Buy the right narrowboat. Not the expensive mistake.
I wrote this practical decision guide so you can budget, inspect and choose a British narrowboat with clear eyes before you ever make an offer.
The complete book — ready to go.
- 10 chapters taking you step by step from first idea to considered offer
- Total-cost-of-ownership calculator and monthly liveaboard budget planner
- Boat viewing checklist plus hull, engine and safety inspection checklist
- Mooring worksheet, layout scorecard and first-winter timetable
- Offer-risk and repair-cost worksheet
- Instant access on any device
The book + audiobook + all bonus extras in one bundle.
Digital guide (PDF) · one-time payment · instant access by email
What is inside the guide
Decide and budget
- Is a Narrowboat Life Actually Right for You?
- Set Your Total Budget Before You Browse
- Total-cost-of-ownership calculator
Understand the market
- What Used Narrowboats Really Cost
- Monthly liveaboard budget planner
Choose your boat
- Choose the Right Length, Layout and Boat Type
- Layout scorecard for solo living, couples and remote work
Mooring and cruising
- Find a Mooring and Understand Your Cruising Plan
- Mooring and cruising-plan worksheet
Inspect and assess
- Inspect the Hull, Engine, Electrics and Heating
- Read a Listing Without Missing the Expensive Problems
- Hull, engine and safety inspection checklist
- Boat viewing checklist
Live aboard and commit
- Plan Your First Winter Afloat
- Make Small-Space Living Work
- Your Viewing-to-Offer Decision Plan
- First-winter preparation timetable
- Offer-risk and repair-cost worksheet
Everything you need to decide with confidence
Is it right for you?
Test the dream against everyday reality.
Total budget
Purchase price plus every running cost.
Length & layout
Choose a boat that fits how you live.
Mooring & cruising
Plan where you stay and how you move.
Inspection
Hull, engine, electrics and heating.
First winter
Prepare before the cold arrives.
Buy the right narrowboat. Not the expensive mistake.
I wrote this practical decision guide so you can budget, inspect and choose a British narrowboat with clear eyes before you ever make an offer.
- Know the true total cost of ownership, instead of discovering the hidden bills after you have paid
- Spot the expensive problems in a listing that buyers in a hurry overlook
- Walk into every viewing with a plan, rather than being swayed by a pretty interior
$26.99 $53.99 one-time payment · instant digital access
Does any of this sound familiar?
The listings all look tempting
Gleaming paintwork and a cosy stove make it hard to see what a boat will really cost you to own.
Nobody gives you the full budget
Licence, mooring, insurance, survey, blacking and maintenance rarely appear in the price you are browsing.
You are unsure what to inspect
Hull, engine, electrics and heating matter enormously, yet a viewing can pass before you know what to ask.
“A narrowboat life is not decided by the dream. It is decided by the numbers, the mooring and the hull.”
Only in the Complete Package: your bonus extras
The Survey Report Decoder
Turn a dense surveyor's report into clear repair priorities and firm renegotiation points, so you don't pay full price for problems the seller should have priced in.
Seller & Broker Question Bank with Ready-to-Send Templates
Uncover hidden history, missing paperwork and deal-breakers before you book a viewing or travel anywhere, and stop wasting weekends on boats that were never right.
Handover Day & First 30 Days Owner's Logbook
Leave the handover with every key, manual, code and system explanation you need, so you avoid the costly 'nobody told me' mistakes new owners make in their first month.
$26.99
What you will discover
- The cost most first-time buyers forget entirely
- Why the asking price is only the beginning
- The listing phrase that deserves a second look
- What a lovely interior can quietly hide
- The mooring question to settle before buying
- Why your first winter needs planning now
- The layout choice that shapes daily life
- When walking away is the smartest move
This guide is for you if …
The first-time buyer
You are drawn to life on the cut and want to avoid the costly mistakes of a rushed purchase.
The solo liveaboard or downsizer
You want a home afloat that works financially and practically, all year round.
The canal-life dreamer
You are not ready to buy yet, but want to understand what it would really take.
Frequently asked questions
Is this suitable if I have never owned a boat?
Yes. I wrote it with first-time buyers in mind, starting with whether narrowboat life suits you at all.
Does it cover living aboard full time?
Yes. It includes monthly liveaboard budgeting, your first winter afloat and making small-space living work.
Is it specific to the UK?
Yes. It focuses on buying, mooring and living aboard a narrowboat on British waterways.
Does it replace a professional survey?
No. It helps you inspect, ask better questions and shortlist wisely, but a qualified survey remains essential before buying.
In what format will I receive it?
As a digital PDF you can read on your phone, tablet or computer, with printable checklists.
How do I get access after purchase?
You receive an email with your personal download link straight after payment.