Dear Aspiring Narrowboat Owner,My name is Paul Smith, and I live on a narrowboat.I wake up every morning to the calls of coots, moorhens, mallards and swans. Sometimes the swans swim right up and tap on my windows or poke their heads through my side hatch  for a bit of my morning toast.When I look out, I see swans gliding effortlessly on top the water, and slight ripples from fish snatching insects right from the surface. The gentle swish of the waves slapping against the hull of the boat and the cool wind sweeping up from the river are now familiar companions.That's me relaxing after a hard day's cruising!I spend my days exploring two thousand miles of connected canals and rivers on England and Wales connected waterways.No rush hour. No early morning commute. No smoke and smog and misery. Just me, my boat, and nature.I often end my evenings on the deck of my floating home or sitting on a grassy river bank, enjoying a glass of Merlot while watching the sun fall below the horizon. The water glitters a golden red where the sun strikes it, and against the backdrop of graceful trees and fluttering wildlife…Well, let’s just say I can’t imagine living any other way."But I wasn’t always living like this.”In 2010, I was in dire straits.My business had just failed. My marriage had crashed and burned. I couldn’t even afford the rent for a modest flat. I moved onto my narrowboat not because I wanted to…I did it because I had nowhere else to go! And I knew not a thing about boats, how to maintain them, or what to expect from living on one. Like you, I looked everywhere to find out more, only to discover that…"The Information I Was Looking For Didn’t Exist!"And believe me, I looked! Libraries, boating associations, and countless websites…But all the information I did manage to find was disjointed, broken, and conflicting. Never mind finding it in one place… it was like trying to put together a puzzle that just didn’t fit!So if you’re considering a life afloat, then you need to read what I’m about to say next. I say that because just by reading what I’m about to tell you, you’ll avoid the number one mistake that almost ALL narrowboat owners make when they’re first starting out.In fact, I can’t even tell you how many of my fellow live aboard boaters groan:"I wish someone had told me all that when I was just starting out!"But before I show you what that is, let me tell a little story of what happens when you don’t avoid this mistake… I had thought, like many people, that living on a boat would be cheaper than living on land. It can be… but only if you know what you’re doing. In those first few months, I had already run out of coal, gas, and electricity more than once. That’s what happens when you don’t know how long things last, or how much things should cost. But the worst had to be the winter of 2010/2011.James on a winter mooringSix months earlier, I had moved what meagre possessions I had on to the 6’10” wide cabin of my neglected narrowboat. I had no idea how cold it could get on a steel-hulled narrowboat floating on icy water.That winter was the coldest winter in recorded history. Some nights the temperature dropped to minus eighteen degrees……Did I mention that my heating sytem was partially broken during this time and that there were so many holes in my roof that I used buckets to collect water inside the boat every time there was more than a gentle shower?I would often wake up with the INSIDE of the engine room coated in a solid quarter inch of ice. The temperature in my bedroom was minus four one morning.But the perhaps the most surprising part of this all was the fact that, as unbelievable as it sounds…"I was incredibly lucky!"Yes, even though:I had run out of crucial supplies numerous times…I had spent more than a few nights sleeplessly trying to ignore the freezing chill that went down to my very bones…My boat roof was full of holes and the wind whistled through gaps in the windowsI was hit time and time again with costs I had never even considered…I was one of the lucky ones.I had been lucky because:I happened, out of pure chance, to buy a good boat that just happened to suit the way I wanted to live – before I knew anything about boats…Even though things were tight for many months, I never ran out of anything for long…I had several people who knew a great deal about boating help me with both money and experience…But most people won’t have those opportunities.I’ve lost count of the number of new boat owners I've met who buy a cheap boat that they can’t afford to repair or refurbish. Who don’t understand the license and mooring fees. Who don’t understand the regulations that govern the waterways.Which brings me to the number one mistake new boat owners make when thinking of living on the water:They go into it blind.They don’t know:The actual costs of running and maintaining a narrowboat…The right kind of boat to get for the lifestyle they want, or how much they