Although it is funny and makes me cringe to see this video, knowing that I went back to boat life and am now looking to possibly move afloat with my girlfriend too... I will leave this video up as it is an important moment in my life and explains how I was feeling at the time!
Dan, wish you had been around back when I was a young man. Rather than following the typical expected life that I have I might have opted to explore and adventure such as you have. Instead I began working the typical job, getting married, and sliding into my slot among the average Joe. I have read blogs about self building a 20ft sailboat and sailing to the Bahamas, purchased the plans, and continued reading about sailing adventures including inter-coastal waterways but with marriage, home ownership, grown children, grandchildren I downsized my exploring idea and it went to the wayside. I am now 68 but still long for some adventure and have purchased plans for a smaller, 16ft, sailboat for lake sailing which I have decided I will attempt. Thank you for your inspiration and keep up your freedom.
We live in Arizona USA and have enjoyed your videos. Thank you so much for taking the time to explain Tilly. That shows alot about your character Dan. Enjoy this next chapter of your life. We are wishing you the very best from Arizona!
I am pretty sure that "those in power" in the UK do not want anyone to be content or have a life they choose. Conform with the rules and regulations or a cell in HMP awaits you!! So glad I left the UK over 10 years ago. All the very best Dan, you are a good person and have fantastic values - I wish you well, keep happy and don't let them grind you down :))
Dan. Hi I am a 3-4 year subscriber. I live in the US. We have more square miles of lake than there are square miles in your whole country. The same with rivers, we have endless rivers and waterways. In our entire country there is nothing like your canals...nothing. I would kill ten thousand a-holes to live 1 week like you did on tilly. Pastoral beauty slow cruise. I subscribed to you so I could live vicariously through you. I have enjoyed the many awesome videos you have made and I have even bought and read The Narrowboat Lad. My hope for you is that you find a way to do the canal life properly. Own a house on the canal with a slip. You could finance this by opening a canal boat rental business. I hear that the bookings for canal boat rentals are up to a year in advance. Sounds like room for more rental companies. Good luck in whatever you do from a vast place that has no livable canals.
I just try to be brutally honest with myself and not kid myself into thinking I can get by, or can make the most of something if I am not 100% committed to it. It is difficult to face the facts sometimes but ultimately a bit of soul searching ever so often can do the world of good months or even years into the future!
Cheers Dan for the update. I've really enjoyed yr narrow boat Tilly's videos, hope it all goes well for you on dry land! They're all good & valid reasons for stopping the CC life. Thanks P.
Totally agree Dan. you've done the right thing. The winter got to me also this year with the change of rules and the weather. Enjoy land life until you can afford both maybe.
It's the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next. I'm glad you had such a blast with your Tilly days, and I look forward to whatever adventures you'll be sharing with us in the future--I love your cheery and optimistic attitude!
Good video and explanation Dan. The CRT have been very harsh to people living on board. You will be missed on the canals, but I think you have done exactly right. I look forward to future videos from you and wish you the best of luck.
Boatworthy,Brickworthy,and for me...Royal Mail Worthy Lol !! Great vid Dan..Increible how they changed the rules about winter mooring,and all the costs etc involved.If i had ever lived on a boat,it would have been for the reasons like yourself....to be out alone in the middle of no where,rather than squashed in on a marina.I love canals,and walking along tow paths...Such a great way of getting into the countryside,for free,and readily accessible for most folks....all the best...Just trawling through a load of your older vids...Great viewing.
Narrowboat Tilly has been a great part of your life and you will never forget the time you have spent living on her. But many more adventures beckon for you - so make sure you seize them!! Thanks for sharing and I look forward to your new adventures.
I've loved your series so far. As a boat owner in America, I can't comment on the problems that come with the regulations in England, but, as a person who has owned three different boats in my life, that first boat that you spent very little on (though it's your first love), is always the boat with the most problems. Being your first boat, you never know what to expect (no matter how many books you read or people you talk to), and you never know with older boats what kind of problems are lurking around the next corner, especially with the less expensive boats. In the future, you maybe fortunate enough to save up enough to buy a boat that's in better shape, but learn from this experience to put more aside for regular maintenance. After 17 years of living with, or on boats, I've found the most important part of boat ownership is keeping on top of the daily/weekly/monthly maintenance on board. I've seen fellow boat owners buy fancy cabin cruisers, only to watch them degrade from lack of concern, and I've seen some salty dogs keep vessel afloat that by all rights should be in the bottom of a bay because they spent their time and money on the little issue the arise in regular maintenance. It's been been my experience that the boat owners who last the longest not only have a love of being around nature that you expressed, but they also have a love for tinkering around on their boats on a pretty regular basis. P.S. I totally agree with you on marina life. It must be the same for canal marinas in England as it is for some coastal marinas in the U.S. I'm familiar with... just different types of boats.
Everything has its time Dan - We had a 2CV and took it all over Europe having a brilliant adventure then we realized like you it was time to move on to sorting transport more suited modern roads, work and our daily needs
Wonderful honesty and candor! You have a good head on your shoulders and appear to have a strong sense of self. Keep up the great work, Dan! You're an inspiration!
