I bought my ‘dream’ boat home but it turned into a disaster

This woman spent $7500 on a boat home before making three major mistakes when renovating it.

My ‘dream’ boat home turned into a disaster. Picture: Instagram/earlewrites

A UK homeowner has revealed how buying her “dream” home turned into a nightmare.

Elizabeth Earle spent £3,800 ($A7,500) on a canal boat with her overdraft and hoped to renovate it, The Sun reports.

The self-employed writer and illustrator joined the thousands of Brits ditching conventional accommodation and decided to settle down on a vessel.

The determined 36-year-old battled through freezing winters and sub-par bathrooms to make it work.

“The way I did it was the dumbest, hardest way possible,” she told Sky News UK.

“I was just so full of dreams and wanting to make it but I made it work.”

Ms Earle spent seven years sailing the world but was unable to afford a deposit on a house.

Rather than downsize or rent, the savvy sailor splashed out on a shell of a boat and strapped in for a tough few years of renovations.

“I wanted a boat so much that I was okay with living without a shower, I was okay with using a bucket for a toilet for the first few months, I was okay with being cold,” she said.

After two years of revamps and upgrades, Ms Earle is finally happy but there are a few things she would have done differently.

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Elizabeth Earle, 36, moved into her 'dream' home for £3,600. Picture: Instagram/earlewrites

HEATING

The writer was absolutely determined to get hold of her dream house – so much so that she even went without heating.

While she doesn’t advise going without warmth over the winter, she is glad to be where she is now.

Ms Earle acknowledges the challenging lifestyle and understands it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

Especially during winter it can become incredibly tough and even dangerous.

“If your fire goes out it is a huge deal or if you’ve run out of coal and you’re two miles away, you have to carry 25kg of coal on your shoulder through the mud,” she added.

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Despite the houseboat being what she wanted it needed a lot of renovations. Picture: Instagram/earlewrites

BATHROOM FACILITIES

Owning a houseboat has so many perks but unfortunately luxurious bathroom facilities aren’t one of them.

Canal boats come with a few different toilet types including pump-out toilets, cassette toilets, and a compost toilet.

Ms Earle bravely went without any of these for the first few months but insists the struggle was worth it.

By living frugally and redoing her boat she was able to upgrade to a compost toilet and is thrilled.

However, she does admit using an on-land loo does still feel like a treat.

“When you get to use a toilet – it’s fabulous,” she added.

“When you go round to your friend’s house and you get to use their toilet you can’t believe your luck.

“You can go for a posh poo and it’s fabulous.”

She also has a shower but admits she washes at the gym to avoid having to refill her 700-litre tank too frequently.

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Elizabeth spent two years upgrading her boat before swapping to a bigger one. Picture: Instagram/earlewrites

BOAT SPACE

In spring, Ms Earle says she gets to relax on her roof and watch the sunset – a picture of luxury.

Unfortunately, with the nippy British weather, these days aren’t too frequent and she spends a lot of time down below deck.

For this reason, having enough living space is crucial.

Even after two years of renovations, Ms Earle decided to upgrade to get a more comfortable 70ft 100-year-old narrow boat.

After jazzing up her previous vessel and selling it for £20,000 ($A39,000 she was able to splash out on a bigger model for £35,000 ($A69,000).

With her new spacious home, which she shares with rescue German Shepherd mix Leela, Ms Earle says there is nowhere else in the world she would rather be.

“I’m in the middle of the countryside right now and it’s beautiful,” she said.

“I’ve got no one bothering me and if I want to leave this place I can just leave tomorrow.”

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The self-employed writer and illustrator says there is nowhere she'd rather be. Picture: Instagram/earlewrites

FEMALE SOLO BOATER

Ms Earle’s bills come in at around £4,500 ($A8,900) a year – these lower costs are what often attract people to the houseboat lifestyle.

The breakdown includes around £45 for a gas canister, which will last four to five months, £30 ($A59) to £40 ($A79) a week on coal, around £400 ($A791) for a full tank of diesel and £146 ($A288) a month for her Canal and River Trust licence.

As a “continuous cruiser” Ms Earle also avoids mooring charges which means she has to set sail every two weeks.

While the writer now enjoys living on her watercraft, there are also dangers that come with being a female solo boater.

Walking a kilometre down the towpath to get to her boat can be frightening and Ms Earle keeps her fingers crossed she won’t bump into a drunk.

To combat the risk she grabs the biggest coat she can find and hopes people think she’s a boy.

For the most part however no one is bothering Ms Earle and her serene lifestyle.

And dating has almost been made easier now that she knows what she’s looking for.

“When you go back into the outside world you put up with such little bulls**t and it makes dating a lot easier because you just say no to almost everyone,” she added.

“If a guy can’t make a fire then it’s an immediate no – it makes you more selective.

“But I’ll find my Tommy Shelby someday.”

Parts of this story first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission.

Originally published as I bought my ‘dream’ boat home but it turned into a disaster