Visitor moorings are specifically designed for short stays. However, depending on the popularity of each route, mooring times may vary. Therefore, you should read all signs carefully, as short-term moorings can range from as little as 4 hours to 14 days. A 2-week stay is the maximum on most short-term moorings, sometimes just 48 hours.
Sailors must then continue their journey. This shouldn't create problems if you're navigating the system, but by restricting the length of mooring in one place, the minimum distance until the next temporary moorings and return restrictions, it will complicate your life if you live on a boat and want to stay in the same geographical area, perhaps for work reasons. You'll need a long-term or waterside mooring for your boat if you're not going to sail continuously. Most are provided by private companies or yacht clubs, either at offline or online marina, along the canal or the riverfront Along the way.
The duration of contracts can range from three months to three years, so there are a lot of options. In general, the mooring of canals on towpaths is limited to 14 days, unless otherwise indicated. Yes, the CRT does prove it: they have rangers who go through the canals writing down the indexes of the ships and the dates they were seen; if you spend too much time in one place, you'll find a note on your boat advising you to go ahead. If you don't, you eventually end up with legal proceedings against you, but that's a very lengthy process. The supply of residential moorings for the extended life of ships is limited, especially in major cities.
Managed by Canal & River Trust and The Environment Agency, there are some, in addition to private options in shipyards and marina facilities. It's often easier to buy a boat with a residential mooring than to purchase it separately. Explore the area, talk to ship residents and ask at shipyards for clues. The Canal and River Trust can also help locate residential moorings.
In cities like London, floating accommodations are advertised through conventional real estate channels. Getting a residential mooring requires patience and research, but the unique lifestyle makes it worthwhile. For those enthralled by perpetual exploration, continuous cruises offer an enchanting lifestyle. Most channels allow stays of up to 14 days before continuing (check the signage for exceptions).
Residential moorings attract those looking for a stable lifestyle, distinct from the constant movement of continuous cruise ships, with their own advantages. With the residential mooring, you are guaranteed access to essential services, such as water and bathrooms, making it easier to empty the cassettes. The friendly boating community encourages camaraderie. Residential mooring offers a stable, community-oriented lifestyle, with factors such as costs and availability that must be considered along with unique offerings in several mooring spaces.
For boaters seeking a more stable lifestyle without committing to a residential mooring, long-term moorings offer an excellent commitment. These moorings provide boaters with the comfort of an extended stay, ranging from 3 months to several years. Long-lasting moorings allow people to immerse themselves in a specific location, explore the surrounding area in depth, and form a sense of community with other navigators.
