I live in Ware and we have quite a few narrowboats semi permanent and passing through, looking at a couple today and a thought struck me.

How do you get mail or register for a doctor etc? Forget dentists. No one can register with them.

Broadband would be via mobile hotspots etc. Electricity via battery/panel or hookup at mooring. Water in your tanks and what have you. Can’t see many postmen trudging up and down a towpath looking for the Dawntreader.

Too old and settled now, but in another life I’d quite fancy a narrowboat.

  • HumanPenguin@feddit.uk
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    1 year ago

    Yep.

    We also have a community on feddit.uk

    !narrowboat@feddit.uk

    Dispite the name. It is for all UK inland waterways fans to chat and share.

    I don’t live aboard. But the answer to your questions depends on if you have a residential mooring or not.

    Those with can do it just like any house.

    Those without are refered to as continuous cruisers. It can be annoying. Docs are easy. You can register as no fixed abode. But most use a family or friend address for this stuff. The fact that so much like Rx etc can now be done online. Helps.

    !narrowboat is a small community new with 100+ members many with boats. So feel free to ask questions. We could do with more input.

  • Rory Butler Music@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    A friend of mine lived on a narrow boat. Was perpetually docked at a marina though and that’s how they got electricity etc. Presumably there was a post station there too.

    It was quite a nice built up marina too.

  • wildeaboutoskar@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    The moorings at Bristol harbourside have postboxes, imagine there will be some areas that have those too. I think people have a PO box though, or use a friend’s address.

    I’d love to live on a narrowboat but would find the off-grid living tough. I like my creature comforts and flushing toilets.

    • FatLegTed@feddit.ukOP
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      1 year ago

      Same here, but most will have flush toilets and a shower.

      I used to cat sit as part time work and couple I sat for lived on a narrowboat with their 2 cats. I got the job as none of the other sitters were happy looking for a boat along a towpath 🙄

      It was very nice, shower, flush toilet, tvs, woodburning stove as well as fridge, freezer microwave and gas cooker. I could quite happily have lived on that.

      Some of the converted barges are enormous and very luxurious.