Perfectly understandable reasons you give Dan, take time out, let the water settle (pardon the pun) and see how you feel in a few months/years time, I can only see things becoming harder for boaters courtesy of the powers that be and that will affect any future decision, biggest thing that put me off Narrow boats and go down the fibreglass route was the fact maintenance on the former is very heavy with the boat potentially needing to come out of the water fairly often.
Hi Dan, We have enjoyed your adventures with Longboat Tilly. We live on a 35' trawler in Southern California, and have for 11 years. Wonderful life, but it has its challenges. Good luck to you in your future ventures. Stay in shape and out of debt! Nancie and Mike
A sign of maturing is assessing stability in your life now and for the future and it seems that is what you are experiencing and making plans for! I'd be surprised if you didn't feel this way as you are an intelligent and sensible person. But I can also see you having another narrow boat in your future once you have achieved a grounding. Thank you for your openness and sharing all these videos, I have enjoyed them very much- also a bit jealous haha as we do not have your lovely canal system here in Canada
I can see how the change of the rules and fees would change the whole situation. But that's opened up a lot of other possibilities for you, too. Best of luck!
all the best on your new adventures mate. really enjoyed the vids. I started watching your videos as I used to cycle the Leeds Liverpool canal to work. I have since moved on and moved house so I totally understand where you are coming from!
this explanation makes perfect sense - thanks for that Dan. I have a little boat on an online marina (means one side of my boat faces the canal not another boat) so am not affected by the harsh cruising rules plus I'm semi retired and my job (festival organiser) allows me to work from home so I can make boat life work for me. Is sad that a 'young un' like Dan has had to leave boat life partly because of rule changes at a time when owner of my marina is saying we really need to be getting younger boaters in or the lifestyle will be threatened again like back in the 60s. Best of luck for the future Dan!
Kudos for your honest answer. It's good to try other things which you clearly need to do. I feel similar in some ways about my house which I always worry about maintaining and coping with bills and the rising cost of living. In fact for that reason I've been thinking of selling and using the equity to buy a narrowboat to live a simpler life so it's useful to hear the reasons for and against boat life. Good luck with your new enterprises.
Nice video Dan, open and honest as always. I guess following your gut instinct was always going to be a challenging choice given the size and enthusiasm of your Tilly loving fan club (me Included). You move back onto dry land but your boating videos will have inspired many to investigate the fantastic canal network we have in the UK. Good luck for the future in your new home.
Dan I see you many years in the future settled with a young family and owning a holiday hobby boat for you to carry on and share your boating life's dream. Its not the end buddy but a new fresh beginning. I wish you the very best of luck.
LOL yeah I guess it is :-). However its easier when there are 2 of you working and paying bills. Society is set out for couples. Its tough running a home on your own Dan and good on you for taking it on.
Thanks for taking the time to be honest and open about why that glorious chapter in your life had sadly come to an end, albeit temporarily ......possibly lol. A lot of us were gutted to think that the canal life videos were coming to a stop, and I can say for me that it's easy to be aelfush and wish you'd change your mind. In reality, and now you've explained it more, the decisions that were pretty much making your destiny change for you were as you explained by the Canals and River Trust. I can see why and how those decisions would impact on what your boat life desire was. Together with the age Tilly was, condition etc and all considered plans. I think you only had one decision to make, which was the sensible one and here you are in a nice dwelling with warmth, a less noisy roof (in the rain!) and a flushing toilet 😊 small home comforts that will be a novelty for you for the short term lol. Good for you mate! I respect your maturity so much, life is sometimes about embracing the changes it brings ...... not necessarily the option we'd prefer. But that's life. sortofinterestinglife 😉
That's why I've put my dream on hold...The Canal & River Trust are taking the fun out of boating...It's all about the money ! ....I've seen some sad evictions on the water this year Dan.....They want everyone moored up in the Marina's, they want to take away the freedom of the life on the canals....very sad :( Good luck for the future buddy ...Peace x
Great video Dan, thankyou. So many people have been asking the question. This should answer all of their questions. Life is all about moving on, you have had an amazing time...time to continue that journey on a different level now. Best of luck mate, be well
Another thought. I had, when she was younger, attempted to input some adventurous ideas into my younger daughter, telling her how long life actually can be and to make her adventures while she was young, that there was plenty of time to get seriously involved with another person later in her life. I advised her to get her education, travel if she desired, and do anything she might have an inclination to do before settling down with someone. However, she has her own life to live and found a man she loves and provided me with a grand daughter. I only hope she is not like me and as they say "regret the things I did not do in life". I hope you are a great inspiration to other young, or not so young, people who make the decision to leave the normal crowd and venture off on their own for an adventurous and fascinating life. Thanks.
I'd like to thank everyone for the comments and messages. A lot of people "Get It", some don't but the important thing to remember is that I am making these decisions based on my own experiences and what I want in my own life. Boats are great, the canals are great and there have been some weeks, since working more and living in a town, that have seen me going out on more rural adventures than in the last few months of boat life! Everything is well in the world, I am currently looking at getting a small cruiser boat for fun in the future. After all the incredible support and over 4.6 million views on youtube, I can honestly say that I never expected anything like this to happen in my life. So from the bottom of my heart I want to thank everyone for being a part of this crazy adventure! Until the next time, Keep it boatworthy and farewell!
