring (for us) would have shorepower and water easily available, be close to facilities for pump-out, coal/logs, spares and everyday provisions like milk and bread, and have a wonderful view in a peaceful, tranquil setting shared with just a few other like-minded people for company. Not sure if such a place exists but if anyone hears about one - let me know! |
moh
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Posted - 27/03/2008 : 13:41
What are Bunyips??
Say only a little but say it well |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 27/03/2008 : 14:28
Bunyip is just one of the aboriginal names for the monster, but it is the one that has become the norm in English. It comes from the Wemba language of western Victoria in the southeast of Australia. Like most aboriginal languages on that continent, it belongs to the Pama Nyungan branch of the Australian language family. There are no speakers of Wemba left, and no other Wemba words have migrated to the English language.
see this address for the complete article:
http://www.answers.com/Bunyip?gwp=11&ver=1.1.1.377&method=3
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
moh
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Posted - 28/03/2008 : 11:15
Thank you Stanley.
Say only a little but say it well |
Moorings?