should pay for it…And what living on a narrowboat is really like!That means that many new owners get the wrong kinds of boats, improperly plan their budget, or hate the lifestyle once they find out what it’s really like.After a few years, I eventually learned all you need to know about running and living on a narrowboat… the hard way. And I’ve made just about every mistake you can make along the way.For example:Finding out I could have prevented a £1,120 pound repair with a simple monthly checkup…Coming up a few hundred pounds short several months because of hidden boating fees that I just never considered when living on land…Running out of gas, electricity, coal, and water in the coldest winter in recorded history.Sometimes I’m surprised I survived it at all - I definitely wouldn’t have imagined the life I’m living today! But I did get through it. And I learned.Not only that, but through it all I kept records of every single expense… and I’m going to share it all with you.In 2010 I started living on a narrowboat without knowing a single thing about the lifestyle...  but there is no reason you should have to.Today, the internet is still woefully lacking in good information about how to live on a narrowboat and what to expect.There are a few good sites (besides mine) that give good general information on narrowboats and what you need…But they don’t tell you the details… and you’ll find that the details are what matter most.That’s why I decided to put everything you need to know about living on a narrowboat in one place.Living On A Narrowboat: The Complete Package: Three Essential Products For Aspiring Narrowboat OwnersI've created a package that contains almost everything you’ll need to know about living on a narrowboat comfortably. It’s filled with all the information I wished I could’ve had when I was starting out.It’s made up of three parts that are essential for any aspiring narrowboat owner that wants to go into living afloat with their eyes open.The Complete Package includes:Living on a Narrowboat:The REAL Cost Of ALife AfloatThis comprehensive eBook shows you everything you need to know about the costs of living on a narrowboat, and help you properly plan your budget.You’ll discover:The absolute best places to find quality boats – and how much you should expect to pay... as well as what kind of boat would suit your lifestyle…A 9-point check list to make completely sure you’re purchasing the perfect boat…How to choose a mooring, and the costs of different kinds…How much you should expect to pay for taxes, insurance, licensing costs, and utilities – the ones that nobody talks about…The cost of modern amenities like internet, mobile networks, television, and more…The average costs of repairing and keeping a boat in good shape – especially important since you’re living in it…Simple, but invaluable ways to save loads of money living afloat – the “tricks of the trade”…Living on a Narrowboat: 21 Liveaboard Case StudiesThis information-packed 185-page eBook features case studies from over 20 real-life narrowboaters with a combined 100+ years of experience on the water. It’s the good, the bad, and the ugly with zero editing, and ideal to figuring out if you’d enjoy a liveaboard lifestyle.You’ll find out:The best (and worst) parts of living afloat…What kinds of boats narrowboaters prefer for their particular lifestyle…Where liveaboard boaters can explore – that normal people can’t…The BEST brands and products for living aboard a boat…What advice they would give you, if you are just starting out…Narrowbudget GoldNarrowbudget Gold DashboardDisplays all the “hidden” costs of living on a narrowboat, so you’re never surprised…Performs all the calculations automatically, so you don’t have to add or subtract a thingIs incredibly user-friendly and sports an easy-to-use interface… so it’s effortless to use even if you’re not great with computers…Includes several pricing templates from other narrowboat owners – so you can compare your own costs against what others are payingAutomatically creates powerful charts and graphs of your costs for you - so you can actually see what you'll need to prepare for…You’ll Get All Three Products For Just £19.97…It’d take you weeks of research just to find out a small portion of the information contained in this package. How much is your time worth? Even at minimum wage, it’d normally cost you hundreds of pounds of labour to discover just some of this information on your own. More importantly, you won’t it find anywhere else. For the cost of a round of drinks, you’ll save thousands of pounds whether you decide to “take the leap” or not. The complete package will:Show you the pros and cons of living on a narrowboatShow you all the costs (even the hidden ones) involved with life afloatMake it easy calculate your budgetAll this, yours for just £19.97.Click the button below to get this package now – you won’t find a deal this good anywhere else.
