Is there anybody into caravans thinking about switching to a life afloat on a Canal Barge? I'm thinking about selling my house and buying a canal boat, but I know nothing about them. But a company at Victoria Quays run taster sessions at the weekend, so thinking about signing up for one.

It costs £45 per person for 2 sessions, (max/min 2 persons for 2 taster sessions). Anybody out there would like to share the sessions with me?

Details can be found at: http://www.sheffieldnarrowboats.com/taster-sessions

I think it would cost me £90 if I went on my own.

I'll find out about availability as and when . .

Any other advise about this subject would be welcome also.

Hired a canal barge for a day out. Really slow pace of life quite enjoyed it but drving/steering it wasn't so easy lol.

In case you decide to pursue your idea of life afloat, depending on your budget, we have a "beauty" of a wide beam canal boat - 57' x 10'6" wide which we are just able to market to sell. We can tell you all you need to know about life afloat.

Canal boats in the U.K. are too narrow and you'll find them uncomfortable. Go to France and have a look at a Peniche or better still put a caravan on floats. The floats are simply plastic tubes, the larger the better. If you can get hold of some 2 feet diameter tubing then block off the ends each foot length will support 180 Lbs. so a 20 foot long raft would supprt a caravan weighing 3600 Lbs. and will draw 12 inches.

If you really want to live on board buy a sea going vessel.I built a Colvic Watson in 1984 and took it through the French canals to the Med. and lived on it for 11 years, it was then a wondeful experience.

I realise this thread is a few months old but there is a website canalworld.net that you will find interesting particularly the forum .