Hi Dan, I've really enjoyed your videos over the last few years. I love them and keep coming back to them. Thank you for the explanation of why you've sold Tilly and are moving on. You could have just gone offline with no explanation but you took the time to explain to your fans why you're doing something else. Good luck.
I think you've made a very sensible decision. I think you were pushing your luck with the 'Continuous cruising' restrictions anyway, and that's likely to become even more restrictive. The Canal and River Trust really don't want people living on boats, and they won't making that any easier. It's a real shame, but you won't regret your decision.
Personally, I wouldn't even want to cycle to Chirk in the rain at 11pm on a wet and cold January evening, so I can see why, for example, Llangollen would be a grim prospect.
No surprise as you've touched on each subject one or more times in recent months. Except maybe the cold hard facts of cost options and especially resale value. That was a little surprising to me because in my view, if one really loves something, ya just go for it, resale value or return on investment is waaaay down the list as far as importance. Which makes me think the rule changes as far a what a strain those put on logistics, and not wanting to be cooped up in a marina were overriding factors because those were destroying the very nature of the experience you desired.
Hello, it is a top floor flat which I feel very lucky to have got. I had seen it advertised a while ago and said to my friends that it was one of the few buildings and places that I really liked the look of... Then amazingly it came back up for rent a few days after I sold Tilly! So I went for it quick!
Dan I wish you all the very best. I think that you have made the right decision who knows you may change your mind in the future, perhaps a change of career next you have so much to offer National Trust or for the Water Ways or Canal Trust you have so much knowledge and experience I can see you enjoying an outdoors life style all good wishes in whatever you choose in the future
The only thing I would be thinking is: if your paying Rent money on a flat,5 years down the road you will never see that money again="Dead Money".If you did buy another boat you would get a return even if it was less than you spent.I would then look at any money lost as money well spent for the pleasure it gave me.I`m not trying to preach by the way,just throw a few more suggestions at you.
It's only decisions you could make but very sad that CRT regs have been a big deciding point they really seem to be screwing it up for a lot of people! If you are ever in the midlands you are more than welcome aboard NB Fuzzy Duck, I'm approaching 30 rather fast but as you know just moved aboard my 35' Springer, would of liked something a little newer and bigger but as you say when it starts getting 20k and more it's scary if it all goes wrong or the prospect of loosing a lot on it
As one grows up, logic often prevails. Sounds like you began to think in economic terms, how not to become trapped, and made what may well be a good decision for you.
For a young man you made a wise decision. Besides maintenance, there is no sensible reason to spend money on an old boat. A boat is just a "thing" No thing lasts forever. All boats have a lifespan, if you throw money at them you can extend the lifespan. however you will never get a return on your investment. The one exception to this rule is property, where renovation can and normally is a good investment.
its a shame Dan as there are other options you could have looked at, there are companies that will extend narrow boats which I am sure would have been cheaper than buying a longer boat, also you could have looked at CRT towpath moorings which although there are boats around you they are not alongside so your views are not just of other boats. Don't forget as well that just because you have a mooring you don't have to spend all your time on it, you could have a mooring and only spend a few months over winter actually on your mooring when the weather is bad and you can be out all summer long cruising as you had been if you wanted to. I am Sure though that a GRP cruiser will be a good adventure, who knows maybe you might venture out to sea if you have one.
Well I for one know exactly where you are coming from and I feel that you have made the right choice. When you have a regular job it's difficult being a continuous cruiser as you cannot stray to far away from one or two particular canals without making life awkward, and by the same token writing and filming the same areas are never a long term proposition. I do feel however that unless you introduce at least one picture on those bland walls you may go quietly MAD!!! Now if any of your mates are a bit "arty crafty" cos we have seen some of your sketches" I would suggest that they could paint that room to make it look like the interior of Tilly or even a super yacht to make you feel more at home, and then you could change it each year, ha ha just a thought.
What put me off the idea, was the life expectancy of a narrow boat. I read that the oldest boat a boatyard worker had worked on was 1975. Possibly, not economic to spend £30K,or so, to own something that has a 30 year lifespan. Then what? Spend thousands to renovate a boat that won’t be worth the investment. I really fancied the freedom of the lifestyle, did lots of research and then dumped the idea for not being not economic. Bummer, ‘cause I really fancied it.
Utterly brilliant info video Dan. thank you so much, Should you get the chance to become involved in canal management I hope you take it, Cheers so much.
£30,000? you'll spend that in rent money for your flat and paying bills every 3 years and you won't get any of that money back, with a boat if you buy smart you'll get your money back or even make some.
But what about what I actually want to do? It would be a futile life to double my money but not be happy! Boats, land, rent, buy, it is all good for the people it is good for! P.S. I am looking at buying a small cruiser sometime!
