Try before you buy a narrowboat
Disclaimer: Aston Marina has a strict no residential mooring policy, with a maximum of 120 days stay a year. Therefore, you are able to sample life aboard a boat with CanalScapes but would not be able to do so full time at Aston. Other marinas in the area do offer such a facility.
What do we offer?
Whether buying narrowboat as a share-boat, for leisure or to liveaboard, we recognise that purchasing a narrowboat is a significant financial undertaking.
We also recognise there are very few options available to potential boat owners to test the water before committing to purchase. There is of course the option to hire a boat, but we believe CanalScapes can offer a more tailored and representative experience on our boat, Pendelvin Gypsy, who has been designed specifically as a liveaboard boat.
CanalScapes are pleased to be able to offer narrowboat ‘try before you buy’ packages to prospective buyers, to ensure they fully understand the traits of owning your own boat, whether it be for leisure or living onboard long term.
How does it work?
Get in touch with us either by the 'Book Now' button or give us a call. Tell us the type of experience you are looking for, whether its before you buy a share in a boat, a leisure boat or going all out with the liveaboard option. This information will help us create an experience that best suits your needs to ensure you get the most out of your stay. Little value in us taking you on a 4-day cruise in July, if you are considering living aboard all year round!
Prior to booking an experience trip, we always encourage people to come and view our boat and the facilities at Aston Marina. We therefore invite all prospective customers to a free no obligation visit to our boat, where we can chat through what you are hoping to achieve from your experience with CanalScapes.
What is the cost?
Cost is dependent on time of year and duration of stay.
Cost for a static mooring starts at £100 per night.
Worth noting our cost includes a mooring at Aston Marina. In contrast, bringing a hire boat into the marina would be more than £100 per week, on top of the hire costs.
Optional extras
For an additional fee:
- The CanalScapes skipper can take you out onto the network and demonstrate cruising techniques, such as single handing locks and winding a large boat.
- We can also include some nights out of the marina, so you can experience the complete off-grid living experience. This could either be in the centre of Stone or in the middle of nowhere.
IMPORTANT: CanalScapes are not an approved RYA training center, but we do offer clients a familiarity experience of operating a narrowboat and life onboard.
If you require expert and formal training in order to gain a recognized RYA inland waterways qualification please contact:
Birmingham & Midland Marine Services
Buying a boat
Your boat’s purpose – What’s it going to be used for? How many people? Summer or all year-round usage? What type of heating?
Boat layout – Traditional, semi-traditional or cruiser stern? Classic or contemporary design? How many berths?
What’s your budget – Think what is affordable, ensuring there are reserves for the unexpected, which undoubtedly there will be.
All about the size – Narrowboat running costs are determined by their length. Insurance, moorings, Canal and River Trust (CRT) licence all take length into consideration.
It’s not just costs, as ease of navigating the network can be determined by boat length. Tight bends can be tricky on a 70ft boat compared to a 57ft and not all winding holes will accept a 70ft boat.
Surveys – What type of survey prior to purchase? Hull, engine, onboard systems? Who to use?
Heating – Solid fuel (coal & logs) is a great option for some, but there are more convenient alternatives such as central heating using a Eberspacher / Webasto or a diesel heating stove. Our boat has all three types, so we can demonstrate the various options to help you decide.
Compromise – You might be lucky and find your dream boat at the right price, with all the features you want in the right place, but this is unlikely. Therefore, you might find it best to create a list of Essential, Desirable and Nice-to-have features.
Running Costs
General maintenance – Not just engine and gearbox annual service, but other costs such as replacing unserviceable items, water pumps, accumulators, batteries, external paintwork will all need to be factored in.
Canal and River Trust (CRT) licence – Very much determined by boat length. Check the CRT website for current prices.
Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) – This is like an MOT for your boat and costs approximately £180 every 4 years.
Mooring fees – Are you going to have a permanent mooring, all year round or just winter, or are you going to continuous cruise?
Insurance – As with CRT licence, boat length will be a factor.
Liveaboard Additional Considerations
Fuel and Heating – Additional fuel costs in the depths of winter should not be underestimated.
Marina moorings – Not all marinas accept all year-round residential moorings. So best advice is don’t assume they will.
Matt & Julie - Try Before you Buy Experience
"We contacted CanalScapes, and Mark and Deb were responsive and supportive of our needs – two adults and two cats to live on a boat for three weeks please! Prior to booking, Mark invited us down to the marina to view the CanalScapes flagship, Pendelvin Gypsy. She is a 62ft traditional style narrowboat with a beautiful and cosy interior, an engine room and a boatman’s cabin. We can’t thank Mark enough for his time on that cold and drizzly day to show us the boat and give us a tour of the marina. Mark is a boater and his enthusiasm for life on the canals is obvious, and infectious.
The mission of CanalScapes is to offer experiences of canal life to others and allow them to develop their own love for the inland waterways.
We have learned so much about living on a boat, and about ourselves and we are grateful for the try before you buy experience that CanalScapes has given us. Coupled with great customer service, a beautiful boat and the enthusiastic and supporting owners (Mark and Deb), the CanalScapes experience is a winning combination."
Matt and Julie have been so kind to write a case study about their stay with CanalScapes. It makes an excellent read with some practical lessons learnt about their experiences. Some good, some not so good.
Its a lengthy read (3000 words!) but we think invaluable for people wanting to venture into canal-life. Whether it be to live-a-board, recreational or share-boat. Grab yourself a brew and read-on......
January
2025
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