Running your boat You can see vacancies at
www.bwmooringvacancies.com or call 0845 671 5530.
Boat clubs have moorings for their members, particularly on the rivers and northern canals. You can fi nd out more from the Association of Waterway Cruising Clubs (
www.awcc.org.uk).
WHERE TO FIND A MOORING First, talk to your boatbuilder. Some operate their own moorings, and they may well know about other local mooring opportunities. You can also contact the authority on whose waters you intend to moor. eir websites list many of the moorings available (
www.waterscape.com for the canals and British Waterways-run rivers,
www.visitthames.co.uk for the ames), and advice is available from their head offi ces by phone. e Yacht Harbour Association publishes a free information booklet, ‘Fore & Aft’ which can be downloaded from their website
www.tyha.co.uk. eir website at
www.berthsearch.com lists availability of berths. e waterway magazines carry extensive
advertising from marinas with vacancies, plus regular updates. You can of course also make contact directly by visiting a major boat show.
TRANSFERRING A MOORING
Obtaining a new marina mooring is no problem if unoccupied berths are available. But if you are buying an existing boat on a mooring, ensure that the owner has the right to transfer that mooring to you. Not all berths are transferred automatically to the new owner. It is also wise to check with the moorings operator that the present
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owner has paid his mooring fees, service charges, and any council tax up to date. You will also usually have to pay a transfer fee, from 2% to 10% of the value. Linear moorings operated by British
Waterways are not transferable. ose managed by other waterway authorities may be, again on payment of a fee.
LIVING AFLOAT
Living on a boat is a popular way to experience the waterways. But you should not treat it just as cheap housing. e waterways have their own character and you are likely to be disappointed if you’re just looking for a cheap alternative to a fl at. A narrowboat is
INSURANCE AND COUNCIL TAX Insurance for a residential boat is likely to be a little more expensive than that for a boat used for cruising only a few times a year. You will need to look carefully at fi re and contents insurance, since this boat is now your permanent home. Don’t be tempted to gloss over your residential use: explain the circumstances to your insurer, so that your insurance is not invalidated in the event of an accident. If you have a permanent residential mooring, you will be responsible for paying Council Tax in some form, which may vary from one local authority to another. There is more information in the Residential Boat Owners’ Association’s Council Tax Notes. You will also need to budget for local and domestic services at your mooring, including, for example, mail delivery. Some services, such as a bank account, can be particularly diffi cult to arrange for continuous cruisers without a home address. The Residential Boat Owners’ Association is a mine of information on these issues, and publishes a comprehensive booklet, Living Afl oat. Copies are available from RBOA, John Ross, 19 Swan Quay, Vespasian Road, Southampton S018 1DU and cost £9.50 each (cheques to RBOA). See also
www.rboa.org.uk.
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