Options for Living on Board
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We elected to fit out a barge 25 x 4 metres and to live on it full time for probably the next 5 years, health permitting.  We don't regret any part of that choice but it is important that one approaches the determination of lifestyle as a series of choices because there are a lot of alternatives. 

Most of the alternatives relate to eight interelated questions, and when you decide on these you probably have your future mapped out:

1.  Should you winter over in Europe or maintain a home base? 
2.  How big a boat do you need?
3.  Should you fit it out yourself or buy one already done?
4.  Should you buy a new or old hull?
5.  How much will you spend on a barge or boat?
6.  How much will you spend per month living in Europe?
7.  Do you need a car?  
8.  Can you get health insurance?

Before you start answering these you should take a look at some of the choices others have made.  The photos here represent a sample of the boats moored in Roanne for the winter. 

Barging as a retirement pastime is not an expensive way of life.  If you can afford a home in England, the US, or Canada, and if you have enough income to support yourself in retirement there, then you will do just fine in Europe.  Few people have all the toys: car, motorcycle or scooter, home in the UK, 22 metre barge, and enough money to dine out 6 days a week and fly off to the Caribbean or the Seychelles for a month in the winter.  There are few multi-millionaires among the bargers.tem

One good way to whet your appetite for barging, or to get it out of your system, is to participate in a shared ownership plan.  Shares in barges are available from 10,000 Euros to 50,000 or more and award time from one to six months.  The keys to these arrangements is to have at least one good maintenance guy as a shareholder and to have the various owners of a like mind when regarding the overall appearance of the barge.  In  the several we have met in our travels the owners were very pleased with the arrangements and in a couple of cases were seriously considering moving on to a full time ownership.
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Aghuilas is probably a bit small for year round living but makes an excellent summer cruiser.
Corma is quite a large LuxMotor refurbished by the Sipmas in Holland and ready for year-round life aboard
BettyB is configured for year-round life on board and has just been sold so we will have to see how she is to be used by the new owners
Beatrice is a newly built hull and is used in season as a moveable bed-and-breakfast.  Last year she was seen in Aigues Mortes as well as Roanne
Eclaircie has some nice features in a smaller length including the galley located in the wheelhouse and a large sit-out area aft of the wheelhouse
Some bargers bring over British narrowboats for the French canals though these are less than at home amidst the large commercial barges
Living in the family home during the winter and cruising in a small boat for the summer is an option taken by many
Former rental boats are often seen in private hands, generally as summer cruising boats as they are not suffieciently insulated for year round use
The Dutch are prone to touring the canals in steel trawlers an returning home for the winter months
Severn Goose is a newly built hull and very nicely fitted out by her previous owners, who have thrown out the anchor for a house in France
This Penichette is a rental but they are often seen as owner operated barges quite good for summer use
Redquest was built from the ground up by her owners, so for those that want a very challenging project, this is an option
The Tjalk shape is quite popular and has the advantage of great visibility from the salon area