This is my first post on here, I fear probably the first of many! As it's my first post I'll introduce myself to the group =).
I've spent a lifetime messing about on punts and dinghies and my only experience of something larger was once spending a summer as a deckhand on a Thames pleasure cruiser. So I'm about as green as they come for a liveaboard narrowboat. I'm doing as much research as I can to find out what I'm letting myself in for.
I inherited the family home (well half of it) a few years ago and my sister and I will be selling it in spring next year. I have always dreamed of living on a narrowboat and I'm now very excited to make the dream a reality. However, I'm concerned about the depreciation. I'm looking to spend between £40k - £80k depending on what I'd have to spend to kit it out and whether or not it comes with the all-important residential mooring. My girlfriend and I used to live in a flat in Cambridge at £1000/ month so I'm confident we can cover maintenance and running costs from our salaries. But the money from the sale of the house is to one day go towards the deposit on our family home (a long long time in the future).
So my question is, given I keep it well maintained, how much should I expect to lose from the value in the next 5 to 10 years? And what should I be looking for when buying a boat to minimise this?
Thank you very much, everyone, I look forward to plaguing you all with questions over the next few months and then maybe, someday, actually being able to answer someone else's!