How to Find the Right Barge and Manage the Maintenance
There are many advantages to living on a Dutch barge houseboat.
The lifestyle is unlike any other and you will find you have a freedom not experienced before.
You will find that you are part of a great community whereby, regardless of background you will have something in common and the people will be always happy to help.
Dutch barges for sale that will suit your requirements often take sometime to find, however, when you find the right canal barge you will know it.
If you are looking for a used houseboat for sale I would always take someone who knows about boats with you.
If you can get a mechanic, all the better.
Beware high brokerage costs and with the right research you will successfully purchase your houseboat that is up for sale.
A good way to find barges for sale are to visit places that have canals and rivers.
Talk to houseboat or canal barge owners, they often know what barges or moorings are for sale in the area.
I have had my boat, a 30 m Dutch barge Lux Motor; built in 1924, for 15 years now and I never regretted selling my house for it.
Boats are usually considered as being huge holes that you throw money down.
I can honestly say that I have not had this problem, but then I have a solid vessel that I have spent the time on keeping it up.
At minimum I would advise that anyone taking on a Dutch Barge should have strong DIY skills and be able to find time to keep up basic maintenance or have the money to pay for the work to be done.
I have found the best route is to employ someone with specific or general skill sets to work with me, depending on the job.
It is also a good way to learn new skills.
As long as general maintenance is kept in check you will avoid many big problems.
No Dutch barge houseboat is the same and there is no standard model, even within a class of vessel.
In the old days, Dutch barges were not built to be static houseboats, they were built to navigate canals and rivers to transport goods.
Some have design features specific to the type of goods they carried.
My Dutch barge has a double skinned hull for example, as she was designed to take dry goods.
Once a Dutch barge is converted to a houseboat it will take on its own personality, and you will be inheriting an important piece of history as well.
The lifestyle is unlike any other and you will find you have a freedom not experienced before.
You will find that you are part of a great community whereby, regardless of background you will have something in common and the people will be always happy to help.
Dutch barges for sale that will suit your requirements often take sometime to find, however, when you find the right canal barge you will know it.
If you are looking for a used houseboat for sale I would always take someone who knows about boats with you.
If you can get a mechanic, all the better.
Beware high brokerage costs and with the right research you will successfully purchase your houseboat that is up for sale.
A good way to find barges for sale are to visit places that have canals and rivers.
Talk to houseboat or canal barge owners, they often know what barges or moorings are for sale in the area.
I have had my boat, a 30 m Dutch barge Lux Motor; built in 1924, for 15 years now and I never regretted selling my house for it.
Boats are usually considered as being huge holes that you throw money down.
I can honestly say that I have not had this problem, but then I have a solid vessel that I have spent the time on keeping it up.
At minimum I would advise that anyone taking on a Dutch Barge should have strong DIY skills and be able to find time to keep up basic maintenance or have the money to pay for the work to be done.
I have found the best route is to employ someone with specific or general skill sets to work with me, depending on the job.
It is also a good way to learn new skills.
As long as general maintenance is kept in check you will avoid many big problems.
No Dutch barge houseboat is the same and there is no standard model, even within a class of vessel.
In the old days, Dutch barges were not built to be static houseboats, they were built to navigate canals and rivers to transport goods.
Some have design features specific to the type of goods they carried.
My Dutch barge has a double skinned hull for example, as she was designed to take dry goods.
Once a Dutch barge is converted to a houseboat it will take on its own personality, and you will be inheriting an important piece of history as well.
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