Sort Of Interesting I think my comment was more directed at myself, I'm trying to talk myself out of my expensive monthly living arrangements in favour of a life on the water which I'm hoping will be much more rewarding. I had a mortgage before I was self employed and both my job and house served as a ball and chain, now I work for myself and rent, moving often, I feel much more free, I'd just like to increase that freedom as well as save most of what I'd usually spend on rent and bills each month which is ridiculously high for a single person living arrangement. Seeing yourself go from what I'd call proper boat life to renting in a similar way to myself intrigues me and being an honest fan of yours I'm struggling to come to terms with the departure of Tilly, I'll just need a bit more time to realise that you've only sold a boat and not your soul or the energy of this channel :-p
hi dan, owning a boat isnt a cheap thing, it can be a hole in the water that you pour your money into..haha. iv had 7 boats ova the years and now i havnt had one for a couple of years.. i know where ur coming from:-) u will undoubtedly find ur way back one day..kia ora bro
get a boat in french canals.. .not so cold make money woofing like that "spot the scot" guy for a bit if I were your age and uncommitted and healthy and wanting boatlife.. oh yezh
i totally agree marinas are not for everyone Dan, i hate them too. i wish you all the very best in your future adventures. who knows you may end up on the canals again. :-)
u r brave 2 make changes, what is best at d moment do it, only u know what is ur joy.. that is all that matters.at d same time u have experiences of marine live.try it .. experiance it.. n move on.. there is no such thing doing it righr or wrong..lovelight 2 u n all..
thanks Dan for answering my questions i would have asked that secretly bugged me!. but n a serious note what a shame there made the rules so much more impracticable for not only yourself but the souls with family's that need to take them to school or ailments that need to see a doctor regular. these authority's are heartless and probably controlled by a piece of software that tells them to make more money to do these changes. its so ermmmm anti- people. i wish we all could or should that be fight back !. all the best Dan .
We all thought with the demise of BW, and emergence of CRT that things would get better for the boater - how wrong we were. More infringement on personal boating, as you say, Dan, less time for the winter moorer to stay in one place, and horrendous licence increases. I could draw a parallel with 1997, and all the 'things can only get better' feeling that we had then. How wrong was that? Still, it is good that you have moved on, and maybe will find a way in the future to enjoy boating again. I can fully appreciate what it is like in a marina full of 60ft+ boats, when you are only 30ft. Unlike a 'cruiser' type marina, with boats of different sizes, where they have to allow more space in between, it is just like a linear housing estate. Bonne chance pour votre future cher ami. A demain!!!!
The CRT are going to make it harder and harder to live on the canals. I think they want all of us gone, with the exception of the richer boaters of course! These changes will greatly affect the secondhand boat market.
Good point about the potential effect on secondhand boats, I didn't even consider that. I might pick up a small cruiser at some point as a bit of a hobby boat... just like a big kayak!!!
You are a very smart young man, by age 50 you would not enjoy the work of the moving. My man and I are in our 60's watching the long boat's are enjoyable , but doing it we couldn't. Poo to anyone that doesn't understand.
Hey Dan, if you want to continue as a RUclips celebrity, go get another boat, quickly. You're a nice guy, but the interest is in the novelty of the boat life, coupled with your eccentricities. Best of luck, but I won't be viewing your stuff as is...
Thanks for tuning in while you did. I can honestly say that being a "youtube celebrity" etc is one of the last things I am interested in. It has been fun to be popular for a while but I have enjoyed doing RUclips videos long before anybody tuned in and will continue to do random stuff as a fun hobby! Real happiness is based in real life not online beeps, boops and numbers!
![FNAF vs TF2 - Episode 2 [SFM]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/z5b3V2-VLb0/mqdefault.jpg)
Although it is funny and makes me cringe to see this video, knowing that I went back to boat life and am now looking to possibly move afloat with my girlfriend too... I will leave this video up as it is an important moment in my life and explains how I was feeling at the time!
Dan, wish you had been around back when I was a young man. Rather than following the typical expected life that I have I might have opted to explore and adventure such as you have. Instead I began working the typical job, getting married, and sliding into my slot among the average Joe. I have read blogs about self building a 20ft sailboat and sailing to the Bahamas, purchased the plans, and continued reading about sailing adventures including inter-coastal waterways but with marriage, home ownership, grown children, grandchildren I downsized my exploring idea and it went to the wayside. I am now 68 but still long for some adventure and have purchased plans for a smaller, 16ft, sailboat for lake sailing which I have decided I will attempt. Thank you for your inspiration and keep up your freedom.
I just went the other direction, bought a sailboat, moved onto it full time, zero regrets!
one can tell by looking at u, that ur a honest guy
Thank you!
We live in Arizona USA and have enjoyed your videos. Thank you so much for taking the time to explain Tilly. That shows alot about your character Dan. Enjoy this next chapter of your life. We are wishing you the very best from Arizona!
I am pretty sure that "those in power" in the UK do not want anyone to be content or have a life they choose. Conform with the rules and regulations or a cell in HMP awaits you!!
So glad I left the UK over 10 years ago.
All the very best Dan, you are a good person and have fantastic values - I wish you well, keep happy and don't let them grind you down :))
Dan. Hi I am a 3-4 year subscriber. I live in the US. We have more square miles of lake than there are square miles in your whole country. The same with rivers, we have endless rivers and waterways. In our entire country there is nothing like your canals...nothing. I would kill ten thousand a-holes to live 1 week like you did on tilly. Pastoral beauty slow cruise. I subscribed to you so I could live vicariously through you. I have enjoyed the many awesome videos you have made and I have even bought and read The Narrowboat Lad. My hope for you is that you find a way to do the canal life properly. Own a house on the canal with a slip. You could finance this by opening a canal boat rental business. I hear that the bookings for canal boat rentals are up to a year in advance. Sounds like room for more rental companies. Good luck in whatever you do from a vast place that has no livable canals.
