Not so idyllic

THE continuing freezing weather is seemingly bursting the 'idyllic life of the waterways' bubble, with one boater deeply regretting his decision to live on a narrowboat that he admits was prompted by Timothy West on Waterworld.

Leonard Schafer tells us that nearing retirement, the television series Waterworld showed him an idyllic lifestyle that would well fit in with his wife's writing and his own wish after a lifetime cooped-up in an office to be outdoors.  Here are his own words:

Fascinated by the lifestyle

'Both my wife Jane and myself were fascinated by the lifestyle of living on a boat meandering along the canals, as we both, living in London, had an urge for the wide open spaces, and the nomad existence that was so well portraid in that television program, so took it upon ourselves to look into it further by visiting all things connected with boats and boating, particularly talking to many boat builders, that perhaps upon hindsight was an obvious mistake as we should have spoken to boat people instead.

But the more we delved into it the more we became hooked, but at least had the sense to book a week's holiday on a narrowboat on the Oxford Canal that we both thoroughly enjoyed, and it was then the decision was made, and our dream boat ordered. We had no trouble here, visiting the boat builder every week, listening to his advice and making sure we had everything we wanted in the 58ft boat, that we clearly understood was the maximum length to be able to get everywhere, particularly the Northern canals that beckoned us.

Really good summer

So two years ago we took delivery of our new home, breaking all ties with the land, and had a really good summer, though the winter last year gave us a taste that all was not idyllic, especially as we became to realise that things are very different from bricks and mortar, and tend to go wrong.

The main water pump packed up followed very shortly by the waste pump.  I left the refrigerator switched on as we left the boat for a few days getting back to completely flat batteries, and the alternator just would not start to charge.  I found out there must be a voltage present, that there was not. The diesel heater has a mind of its own, sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.  A cable snapped on the engine control and a mounting failed and had to be replaced.

Does not work

In addition to this we found that meandering just a mile or two a day as we planned just does not work as water supplies, and particularly pump-out facilities are too few and far between on some canals.  But what we really did not realise was the absolute lack of storage space, that of course is our fault for not realising what we needed but what we could not have.

Then the freeze started causing unbelievable problems, and no matter what people say a stove stuck at one end of a 58ft boat does little to keep it warm during freezing weather, when  the diesel heater won't work, and that was the last straw, so at present we are living with the wife's relations, and the dream has ended.  I can only say to those similarly tempted with the idyllic waterways lifestyle, that it isn't.'