“I’ve Received So Many Ecstatic Reviews About These Products That I’ve Stopped Writing Them All Down!”I’m not asking you to take a leap of faith… I know that you’ll be completely satisfied with the complete package.I know because the people who’ve bought it almost always are.Here are what some of the many, many happy buyers have to say about my products:"Firstly, I'd like to thank you for putting this information together.  I had already spent a lot of time researching on the internet and was much relieved when I found that you had already done all the hard work!  Also, I really like your style of writing, it comes across a honest and it feels like you really want to help others to make their dreams come true.  Good on you."Robbie Mahon, Goldaming, Surrey"Thank you for this easy to use budget planner. We are in Australia and thinking about living on the UK canals for a couple of years. I have used your application to compare what it cost for us to cruise in Australia ( we have a 40 foot yacht) with the cost of cruising the UK canals. It is a great product and a great help in deciding cost and finance for a narrowboat and whether to cruise full time or look for a residential mooring."Chris Powell, Port Maquarie. New South Wales"Just wanted to say thanks for the work you put into these guides. I'm investigating various living/lifestyle options at the moment due to life-changes - mostly age catching up to me with a bang, and your guides are extremely insightful, humorous and a delight to read. Even if I don't end up living on a narrow-boat I will still consider it money well-spent."Paul Kershaw, Oakington, Cambridge“It is also amazing how much knowledge you acquired in so short a time”.” I enjoyed reading your living on a narrowboat (aloud to my wife). It is quite rare and refreshing to read your open honesty about your life problems and this is something that struck a chord with me the first time I read your forum entries.It is also amazing how much knowledge you acquired in so short a time. I could have saved myself many hours of research by buying your book first off.”- Martin Cowin‘Anyone purchasing this package could end up saving thousands of pounds…”“I highly recommend that anyone contemplating life aboard a boat should have a copy of “Living on a Narrowboat: The REAL Cost of a Life Afloat”. It is a very low investment and excellent reference book. There is so much information included – including all the “live” links - that anyone purchasing this eBook could end up saving thousands of pounds before taking the plunge and becoming a proud owner of their own narrowboat.” Alan Cazaly, NB Pengalanty‘…The most useful document I’ve read to date about life on a narrowboat…’"I have been toying with the idea of living on a narrowboat for some years now (I also lost everything post divorce – but that’s a long story) and was holding back partly because I didn’t feel well equipped enough to move forward. Researching online also I’ve found frustrating in that I’ve always felt it was rather like a ‘secret club’ – to live on a boat full time; as the information to what exactly is involved or what you should know, was not desperately clear!Thank you so much for compiling the costs guide. It has been the most useful document I’ve read to date about life on a narrowboat and what to expect.” Liz Marsh…Most comprehensive piece of information I have come across…“I was directed to your site by a non-boater and purchased your guide. Got to say it’s the most comprehensive piece of information I have come across to date, and what I believe to be a very ‘honest’ bit of work that adds to its credibility. Cheers.” Tony Beck“Extremely useful booklet for anyone considering living afloat”“This is an extremely useful guide for anyone considering living afloat. The author has covered all of the outlay that you are likely to face in an easy and straight forward manner. I have been considering living on a narrowboat for years but was put off by the unknown. Having read this I am more likely to make the dream come true.”Tigs
100% Of Your Money Back – If You’re Not Completely SatisfiedIf you’re still hesitating on whether or not to get this package, I understand. £19.97 might not be a lot of money, but it’s still YOUR money. So I’m going to take the risk completely out of the game for you and give you my Iron-clad Guarantee.If you purchase this package and are not completely satisfied for any reason, I will refund your payment immediately within 90 days, no questions asked. There is no risk involved, Non at all.And when I say any reason, I do mean any reason. If you don’t like the font, don’t like how I write, don’t like the picture on the cover, don’t like how fast I get the book to you – just send me a quick e-mail and I’ll refund 100% of your payment as quickly as I can.So even if you’re not sure if this information will be helpful for your particular circumstance – get it anyway… and if it’s not what you expected, just let me know and I’ll give you a full refund, no questionsasked.Simply click the button below, enter your payment information, and you’ll get my two eBooks, “The REAL Cost Of Life Afloat,” “21 Liveaboard Case Studies,” as well as instant access to my powerful software “Narrowbudget Gold.”If you’re a Kindle user, both eBooks come with a .mobi version you can load onto your device for easyreading.This information cost me over 3 years and thousands of pounds to put together… and you can get it all for the cost of a pint or two.