A very thorough , thoughtful and perceptive approach to life decisions that would be more expected of one who is considerably your senior.
I just try to be brutally honest with myself and not kid myself into thinking I can get by, or can make the most of something if I am not 100% committed to it. It is difficult to face the facts sometimes but ultimately a bit of soul searching ever so often can do the world of good months or even years into the future!
Thanks for all the boat life videos, bike ride videos and all the other videos, keep them coming, whatever they are about!
Cheers Dan for the update. I've really enjoyed yr narrow boat Tilly's videos, hope it all goes well for you on dry land! They're all good & valid reasons for stopping the CC life. Thanks P.
You have a whole world to explore so have fun and keep the videos running. Good luck to you.
Thanks! There are plenty more tales to be told in the life of the "After Narrowboat Lad!"
Totally agree Dan. you've done the right thing. The winter got to me also this year with the change of rules and the weather. Enjoy land life until you can afford both maybe.
It's the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next. I'm glad you had such a blast with your Tilly days, and I look forward to whatever adventures you'll be sharing with us in the future--I love your cheery and optimistic attitude!
Good video and explanation Dan. The CRT have been very harsh to people living on board. You will be missed on the canals, but I think you have done exactly right. I look forward to future videos from you and wish you the best of luck.
Boatworthy,Brickworthy,and for me...Royal Mail Worthy Lol !! Great vid Dan..Increible how they changed the rules about winter mooring,and all the costs etc involved.If i had ever lived on a boat,it would have been for the reasons like yourself....to be out alone in the middle of no where,rather than squashed in on a marina.I love canals,and walking along tow paths...Such a great way of getting into the countryside,for free,and readily accessible for most folks....all the best...Just trawling through a load of your older vids...Great viewing.
Narrowboat Tilly has been a great part of your life and you will never forget the time you have spent living on her. But many more adventures beckon for you - so make sure you seize them!! Thanks for sharing and I look forward to your new adventures.
I've loved your series so far. As a boat owner in America, I can't comment on the problems that come with the regulations in England, but, as a person who has owned three different boats in my life, that first boat that you spent very little on (though it's your first love), is always the boat with the most problems. Being your first boat, you never know what to expect (no matter how many books you read or people you talk to), and you never know with older boats what kind of problems are lurking around the next corner, especially with the less expensive boats. In the future, you maybe fortunate enough to save up enough to buy a boat that's in better shape, but learn from this experience to put more aside for regular maintenance. After 17 years of living with, or on boats, I've found the most important part of boat ownership is keeping on top of the daily/weekly/monthly maintenance on board. I've seen fellow boat owners buy fancy cabin cruisers, only to watch them degrade from lack of concern, and I've seen some salty dogs keep vessel afloat that by all rights should be in the bottom of a bay because they spent their time and money on the little issue the arise in regular maintenance. It's been been my experience that the boat owners who last the longest not only have a love of being around nature that you expressed, but they also have a love for tinkering around on their boats on a pretty regular basis.
P.S. I totally agree with you on marina life. It must be the same for canal marinas in England as it is for some coastal marinas in the U.S. I'm familiar with... just different types of boats.
Everything has its time Dan - We had a 2CV and took it all over Europe having a brilliant adventure then we realized like you it was time to move on to sorting transport more suited modern roads, work and our daily needs
Wonderful honesty and candor! You have a good head on your shoulders and appear to have a strong sense of self. Keep up the great work, Dan! You're an inspiration!
good luck bud your channel was amazing. looking forward to what's to come! lifetime subscriber here
Perfectly understandable reasons you give Dan, take time out, let the water settle (pardon the pun) and see how you feel in a few months/years time, I can only see things becoming harder for boaters courtesy of the powers that be and that will affect any future decision, biggest thing that put me off Narrow boats and go down the fibreglass route was the fact maintenance on the former is very heavy with the boat potentially needing to come out of the water fairly often.
Hi Dan,
We have enjoyed your adventures with Longboat Tilly. We live on a 35' trawler in Southern California, and have for 11 years. Wonderful life, but it has its challenges. Good luck to you in your future ventures. Stay in shape and out of debt!
Nancie and Mike
A sign of maturing is assessing stability in your life now and for the future and it seems that is what you are experiencing and making plans for! I'd be surprised if you didn't feel this way as you are an intelligent and sensible person. But I can also see you having another narrow boat in your future once you have achieved a grounding. Thank you for your openness and sharing all these videos, I have enjoyed them very much- also a bit jealous haha as we do not have your lovely canal system here in Canada
I can see how the change of the rules and fees would change the whole situation. But that's opened up a lot of other possibilities for you, too. Best of luck!
all the best on your new adventures mate. really enjoyed the vids. I started watching your videos as I used to cycle the Leeds Liverpool canal to work. I have since moved on and moved house so I totally understand where you are coming from!
