After being forced to move 13 times in as many years and even experiencing homelessness in London, one woman has found stability and significant savings by making her home on the water.
A Lifelong Dream Realised on the Water
Emily Souter Johnson, 43, fulfilled a long-held ambition when she purchased a Collingwood WideBeam vessel in April 2018. Having moved to England from Dublin in 2002, Emily endured over a decade of insecure rentals and a year without a home. She states that buying a traditional property was financially out of reach, making the boat her only viable route to homeownership.
"I was sick of the insecurity of renting," said Emily, who now runs her own business, Emily Boat Mover. "I just wanted a home and the only way I could have a home was by getting a boat because I had never earned enough to afford a mortgage."
The Financial and Practical Realities of Boat Life
Emily now continuously cruises between Bath and Bradford-upon-Avon. Her monthly running costs for the 57x12 foot boat, which features two bedrooms, a kitchen-diner, and a multi-fuel fire, total under £500. This is dramatically less than the £1,144 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom flat in London, representing a saving of over £600.
Her detailed monthly outgoings include:
- Canal and River Trust licence: £157.73
- Insurance: £32.82
- Fuel (diesel, petrol, gas, wood, coal): £104
- Maintenance and boat blacking: £112
- Other costs (WiFi, water filters): approx. £25
However, the lifestyle comes with unique challenges. Emily uses a compost toilet, which involves storing liquid waste on the roof for sustainable disposal. "It's not for the faint hearted," she admits. Heating water for a shower requires running the boat's engine for 40 minutes, and she previously conserved water rigorously, using just 50 litres a day compared to the UK average of 142.
Building a Business and a New Sense of Self
Emily's passion, partly inspired by her late father Peter's love of maritime life, has evolved into a thriving enterprise. Since 2022, she has built a business moving boats and teaching others, particularly women, how to navigate the canals. "I feel like a superwoman now. I feel like I can do anything," she said, a stark contrast to relying on food banks during the Covid-19 lockdowns.
She also creates online content, sharing hard-won knowledge from nearly eight years of living aboard. "There's something nice about disseminating my knowledge, especially since it's a male-dominated industry," Emily noted.
Despite the compromises, she cherishes the freedom, connection to nature, and ability to change her scenery at will. "I'm living in areas that are stunning and gorgeous and I can wild swim all year round," Emily explained. "Every day is different and if you get bored of an area, you can move to a new spot."
