Thinking about living on a narrowboat? Read this first

A woman has opened up about the realities of narrowboat life – saying that while there are big savings to be made, boat life is NOT for everyone.

You might have to live without a shower, for instance.

It’s something that Emily Jones, who owns and lives on a narrowboat named ‘Florrie’ in London, has struggled with for four years.

The 32-year-old felt “trapped” by London’s property market, previously sharing a house with five other people for £800 a month.

Now her rent is the price of her bills but it’s not all sunshine and roses, as Emily has still been forced to shell out thousands for unexpected expenses.

“I didn’t really know how to get out of [the house share situation],” Emily, a project manager, who is originally from Merseyside told What’s The Jam..

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“But I always liked the idea of narrowboats.

“After my dad died, I reassessed my life, and thought, ‘Well, I’m going to do everything I can to try and live that lifestyle’.

“I spent about four months looking for the right kind of boat and that’s when I found Florrie.

“She was a project boat and even though I’ve been living on her for nearly four years, there are still a lot of things that aren’t quite right.

“I haven’t finished renovating [and] my bathroom still isn’t quite how I would like it.

“I mostly haven’t had a working shower the whole time I’ve lived on Florrie.

“The biggest challenges on the boat are being organised. You have to plan where you are going, when to get water, and [when] to get rid of waste (human or otherwise).

“If you are left short without fuel for the fire, a full toilet, or no water, things could get a bit sticky.

“The locks themselves can be hard work but possible solo, which was a worry of mine, but now I love travelling alone. Even just a gentle cruise, you forget how much it takes out of you physically and mentally. I move every two weeks and have to plan a lot around those moves.

“Getting rid of your belongings is also a mindset change – living on less can feel really difficult if you are not fully onboard with the idea. Once resigned to the fact, it’s liberating!”

Emily explained that ultimately, boating life is a challenge, but with the right mindset, it can be enjoyed – the key is to not expect it to be like living in a house.

She bought Florrie for £21,000 with a loan and moved aboard with her dog Beautiful in October 2020, the same year her dad passed.

The biggest issue with narrowboats is that there is “always a compromise” – so if you need to control your surroundings, this is probably not the life for you.

She said: “Florrie’s a constant work in progress but completely liveable – there’s just always a compromise.

“In the boating community, we are always told to bring out another £1,000 as you quickly realise that if you need any jobs done, they are always significantly more expensive than they would be in a house.”

Emily admits that because she is putting her boat’s renovations first, she’s not necessarily saving money either – although she believes this would ring true if she lived in a pricey London flat, too.

She spends around £3,000 a year on costs including the license, insurance, and diesel but admits she “does more cruising than most people around London”.

Emily said: “Fuel in the winter, which is things like coal and wood, then comes to a few hundred pounds a month.

“My general bills compared to living in a house are a lot less as my solar panels mean that my electricity is essentially free.

“I also get my water as part of my license for the Canals and Rivers Trust.

“Living in a boat and not having rent has freed up my mind so much – I can give more of myself to things that I want to do like hobbies and that is such a blessing.

“I also have ADHD, which I didn’t realise until I was on the boat.

“This lifestyle really helps me manage it because nothing comes easy; a house is convenient, but a boat isn’t.

“I get a different dog walk every two weeks; I have to think a little bit more about my fuel and water’s coming from and I have to use eco-friendly products because the water is going back into the canal.

“You have to go into the lifestyle with the right attitude and you also have to be open to learning how to do new things because good tradespeople are hard to come by.

“But when you are willing to get your hands dirty, you quickly learn that there’s an amazing community to help you out.

“I’m always thinking of new projects now I’m not trapped in a house share.

“I’ve just bought a classic mini car with a friend because I’m gonna get to know engines more.

“Boating pays back what you put into it – I don’t see the draw of a house anymore.”

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