It has been fun watching your videos. Good luck with the new chapter in your life :)
this explanation makes perfect sense - thanks for that Dan. I have a little boat on an online marina (means one side of my boat faces the canal not another boat) so am not affected by the harsh cruising rules plus I'm semi retired and my job (festival organiser) allows me to work from home so I can make boat life work for me. Is sad that a 'young un' like Dan has had to leave boat life partly because of rule changes at a time when owner of my marina is saying we really need to be getting younger boaters in or the lifestyle will be threatened again like back in the 60s. Best of luck for the future Dan!
Kudos for your honest answer. It's good to try other things which you clearly need to do. I feel similar in some ways about my house which I always worry about maintaining and coping with bills and the rising cost of living. In fact for that reason I've been thinking of selling and using the equity to buy a narrowboat to live a simpler life so it's useful to hear the reasons for and against boat life. Good luck with your new enterprises.
Did you buy one, I'm buying one next year.
Nice video Dan, open and honest as always. I guess following your gut instinct was always going to be a challenging choice given the size and enthusiasm of your Tilly loving fan club (me Included). You move back onto dry land but your boating videos will have inspired many to investigate the fantastic canal network we have in the UK. Good luck for the future in your new home.
Dan I see you many years in the future settled with a young family and owning a holiday hobby boat for you to carry on and share your boating life's dream. Its not the end buddy but a new fresh beginning. I wish you the very best of luck.
Oooooh heck that all sounds pretty expensive!!
LOL yeah I guess it is :-). However its easier when there are 2 of you working and paying bills. Society is set out for couples. Its tough running a home on your own Dan and good on you for taking it on.
Thanks for taking the time to be honest and open about why that glorious chapter in your life had sadly come to an end, albeit temporarily ......possibly lol.
A lot of us were gutted to think that the canal life videos were coming to a stop, and I can say for me that it's easy to be aelfush and wish you'd change your mind. In reality, and now you've explained it more, the decisions that were pretty much making your destiny change for you were as you explained by the Canals and River Trust. I can see why and how those decisions would impact on what your boat life desire was. Together with the age Tilly was, condition etc and all considered plans. I think you only had one decision to make, which was the sensible one and here you are in a nice dwelling with warmth, a less noisy roof (in the rain!) and a flushing toilet 😊 small home comforts that will be a novelty for you for the short term lol. Good for you mate! I respect your maturity so much, life is sometimes about embracing the changes it brings ...... not necessarily the option we'd prefer. But that's life. sortofinterestinglife 😉
So, you going for extreme minimalism, now? Two black chairs in a stark white room ... very avant garde ;)
To have a true modern look he should have a pile of poo in the corner like the Tate gallery to help decorate the place with lovely postmodern artwork.
That's why I've put my dream on hold...The Canal & River Trust are taking the fun out of boating...It's all about the money ! ....I've seen some sad evictions on the water this year Dan.....They want everyone moored up in the Marina's, they want to take away the freedom of the life on the canals....very sad :( Good luck for the future buddy ...Peace x
Excellent video Dan, good to see you back on here as well
Great video Dan, thankyou. So many people have been asking the question. This should answer all of their questions. Life is all about moving on, you have had an amazing time...time to continue that journey on a different level now. Best of luck mate, be well
Another thought. I had, when she was younger, attempted to input some adventurous ideas into my younger daughter, telling her how long life actually can be and to make her adventures while she was young, that there was plenty of time to get seriously involved with another person later in her life. I advised her to get her education, travel if she desired, and do anything she might have an inclination to do before settling down with someone. However, she has her own life to live and found a man she loves and provided me with a grand daughter. I only hope she is not like me and as they say "regret the things I did not do in life". I hope you are a great inspiration to other young, or not so young, people who make the decision to leave the normal crowd and venture off on their own for an adventurous and fascinating life. Thanks.
I'd like to thank everyone for the comments and messages. A lot of people "Get It", some don't but the important thing to remember is that I am making these decisions based on my own experiences and what I want in my own life.
Boats are great, the canals are great and there have been some weeks, since working more and living in a town, that have seen me going out on more rural adventures than in the last few months of boat life!
Everything is well in the world, I am currently looking at getting a small cruiser boat for fun in the future.
After all the incredible support and over 4.6 million views on youtube, I can honestly say that I never expected anything like this to happen in my life. So from the bottom of my heart I want to thank everyone for being a part of this crazy adventure!
Until the next time, Keep it boatworthy and farewell!
Hi Dan, I've really enjoyed your videos over the last few years. I love them and keep coming back to them. Thank you for the explanation of why you've sold Tilly and are moving on. You could have just gone offline with no explanation but you took the time to explain to your fans why you're doing something else. Good luck.
Thank you! I really appreciate the time that people like yourself, have taken to reply!
Sort Of Interesting Ii
Sort Of Interesting a
Hi Dan hows it going on the cut these days ? Love your videos keep them coming Dan X
Haha, I don’t dare look at this video now I’m on my second boat and trying to buy a third! 😂
It sounds like you have a good understanding about what you would want if you went back to narrow boating.
Complicated decision. Wish you the best life. Keep us posted.
I think you've made a very sensible decision. I think you were pushing your luck with the 'Continuous cruising' restrictions anyway, and that's likely to become even more restrictive.
The Canal and River Trust really don't want people living on boats, and they won't making that any easier.