Absolute Freedom From the Daily Grind Can Be Yours…I spend my days in surroundings that many would envy. Graceful trees and reeds spring from the waters around me, filled with vibrant wildlife, and I’m only a few minutes away from some of the most stunning natural sights in the country. I live a life I could only have dreamed about a few short years ago.And so can you.Getting away from the noise and congestion of the city, surrounding yourself with foliage and life instead of steel and stone…Stopping at scenic spots when you please, where your only companion is your boat, nature, and whomever you bring with you…Absolute freedom, letting your whims guide you as to where your next home will be for the next few weeks…It doesn’t just have to be a dream.You just need to take that first step.The Complete Package Is That First Step To Living The Dream AfloatWhen you order the complete package, you’ll get:The information packed eBook “The REAL Cost Of Living Afloat,” showing you every conceivable cost of living afloat, and how much you should budget…The 185-Page eBook “21 Liveaboard Case Studies,” featuring interviews with over 20 liveaboard boaters, for a combined total of over 100+ years of narrowboat experience…The Narrowbudget Gold Software that makes your budgeting calculations incredibly easy – and automatically creates powerful charts and graphics about your expenses…My 100% Risk-Free Money-back Satisfaction Guarantee Within 90 Days…The absolute certainty that you are as prepared as possible for life afloat…WAIT. There's More!Every week I send an information packed newsletter to 6,240 subscribers (as of 18th November 2015). Almost daily I get emails telling me how useful the newsletters are to both new and existing boat owners. I'm delighted to receive those emails because each newsletter is a labour of love. Each issue takes me between five and ten hours to write and draws from my own experience of living on board and the extensive knowledge of the fitters and engineers I work with at the marina.I've just finished compiling thirty eight newsletters from last year into a unique 209 page guide. The guide is available to you exclusively on this page as a bonus.I'll be quite frank with you, I don't really want to give this guide away, but a marketing "guru" has told me that you're more likely to invest in this package if I give you something for free. Maybe he's right but, much as I want you know as much as possible before you buy a boat, I'm not keen on giving away something which has taken me hundreds of hours to write and days and days to compile into a guide.We reached a compromise. The guide is yours, completely free of charge, as a thank you for investing in my pakage. After that - I don't know when - I'll offer the guide for sale elsewhere on the site.The guide gives you an insight into life afloat throughout the year. The newsletter contents are always appropriate for the time of year when they're sent out so you'll get a feel for the highs and lows of narrowboat life as the year progresses from the practicalities of spending days and nights on board a steel boat frozen solid in the ice to the joy of a summer's eve spent relaxing, beer in hand, in a comfy chair on the canal bank.There's a huge amount of information in the guide.False economy; the cost of buying a budget boat, stove fuel testEssential stove maintenance & stove glass cleaningDetailed running costs for FebruaryI2013 (the previous years' costs are included in the main package)internet connectivity and dealing with mobile data allowancesSolar power installations and their effectivenessThe best flooring for dogsWhere to find residential mooringsGetting rid of problem geeseUnderstanding narrowboat systemsEssential boating equipmentAn inspirational story from an elderly liveaboardNarrowboat securityCRT's view on illegal v genuine residential mooringsRCR servicingNarrowboat propulsion tank capacity and useThe practicality of a wide beam on English canalsWet weather gearCoping without a car - Important information if you're considering a continuous cruising lifestylemy own holiday cruise blogThe definitive list of narrowboat namesA glossary of narrowboat termsConsiderate boatingThe real cost of a holiday afloatPreparing for winter weatherFenland river cruisingA Daily Mail article on the cost of life afloat... and why they are wrongA low cost life afloatNarrowboat washing machinesBoat insuranceDownsizing from a house to a boat - Overcoming storage issuesThe downside to living on a narrowboatSolving engine room leaksThe weed hatch - removing debris from your propellerManaging your water supplyThe folly of using unseasoned wood as a fuel. Discover which fuel to burn and which to avoidOn demand water heating problemsCuring condensationCase studies - Eight boat owning singles, families and couples share their highs and lows of life on boardTwo hundred and nine pages of essential narrowboat information is yours for free when you order your Narrowbudget Gold package.All this, for just £19.97.I encourage you to click the button below and get your no-risk order today – I promise you will look backupon it as one of the best choices you’ve ever made.Sincerely,Paul SmithOwner of the Narrowboat “James No 194”P.S. If you have any doubt whatsoever about the usefulness of what you’ll get, I encourage you to check out the forums on my website, or to e-mail me directly, I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have.