Our guide to owning a leisure boat

You’re looking for a quirky holiday home

Many leisure boat owners use their crafts as their holiday home. Cruisers, narrowboats and widebeams can be similar in both size and facilities to a small or medium-sized caravan, and costs of mooring and maintenance are also comparable.

Taking up a ​leisure mooring ​at one of Aquavista’s 18 marinas is an ideal choice if you planned to use your boat as your holiday home. Not only do our leisure moorings provide secure storage for your craft when it’s not in use, you can stay on-board at weekends or for mid-week breaks, giving you access to some extra home comforts, like showers and WiFi.

You want a sense of freedom

Nothing beats the exhilaration of being out on the water. And the best thing about owning a boat is that you can be out exploring rivers and canals at a moment’s notice.

Aquavista’s marinas are situated in some of the most picturesque waterside locations in the UK. And, while you’ll be based at one, you can get reciprocal moorings at other Aquavista marinas nationwide for up to 28 days if you fancy a change of scene.

You want to see if you could live on a boat full-time

Many leisure moorers buy a boat with a view to turning their hobby into their lifestyle, and it’s a great strategy. Buying a boat with leisure moorings allows you to see if life on the water suits you, and lets you check your boat is fully equipped to meet your needs should you decide to take up a residential mooring in the future.

At Aquavista, 14 of our marinas offer residential berths along with their leisure moorings. Choosing a leisure mooring first means you can experience what life on-board is really like, before you decide to move hook, line and sinker!

You want an activity you can enjoy all-year-round

Using a boat for leisure use was once a summertime-only activity. But with today’s facilities on-board, you don’t have to limit your sailing to warmer days. Many boats are equipped with heating systems that are cheap to run and can extend your boat use by several months. And there’s nothing nicer than feeling warm and sheltered in your cosy bed, while listening to the rain pattering up on deck.

You want something you can take pride in

With their smart clean decks, nice glossy paintwork and modern facilities, owning a boat can feel like you’ve got a luxury sports car on the drive ready and waiting for a sunny day! No wonder so many boat owners love taking care of their vessel, enjoying all the work it takes to get it ship-shape and ready to show off to family and friends.

You want a healthy family pastime

Fresh air and exercise are an enticing mix, especially when all the activity takes place in stunning natural scenery! Owning a yacht will see you winching and hauling to adjust the sails, but even narrowboats demand their fair share of physical labour, whether that’s handling locks or carrying supplies from the car to the boat. It’s also something the whole family can play their part in, including the dog!

Mooring costs

Marinas are a convenient, secure place to moor your boat and can offer lots of extras to attract you, like power, water, showers and toilet pump-outs. Moorings are priced according to the length of your boat, the facilities on offer and the popularity of the area. Expect to pay more for places like London where space is at a premium.

Insurance costs

A marina will insist that your boat is insured, and it’s also a requirement if you were planning to use any inland waterways, according to the Canal And River Trust. Insurance costs will vary according to where the boat is moored and how you plan to use it. At Aquavista, all our leisure berth holders are entitled to 20% off insurance with Towergate. 

Boat safety certificate and licence

Just like your car needs an MOT, your boat needs a valid Boat Safety Scheme certificate before you can berth it on a marina, or take it out on the water. Expect to pay around £150, plus the cost of any repairs that it reveals.

You’ll also need a licence, depending on where you wish to cruise. The Canal & River Trust handles licences for its 96 canals and rivers, while the Broads Authority looks after the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads and the Environment Agency runs the Thames, the Medway and rivers in East Anglia. The price you pay depends on the length and width of your boat, and the length of the licence, with both short and long-term options available.

Maintenance costs

Maintenance costs vary depending on the type of boat and how heavily it is used. It’s essential to know the basics, but there are some jobs you shouldn’t do yourself. Expect to pay a professional for engine servicing, anti-fouling (if your vessel is made of fibreglass or plastic), hull blacking (if you have a narrowboat or other steel-hulled craft) and anode replacement.

For more information, see our boat maintenance guide.

What kind of boat should I buy for leisure?

Dream of exploring picturesque rivers and canals? Choose from sleek inland cruisers, sturdy Dutch barges, or homely narrowboats and widebeams. Want to sail the gorgeous UK coastline? There are white-decked yachts, elegant sailboats and well-equipped cabin cruisers ready and waiting with space for all the family.

Leisure boaters could own any type of vessel, it all depends on your individual needs and requirements. To find out what boat will suit you, why not try before you buy? Join a sailing club for taster sailings, act as crew on a friend’s boat or hire a narrowboat for a canal holiday. 

Thinking of buying a boat? Aquavista can help. Find out more.