It's a real shame, but you won't regret your decision.
it is said that it is the greatest day when you buy your boat, and the second greatest day is when you sell it!!
found now and love your videos. more videos please and be happy wherever you want to leave
Personally, I wouldn't even want to cycle to Chirk in the rain at 11pm on a wet and cold January evening, so I can see why, for example, Llangollen would be a grim prospect.
No surprise as you've touched on each subject one or more times in recent months. Except maybe the cold hard facts of cost options and especially resale value. That was a little surprising to me because in my view, if one really loves something, ya just go for it, resale value or return on investment is waaaay down the list as far as importance. Which makes me think the rule changes as far a what a strain those put on logistics, and not wanting to be cooped up in a marina were overriding factors because those were destroying the very nature of the experience you desired.
Thanks for the explanation, I think you took the right decision ;-) Crossing the fingers for you, everything will be ok!
Makes total sense😊...enjoy your new adventures!
Hey Dan thanx for the video and your reasons for giving up Tilly Good luck in your new home! Is it a flat ,house or just a room that you have now?
Hello, it is a top floor flat which I feel very lucky to have got. I had seen it advertised a while ago and said to my friends that it was one of the few buildings and places that I really liked the look of... Then amazingly it came back up for rent a few days after I sold Tilly! So I went for it quick!
well done Dan glad you got somewhere that you really wanted, hope you will be very happy.
Dan I wish you all the very best. I think that you have made the right decision who knows you may change your mind in the future, perhaps a change of career next you have so much to offer National Trust or for the Water Ways or Canal Trust you have so much knowledge and experience I can see you enjoying an outdoors life style all good wishes in whatever you choose in the future
The only thing I would be thinking is: if your paying Rent money on a flat,5 years down the road you will never see that money again="Dead Money".If you did buy another boat you would get a return even if it was less than you spent.I would then look at any money lost as money well spent for the pleasure it gave me.I`m not trying to preach by the way,just throw a few more suggestions at you.
Hello thanks, at the moment I am just enjoying living a "normal" life! It is a real novelty to me as I have never done it before!!!
Cool,I look forward to the tour of your new home.
It's only decisions you could make but very sad that CRT regs have been a big deciding point they really seem to be screwing it up for a lot of people! If you are ever in the midlands you are more than welcome aboard NB Fuzzy Duck, I'm approaching 30 rather fast but as you know just moved aboard my 35' Springer, would of liked something a little newer and bigger but as you say when it starts getting 20k and more it's scary if it all goes wrong or the prospect of loosing a lot on it
I will miss your Tilly videos but on to your next adventure just make sure you take us along with you.
im still cycling at 50 you will find your way back its in the blood
As one grows up, logic often prevails. Sounds like you began to think in economic terms, how not to become trapped, and made what may well be a good decision for you.
For a young man you made a wise decision.
Besides maintenance, there is no sensible reason to spend money on an old boat.
A boat is just a "thing" No thing lasts forever. All boats have a lifespan, if you throw money at them you can extend the lifespan. however you will never get a return on your investment.
The one exception to this rule is property, where renovation can and normally is a good investment.
its a shame Dan as there are other options you could have looked at, there are companies that will extend narrow boats which I am sure would have been cheaper than buying a longer boat, also you could have looked at CRT towpath moorings which although there are boats around you they are not alongside so your views are not just of other boats. Don't forget as well that just because you have a mooring you don't have to spend all your time on it, you could have a mooring and only spend a few months over winter actually on your mooring when the weather is bad and you can be out all summer long cruising as you had been if you wanted to. I am Sure though that a GRP cruiser will be a good adventure, who knows maybe you might venture out to sea if you have one.
Well I for one know exactly where you are coming from and I feel that you have made the right choice.
When you have a regular job it's difficult being a continuous cruiser as you cannot stray to far away from one or two particular canals without making life awkward, and by the same token writing and filming the same areas are never a long term proposition.
I do feel however that unless you introduce at least one picture on those bland walls you may go quietly MAD!!!
Now if any of your mates are a bit "arty crafty" cos we have seen some of your sketches" I would suggest that they could paint that room to make it look like the interior of Tilly or even a super yacht to make you feel more at home, and then you could change it each year, ha ha just a thought.
best of luck in anything and everything you decide
What put me off the idea, was the life expectancy of a narrow boat. I read that the oldest boat a boatyard worker had worked on was 1975. Possibly, not economic to spend £30K,or so, to own something that has a 30 year lifespan. Then what? Spend thousands to renovate a boat that won’t be worth the investment. I really fancied the freedom of the lifestyle, did lots of research and then dumped the idea for not being not economic. Bummer, ‘cause I really fancied it.
You've made a sensible decision.
i really like you first ride fixie vid its so great i want more
Utterly brilliant info video Dan. thank you so much, Should you get the chance to become involved in canal management I hope you take it, Cheers so much.
A real shame, it seems like the harsh winter, mooring miles from work and marina sardine tin style living has changed your thoughts.
£30,000? you'll spend that in rent money for your flat and paying bills every 3 years and you won't get any of that money back, with a boat if you buy smart you'll get your money back or even make some.
But what about what I actually want to do? It would be a futile life to double my money but not be happy! Boats, land, rent, buy, it is all good for the people it is good for! P.S. I am looking at buying a small cruiser sometime!
Sort Of Interesting I think my comment was more directed at myself, I'm trying to talk myself out of my expensive monthly living arrangements in favour of a life on the water which I'm hoping will be much more rewarding. I had a mortgage before I was self employed and both my job and house served as a ball and chain, now I work for myself and rent, moving often, I feel much more free, I'd just like to increase that freedom as well as save most of what I'd usually spend on rent and bills each month which is ridiculously high for a single person living arrangement. Seeing yourself go from what I'd call proper boat life to renting in a similar way to myself intrigues me and being an honest fan of yours I'm struggling to come to terms with the departure of Tilly, I'll just need a bit more time to realise that you've only sold a boat and not your soul or the energy of this channel :-p
dont let him ruin your plans, its not an easy life but its worth it for active ppl, iv been on the water 7 years wouldnt dream of going back to land
Well, I just found your channel and I think you are adorable and fun to watch. Good luck with new adventures.
hi dan, owning a boat isnt a cheap thing, it can be a hole in the water that you pour your money into..haha. iv had 7 boats ova the years and now i havnt had one for a couple of years.. i know where ur coming from:-)
u will undoubtedly find ur way back one day..kia ora bro
I am sure that everyone still looks forward to all future videos, no mater the subject or means of transportation
You would make a good parent. if you want a real adventure get married before you are too old and have a half a dozen kids.
How much did you sell Tilly for?
In this video you spoke A LOT about money and not about a lifestyle that makes you happy. Sold yourself short?
get a boat in french canals.. .not so cold
make money woofing like that "spot the scot" guy
for a bit
if I were your age and uncommitted and healthy and wanting boatlife..
oh yezh
i totally agree marinas are not for everyone Dan, i hate them too.
i wish you all the very best in your future adventures.
who knows you may end up on the canals again.
:-)
thank you
As always, good luck Dan.......but beware cabin fever! :)
I think that you just outgrew Tilly simple as that . Best wishes
best of luck to you, for your future ! cheers.... J
u r brave 2 make changes, what is best at d moment do it, only u know what is ur joy.. that is all that matters.at d same time u have experiences of marine live.try it .. experiance it.. n move on.. there is no such thing doing it righr or wrong..lovelight 2 u n all..
thanks Dan for answering my questions i would have asked that secretly bugged me!. but n a serious note what a shame there made the rules so much more impracticable for not only yourself but the souls with family's that need to take them to school or ailments that need to see a doctor regular. these authority's are heartless and probably controlled by a piece of software that tells them to make more money to do these changes. its so ermmmm anti- people. i wish we all could or should that be fight back !. all the best Dan .
We all thought with the demise of BW, and emergence of CRT that things would get better for the boater - how wrong we were. More infringement on personal boating, as you say, Dan, less time for the winter moorer to stay in one place, and horrendous licence increases. I could draw a parallel with 1997, and all the 'things can only get better' feeling that we had then. How wrong was that? Still, it is good that you have moved on, and maybe will find a way in the future to enjoy boating again. I can fully appreciate what it is like in a marina full of 60ft+ boats, when you are only 30ft. Unlike a 'cruiser' type marina, with boats of different sizes, where they have to allow more space in between, it is just like a linear housing estate. Bonne chance pour votre future cher ami. A demain!!!!
Love your column ...But could you keep your blogs SHORT 💥💥💥💥
That's told bad. I'm sorry. Something always happens to screw up good things.
Enjoyed your videos. Nice guy. Best wishes.
Thanks! All the best to you too!
Good luck Dan and all the best you land lover lol
The CRT are going to make it harder and harder to live on the canals. I think they want all of us gone, with the exception of the richer boaters of course! These changes will greatly affect the secondhand boat market.
Good point about the potential effect on secondhand boats, I didn't even consider that. I might pick up a small cruiser at some point as a bit of a hobby boat... just like a big kayak!!!
Canal and River Trust stinks ! There for revenue and not for boaters.
You are a very smart young man, by age 50 you would not enjoy the work of the moving. My man and I are in our 60's watching the long boat's are enjoyable , but doing it we couldn't. Poo to anyone that doesn't understand.
Best wishes for the next phase of your interesting life! It wouldn't even be sort of interesting if you kept doing the same thing, would it?
Great video, keep it simple! ;)
LOL if 30 is working on ya, you ain't seen nothing yet, still bustin heavies at 70 is where you start thinking its a bit much, but good luck too you!
I live very near you by the sounds of it!
Best of luck! :)
Show us videos of where you live. USA
Wise decision.
Softie
Hey Dan, if you want to continue as a RUclips celebrity, go get another boat, quickly. You're a nice guy, but the interest is in the novelty of the boat life, coupled with your eccentricities. Best of luck, but I won't be viewing your stuff as is...
Thanks for tuning in while you did. I can honestly say that being a "youtube celebrity" etc is one of the last things I am interested in. It has been fun to be popular for a while but I have enjoyed doing RUclips videos long before anybody tuned in and will continue to do random stuff as a fun hobby!
Real happiness is based in real life not online beeps, boops and numbers!
+Sort Of Interesting I started watching you in spite of the boat videos ;)